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Author Archives: Sharon K Owen
ADDING PERSONALITY TO YOUR CHARACTERS
Lately, I’ve been talking more and more about developing characters in novels. As I’ve mentioned, I use several reference books to choose various characteristics for the people I invent for my stories. Today, I’ll be talking about Please Understand Me by David … Continue reading
Posted in Books, Family and Friends, Writing, Writing Exercises
Tagged creative writing david keirsey, developing fictional characters, family, fiction writing, gift differing, interpersonal relations, Isabel Briggs, Linda Goodman Sun Signs, marilyn bates, myers briggs, personality types, peter meyers, please understand me, sharon k owen, sharonkowen, teaching
1 Comment
WRITE A NOVEL IN A MONTH
As many of you know. the National Novel Writing (NANO) month begins in November. For those unfamiliar with the tradition, writers sign up and commit to writing 50,000 words (or more) in one month. It is a really good way … Continue reading
Posted in Teaching, Trinity Writers Workshop, Writers, Writers Groups, Writing, Writing Seminars and Conferences
Tagged bedford, chuck sambuchino, creative writing, dallas, deb mcneill, fort worth, marketing seminar, Marketing Your Writing, nano, nanowrimo, national write a noven in a month, sharon k owen, sharonkowen, texas, trinity writers workshop, TWW, writing seminar
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RECASTING THE CLASSICS
Have any of you seen the re-make of Footloose, yet? I haven’t but I’ve seen trailers and seen watched some of the dance scenes. I like Julianne Hough and Dennis Quaid so I’ll probably watch it just because they are … Continue reading
Posted in Movies
Tagged brad pitt, butch cassidy and the sundance kid, dennis quaid, footloose, george clooney, gerard butler, gina davis, humphrey bogart, julianne hough, katherine heigl, kevin bacon, lauren bacall, movie remakes, movies, paul newman, robert redford, sandra bullock, scarlett johannson sharon k owen sharonkowen, susan sarandan, thelma and louise, to have and have not, tom cruise, top gun
1 Comment
THE SKY IS FALLING
I’ve often talked about my two cats in this blog. Hard not to when they are the only creatures I see for days at a time. And they’re often hanging out on the … Continue reading
Posted in Pets, Seasons, Writing
Tagged cats, chicken little, cinders, dialogue, matt, rain, sharon k owen, sharonkowen, siblings, storms, writing
1 Comment
NOT CRAZY FOR APPLE PIE, HOT DOGS OR CHEVROLET EITHER
Everyone knows that I’m not a baseball fan. Sad, I know, especially since the Texas Rangers are really doing well and I’ve always supported the local teams. Even in bad years, I’ve worn my Mavericks and Cowboys jerseys and defended Dirk … Continue reading
Posted in Basketball, Favorite TV Shows, Football, Reality Talent Shows, Sports
Tagged american, apple pie, baseball, basketball, chevrolet, dallas cowboys, dallas mavericks, dirk nowitski, football, hot dogs, reality tv, texas rangers, tony romo, writing sharon k owen sharonkowen, x-factor
4 Comments
IT’S ALL IN THE STARS
I’ve talked a lot about developing believable, interesting characters. In my humble opinion this is perhaps the most important factor in creating a successful novel. Without, logically motivated, three-dimensional characters, the most stunning descriptions, the most exciting plots and the most sparkling dialogue, fail to engage the … Continue reading
SOUND OF RAIN
After enduring the record drought and heat this summer. The sound of the rain last night and today was music to my ears. Matt and Cinders (my cats) sat on the sills in front of open windows and marveled at … Continue reading
Posted in Books, Favorite TV Shows, Home and Garden, Music, Musical Performers, Pets, Reality Talent Shows, Writing
Tagged cats, class, dia frampton, grading papers, javier colon, novel, rain, sharon k owen, sharonkowen, the voice, writing
6 Comments
SINK OR SWIM
On Saturdays, I alway write about members of the Trinity Writers Workshop, a writer’s critique group in Bedford Texas, which holds workshops on Tuesday evening (6:30 pm) and Saturday mornings (10:00 am) in the Bedford Boys Ranch Trinity Arts building. … Continue reading
Posted in Writers, Writers Groups, Writing
Tagged bedford, doorknowbs and body paint, joanne faries, magnapoets, off the coast, orange room review, river poets journal, san saba, sharon k owen, sharonkowen, silver boomer, texas, trinity writers workshop, TWW, up the staircase, writers critique groups
9 Comments
WEEKLY PHOTO CHALLENGE – COMFORT
Wow! This topic is going to expose all my self-indulgent tendencies. But here goes. Comfort for me is a short break in the day’s routine when I can indulge myself for a little while in the following ways: Curling up in … Continue reading
THANK HEAVEN FOR LITTLE GIRLS
