Blog #127; Consultant for Hire for Your Developing Fiction Writing

Have you ever thought of learning to better write your own stories? Learn the tricks of the trade that make your stories stand out with real impact? Have you thought about even publishing some stories, or even entering awards contests? A multiple award winning fiction writer and editor, I have won numerous awards and have had stories and poems published dozens of times. For the month of November, 2024, I am offering a special deal for those of you who have been loyal readers to my Blog and who have bought/read my give-away books. Are you interested in taking the leap to writing and publishing your own short stories… 

For the month of November, you can be on your way to giving yourself a most special Christmas present this year: the permission to pursue your dreams. You can send me a rough draft (it doesn't matter how rough) of a fictional short story, of any genre (mystery, literary, sci-fi, horror, etc.), up to 4000 words (16 pages total), and I promise to give you a detailed full page double spaced professional level summary of suggestions for improvement at a modest 20 dollars introductory offer. If you find some merit in my comments, we can continue an exchange if you like. If you feel the comments weren’t helpful, just let me know why and I will ask no questions and we can part friends. You have nothing to lose but a bit of time at the desk… 

PS As a special offer this month, contact me and we will provide a one page commentary as described above for a friend in addition to your own paid one for free. Two for the price of one! Consider it a Christmas Present for the Season. 

I have many years (decades now) creative writing teaching experience (college level creative writing courses, workshops with other writers and editors, and one-on-one consulting work). If you are ready to put my extensive experience to work for you, please contact me at provocanyonreview@gmail.com.

Blog #126; New Look; Free Books Available Soon; New Compact Collection TBD; Putting Out My Shingle as a Creative Writing Coach

Welcome to the new look of the blog page!  Thanks to my ever-talented wife, Erin!  This look better reflects who I am and what I’m about.

In the next few days, we will have some free digital books available to gear up towards the holiday season.  If you’ve already bought and read the book (and liked it, I hope), consider buying copies for friends and family!  (or, during my specials, getting them for free)

Also, I have been having things published more online in the past year than in all others combined.  That means I have more stories to include in the latest compact collection, which I want to release before Christmas.  It is called, No More Tragic Kingdoms.  You can read the title story here: https://militaryexperience.org/as-you-were-the-military-review-vol-20/no-more-tragic-kingdoms/

Please keep in touch for more info about this release as matters develop!

 

Also, though I have rarely brought attention to it in the past on this blog, I have many years (decades) creative writing teaching experience (college level creative writing courses, workshops with other writers and editors, and one-on-one consulting work).  If you are interested in bringing your stories, poetry, etc. to the next level and are ready to put my extensive experience to work for you, please contact me at provocanyonreview@gmail.com.

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Blog #125; Ernest Hemingway’s The Old Man and the Sea Re-considered

I am currently re-reading that 20^th C. classic, The Old Man and the Sea and plumbing the depths of the old master’s talent.  When a young man studying creative writing in Paris in the 1920s, the author famously said he wanted his readers, after finishing a book of his, to not be able to distinguish Hemingway’s well-crafted depictions and “felt-life” or an actual memory of a true experience.  Hemingway achieves this by painstaking selection of imagery (ie, description that appeals to the five senses).

 

While the old man is sailing the currents of the Caribbean outside Havana, Hemingway strategically places the reader right in the environment and experience.  The monumental fight with the marlin, the taste of the salt spray of the ocean water, the heat of the sun beating his exposed back, the ache of the muscles well past the point of failure.  Hemingway expresses the experience as only he can, and the reader’s experience of life is all the richer for it.