DAN ALATORRE

Originally posted on Writing to be Read:
The Gamma Sequence, by Dan Alatorre is a non-stop action, futuristic medical thriller. The suspense begins to build on the very first page and keeps on ratcheting up the tension from there, with twists and turns that will keep readers on their toes. Hamilton DeShear is a private…

You need small actions in a story almost as much as you need big actions. Beats do that. When characters move or talk in a book, they don’t just move or talk. They think, they react, they anticipate. They use body language to show how they feel about information they are receiving. Like what you’re […]

We have addressed hundreds of writing related topics here on the blog; use the search button to find the ones you need. This lesson is invaluable, so read carefully. Wait, does invaluable mean no value or lots of value? Quick internet search… Okay. Yeah, there’s gold in today’s lesson. BODY LANGUAGE = GOOD CRUTCH WORDS […]

I was corresponding with a reader recently…   READER: Love the idea of a series with ‘Double Blind’ characters. I will be first in line for more of those any time. ME: I liked the characters in Double Blind more than the ones in Gamma Sequence, to be honest. DB was a lot more fun, […]

Synonyms courtesy of Thesaurus.com. Because “shone” should never be used. It’s not a real word. Oh, it tries, and it’s in the dictionary and all – but come on. Nobody ever uses it in real life when they’re speaking, so don’t put it in your stories. And if YOU use it in real life while […]

Got this in the mail today. Will be sending it back. I hate to be seen as a complainer. Life is good. But when we used to get proof copies of a paperback from CreateSpace, they were the EXACT thing people would get when they bought the book. Yes, they were stamped in the back […]

A few days ago, I was thinking about the controversy over the current series season of Game of Thrones, and how disappointed so many of the fans are. I admit, after the very first episode this season I said, “It’s okay, but it feels like they took twice as long to do everything as was […]

As hard as it is to write a story with all the commas in the right places, subject-verb agreement, a correct POV for each scene, a fast pace, great dialogue, and engaging characters… …all that is only half the battle. The other half is coming up with a compelling story idea. Readers will stay glued […]

We have addressed hundreds of writing related topics here on the blog; use the search button to find the ones you need. your humble host Try to paint emotion in thick when you have a dramatic scene. Use more words than you think you need. When Bonnie, your killer, is about to confront a random fisherman after the murder, YOU have […]