Many of you may never have heard Maurice Chevalier sing Thank Heaven For Little Girls. If not, it would be worth your time to rent it and watch him and Leslie Caron, Louis Jourdan and Hemione Gingold in Vincent Minelli’s (Liza’s … Continue reading
Posted in Family and Friends, Movies, Music
Tagged children, gigi, girls, hermione gingold, leslie caron, louis jourdan, maurice chevalier, movies, musicals, sharon k owen, sharonkowen, thank heaven for little girls
1 Comment
WEEKLY PHOTO CHALLENGE-FACES
An eye can threaten like a loaded and levelled gun, or it can insult like hissing or kicking; or, in its altered mood, by beams of kindness, it can make the heart dance for joy…. One of the most wonderful … Continue reading
Posted in Family and Friends, Pets
Tagged children sharon k owen sharonkowen, dogs, faces, families, pets, postaday 2011
2 Comments
WEEKLY PHOTO CHALLENGE-FALL
Fall has always symbolized the harvest of all the hard work done during the preceding months of the year. The crops are gathered and taken to market. Plans are made for the planting of new … Continue reading
Posted in Seasons, Trinity Writers Workshop, Writers Groups, Writing, Writing Seminars and Conferences
Tagged bedford, chuck sambuchino, crops, dallas, fall, fiction, fort worth, harvest, Hurst, marketing seminar, non-fiction, post-a-day-2011, pumpkins, sharon k owen, sharonkowen, texas, trinity writers workshop, writing, writing groups, writing seminar
3 Comments
BOOK BUILDING STRATEGIES FOR NANO
As many of you know. the National Novel Writing (NANO) month begins in November. For those unfamiliar with the tradition, writers sign up and commit to writing 50,000 words (or more) in one month. It is a really good way … Continue reading
Posted in Books, Writers, Writing
Tagged blog, book, character board, description, dialogue, fiction, janet evanovich, kristen lamb, movie, nano, one for the money, sharon k owen, sharonkowen, structure
8 Comments
WEEKLY PHOTO CHALLENGE: TEXTURE
Inspired by the WordPress Daily Post photo challenge for the week: Textures, I started thinking of how that word resonates in my life. In my writing, I’m always working to add layers of complexity to my fictional characters so that … Continue reading
Posted in Arts and Crafts, Gardening, needlework, Pets, Writing
Tagged cats, collage, crochet, fiction, fictional characters, gardens, hats, knitting, needlework, novel, photo boards, postaday2011, sharonkowen sharon k owen, sweet potato, texture, thread, weaving, wiritng
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STEPPING UP TO THE PLATE
At Trinity Writers’ Workshop, we encourage our members to write and share their writing with other supportive members. The groups’ critiques are a great help in the revision process. Another strategy we emphasize is submitting the writing projects for publication. … Continue reading
ACCEPTING THE CHALLENGE
I’ve decided I want to blog more. Rather than just thinking about doing it, I’m starting right now. I will be posting on this blog once a day. I know it won’t be easy, but it might be fun, inspiring, … Continue reading
CHANCE ENCOUNTERS
On Friday of last week and Monday of this one, I substituted for a computer teacher at a nearby high school. One of the classes was basically a study hall for fourteen students who had either fallen behind in their classes … Continue reading
K.I.S.S.
Over the past two years I’ve been trying to simplify my life. Okay, I’ve been talking about that sort of simplification for a long time but after being downsized in 2009, I’ve had more incentive to actually follow through on … Continue reading
Posted in Home and Garden, The Upside of Downsizing, Writing
Tagged arts and crafts, clutter, house cleaning, organization, simplicity, writing
2 Comments
PAYING IT FORWARD
One of the greatest benefits to membership in a writing/critique group is the connection to talented and generous colleagues who are willing to share, not only their writing/critique skills, but their more practical business knowledge and experience. Trinity Writers’ Workshop … Continue reading
Posted in Trinity Writers Workshop, Writers Groups, Writing, Writing Seminars and Conferences
Tagged amazon, chuck sambuchino, creative writing, dallas, ebooks, fiction, finding a publisher, finding an agent, fort worth, kindle, marketing seminar, memoir, one way ticket to anywhere, rich ochoa, self-publishing, texas, trinity writers workshop, writers market, writing critique groups, writing groups, writing workshop
2 Comments
UNDER THE LIGHT OF THE MIRROR BALL
Have I mentioned before that I’m a reality performance show junkie? Well I am. And last night I got a double fix with the debut of the 2011 Dancing With the Stars and the Sing Off. Thank God for the … Continue reading
Posted in Favorite TV Shows, Music, Reality Talent Shows
Tagged carson kressley, chaz bono, dancing with the stars, david arquette, the sing off
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OH REALLY?
