Show me! Every writer has been admonished, “Show, don’t tell!” There are blogs and articles and arguments galore. It refers to the use of words. It refers to using description to bring events alive in the reader’s mind and heart, rather than flat narrative that tells the reader what's happening and how they should feel…Read more “Show, don’t tell” — does it just apply to writers?

Just finished a 1st Readers ARC copy of Hank Phillippi Ryan's new book, "The First to Lie". Hold onto your seat – this book isn’t a roller coaster ride, it’s the Wild Mouse! Starts out slow and easy, but then don’t think you’re just going to go down – you're going for a ride! It’s…Read more Hank Phillippi Ryan does it again

People in my writers group look at me funny when I tell them I warm up my muse by working on 100-word stories to picture prompts on “Friday Fictioneers”. That just doesn’t seem serious to some of them. Well, that’s the whole point – I’m playing. But I’m playing with my creative mind, preparing to…Read more Discipline, Schmiscipline

Another 100-word story from a picture prompt. This picture warms my heart when I look at it. Thank you, Rochelle Wisoff-Fields. Strange how many of these I write in dialogue, and yet usually dialogue is the hardest thing for me to write! PHOTO PROMPT © Jeff Arnold “How long do you suppose she had this…Read more Stop, Look and Listen

Here's my story via this week's photo prompt from Rochelle Wisoff-Fields and Friday Fictioneers. PHOTO PROMPT © J Hardy Carroll The boy craned his neck, staring upward at the outlandish sign. “Grandpa, how’d they put that car way up there?” “Probably used some kind of a crane.” “Why’d they do it?” “You’d have to ask…Read more Only 95 words this time!