by Zoe M. McCarthy | Oct 21, 2021 | Writing
image by geralt Zoe has developed a guiding resource for beginning writers. Her method is designed for brainstorming, shaping, and revising an early draft of a manuscript. General and specific tips are offered for applying rules of writing to enhance one’s story...
by Zoe M. McCarthy | Aug 9, 2018 | Writing
Suppose you were offered a three-week stay at a comfortable hideaway to write a book. What ten things would you take? Here’s my list of essentials and why I’d need them. 1. Rules of engagement. I’ll post these rules in a visible spot: Nix thoughts about problems or...
by Zoe M. McCarthy | Feb 18, 2016 | Writing
“Flip Dictionary takes you from a “meaning” you are aware of to the “word” you need.” —Barbara Ann Kipfer, Ph.D. In a scene, my character senses a reverent atmosphere, but I didn’t want to use atmosphere. I couldn’t summon the word I wanted. Microsoft Word’s...
by Zoe M. McCarthy | Mar 5, 2015 | Writing
“Mark Twain said, ‘The right word is to the nearly right word as lightning is to the lightning bug.’ Fill your book with lightning.” — Robert Littell It’s our choice to choose the word that gives our sentence the most power in creating a robust image in the reader’s...
by Zoe M. McCarthy | May 8, 2014 | Writing
The difference between the right word and the almost right word is the difference between lightning and a lightning bug.” — Mark Twain When you write, do you highlight questionable words and then later search for a more accurate term? Do you do the same...