I wore my #9 Cowboys’ jersey when I went grocery shopping this morning–a tradition for game days–and tolerated the sneers and jokes from fans wearing Miles Austin, Dez Bryant, Felix Jones and Jason Witten shirts. This was before the Cowboys-49ers … Continue reading
Posted in Football, Music, Sports
Tagged dallas cowboys, san francisco 49ers, speak now, taylor swift, tony romo
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OH REALLY?
I wore my #9 Cowboys’ jersey when I went grocery shopping this morning–a tradition for game days–and tolerated the sneers and jokes from fans wearing Miles Austin, Dez Bryant, Felix Jones and Jason Witten shirts. This was before the Cowboys-49ers … Continue reading
Posted in Football, Music, Sports
Tagged dallas cowboys, san francisco 49ers, speak now, taylor swift, tony romo
Comments Off on OH REALLY?
IT’S A PUZZLEMENT
A good friend just thanked me for recommending some authors and books to her. This led to a conversation of how frustrating it is to find books that are worth the money and time we spend on them. She and … Continue reading
Posted in Books, Trinity Writers Workshop, Writers Groups, Writing
Tagged 1920s, boston, fiction, historical fiction, irish, jewish, novels, published writers, romance, romantic suspense, writing critique groups, writing groups
Comments Off on IT’S A PUZZLEMENT
IT’S A PUZZLEMENT
A good friend just thanked me for recommending some authors and books to her. This led to a conversation of how frustrating it is to find books that are worth the money and time we spend on them. She and … Continue reading
Posted in Books, Trinity Writers Workshop, Writers Groups, Writing
Tagged 1920s, boston, fiction, historical fiction, irish, jewish, novels, published writers, romance, romantic suspense, writing critique groups, writing groups
Comments Off on IT’S A PUZZLEMENT
IT’S A PUZZLEMENT
A good friend just thanked me for recommending some authors and books to her. This led to a conversation of how frustrating it is to find books that are worth the money and time we spend on them. She and … Continue reading
Posted in Books, Trinity Writers Workshop, Writers Groups, Writing
Tagged 1920s, boston, fiction, historical fiction, irish, jewish, novels, published writers, romance, romantic suspense, writing critique groups, writing groups
Comments Off on IT’S A PUZZLEMENT
AGAINST ALL ODDS
We’ve all heard stories of how many times a best-selling book was rejected before it finally found the right publisher, but the story of Mike Wells novella Wild Child tops most of them for me. As he explains in his blog The … Continue reading
Posted in Blogs, Books, Writing
Tagged creative writing, ebooks, fiction, mike wells, novellas, novels, thrillers, wild child, young adult fiction
2 Comments
AGAINST ALL ODDS
We’ve all heard stories of how many times a best-selling book was rejected before it finally found the right publisher, but the story of Mike Wells novella Wild Child tops most of them for me. As he explains in his blog The … Continue reading
Posted in Blogs, Books, Writing
Tagged creative writing, ebooks, fiction, mike wells, novellas, novels, thrillers, wild child, young adult fiction
2 Comments
AGAINST ALL ODDS
We’ve all heard stories of how many times a best-selling book was rejected before it finally found the right publisher, but the story of Mike Wells novella Wild Child tops most of them for me. As he explains in his blog The … Continue reading
Posted in Blogs, Books, Writing
Tagged creative writing, ebooks, fiction, mike wells, novellas, novels, thrillers, wild child, young adult fiction
3 Comments
LOVING ME SOME LADY A
Music is a constant thread in my life. Depending on the situation, tt entertains, consoles, inspires me and celebrates events in my life. I listen to my favorite artists (see some of those listed under MP3 in my Collection) as I drive, … Continue reading
Posted in Books, Entertainment, Music, Writing
Tagged albums, brands crossing series, charles kelley, dave haywood, hillary scott, lady antebellum, mp3, music, need you now, novel, own the night, romantic suspense, thicker than water, whatever goes around
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LOVING ME SOME LADY A
Music is a constant thread in my life. Depending on the situation, tt entertains, consoles, inspires me and celebrates events in my life. I listen to my favorite artists (see some of those listed under MP3 in my Collection) as I drive, … Continue reading
