Write Lightning is a blog from writer Deb Thompson.
Everyone is welcome here.
(Some links or topics may not be completely kid-appropriate.)
Everyone is welcome here.
(Some links or topics may not be completely kid-appropriate.)
Fri, Jan 23 2015
It's not just aboout Raif Badawi
I love writing about the world of writing, particularly fiction writing. But I want to take a moment to express sadness over the punishment of fellow blogger Raif Badawi. I'm so blessed to be able to write from a place of freedom. I don't go out of my way to offend others, but if I express disagreement with some political or religious leader, there is no one on my porch to take me away and throw me in prison. We don't flog people here for thinking or writing about what they think.
There is always an argument concerning bloggers and their place in society. Some say we are journalists. Some insist that we are not. The title doesn't matter, but the work does. And if we silence journalists, essayists, pundits, bloggers and storytellers, we'll soon see the basics of the freedom of speech fall in all other ways. Then other freedoms will fall. We need more speech rather than less. I hope the Saudi religious leades will choose to lower their weapons of hate and control over the very people they should be championing in their society.
posted at: 07:42 | category: /Writing Life | link to this entry
I love writing about the world of writing, particularly fiction writing. But I want to take a moment to express sadness over the punishment of fellow blogger Raif Badawi. I'm so blessed to be able to write from a place of freedom. I don't go out of my way to offend others, but if I express disagreement with some political or religious leader, there is no one on my porch to take me away and throw me in prison. We don't flog people here for thinking or writing about what they think.
There is always an argument concerning bloggers and their place in society. Some say we are journalists. Some insist that we are not. The title doesn't matter, but the work does. And if we silence journalists, essayists, pundits, bloggers and storytellers, we'll soon see the basics of the freedom of speech fall in all other ways. Then other freedoms will fall. We need more speech rather than less. I hope the Saudi religious leades will choose to lower their weapons of hate and control over the very people they should be championing in their society.
posted at: 07:42 | category: /Writing Life | link to this entry
Thu, Jan 08 2015
It's the season for coughing and plotting.
There is no vaccine for the persistent coughing bug that recently made a stop at our house during its winter travels. We coughed until our muscles were sore. The rooms were a sad trail of throat lozenge packaging, tissue boxes, emptied tea mugs and overflowing waste cans. Speaking caused an increase in coughing, so we lounged in front of the TV and quietly caught up on episodes of home improvement shows and a season's worth of The Good Wife.
I wondered how this or that story character I've known would handle being tossed into a room with a fellow story character on an occasion when both of them had the same ailment. They might be friends, lifelong enemies, business rivals or hunter and prey. It would be a great way to crank up tension in a story and would give an excellent opportunity to show the coping and negotiating skills of both characters.
Of course, things can never be too simple with fiction. Throw in a third character and see what develops.
posted at: 11:18 | category: /Writing Life | link to this entry
There is no vaccine for the persistent coughing bug that recently made a stop at our house during its winter travels. We coughed until our muscles were sore. The rooms were a sad trail of throat lozenge packaging, tissue boxes, emptied tea mugs and overflowing waste cans. Speaking caused an increase in coughing, so we lounged in front of the TV and quietly caught up on episodes of home improvement shows and a season's worth of The Good Wife.
I wondered how this or that story character I've known would handle being tossed into a room with a fellow story character on an occasion when both of them had the same ailment. They might be friends, lifelong enemies, business rivals or hunter and prey. It would be a great way to crank up tension in a story and would give an excellent opportunity to show the coping and negotiating skills of both characters.
Of course, things can never be too simple with fiction. Throw in a third character and see what develops.
posted at: 11:18 | category: /Writing Life | link to this entry