Posted in Books, Entertainment, Music, Writing
Tagged albums, brands crossing series, charles kelley, dave haywood, hillary scott, lady antebellum, mp3, music, need you now, novel, own the night, romantic suspense, thicker than water, whatever goes around
Comments Off on LOVING ME SOME LADY A
LOVING ME SOME LADY A
Music is a constant thread in my life. Depending on the situation, tt entertains, consoles, inspires me and celebrates events in my life. I listen to my favorite artists (see some of those listed under MP3 in my Collection) as I drive, … Continue reading
Posted in Books, Entertainment, Music, Writing
Tagged albums, brands crossing series, charles kelley, dave haywood, hillary scott, lady antebellum, mp3, music, need you now, novel, own the night, romantic suspense, thicker than water, whatever goes around
Comments Off on LOVING ME SOME LADY A
WHAT’S IN YOUR WALLET
Since I tend to write character-driven more than plot-driven novels, my first step in starting a new manuscript is to give my characters the physical, mental, emotional and spiritual depth that will make them believable and interesting to the reader. To do this, … Continue reading
Posted in Books, Writing, Writing Exercises, Writing Lessons
Tagged creating fictional characters, creative writing, eve dallas, fiction, j d robb, nora roberts, novels, origin in death, police procedural, romantic suspense, writers, writing techniques
Comments Off on WHAT’S IN YOUR WALLET
WHAT’S IN YOUR WALLET
Since I tend to write character-driven more than plot-driven novels, my first step in starting a new manuscript is to give my characters the physical, mental, emotional and spiritual depth that will make them believable and interesting to the reader. To do this, … Continue reading
Posted in Books, Writing, Writing Exercises, Writing Lessons
Tagged creating fictional characters, creative writing, eve dallas, fiction, j d robb, nora roberts, novels, origin in death, police procedural, romantic suspense, writers, writing techniques
Comments Off on WHAT’S IN YOUR WALLET
ADDING A LITTLE COLOR
This morning I wrote a scene in my latest novel, Whatever Goes Around, in which my protagonist, Claire Kincaid, is shopping at a garden center. The setting is Dallas, Texas, the month is late February, and Claire is longing for the colors … Continue reading
Posted in Arts and Crafts, Books, Gardening, needlework, Writing
Tagged begonia, coleus, craft basket, crochet, daisy, dallas, fiction, flowers, garden, gardenia, hair accessories, honeysuckle, hydrangea, jasmine, lambs ear, needlework, novel, oxalia, plants, sage, salvia, sharon k owen, sharonkowen, summer, sweet potato, texas, winter, writing
2 Comments
ADDING A LITTLE COLOR
This morning I wrote a scene in my latest novel, Whatever Goes Around, in which my protagonist, Claire Kincaid, is shopping at a garden center. The setting is Dallas, Texas, the month is late February, and Claire is longing for the colors … Continue reading
Posted in Arts and Crafts, Books, Gardening, needlework, Writing
Tagged begonia, coleus, craft basket, crochet, daisy, dallas, fiction, flowers, garden, gardenia, hair accessories, honeysuckle, hydrangea, jasmine, lambs ear, needlework, novel, oxalia, plants, sage, salvia, sharon k owen, sharonkowen, summer, sweet potato, texas, winter, writing
2 Comments
ADDING A LITTLE COLOR
This morning I wrote a scene in my latest novel, Whatever Goes Around, in which my protagonist, Claire Kincaid, is shopping at a garden center. The setting is Dallas, Texas, the month is late February, and Claire is longing for the colors … Continue reading
Posted in Arts and Crafts, Books, Gardening, needlework, Writing
Tagged begonia, coleus, craft basket, crochet, daisy, dallas, fiction, flowers, garden, gardenia, hair accessories, honeysuckle, hydrangea, jasmine, lambs ear, needlework, novel, oxalia, plants, sage, salvia, sharon k owen, sharonkowen, summer, sweet potato, texas, winter, writing
2 Comments
ADDING A LITTLE COLOR
This morning I wrote a scene in my latest novel, Whatever Goes Around, in which my protagonist, Claire Kincaid, is shopping at a garden center. The setting is Dallas, Texas, the month is late February, and Claire is longing for the colors … Continue reading
Posted in Arts and Crafts, Books, Gardening, needlework, Writing
Tagged begonia, coleus, craft basket, crochet, daisy, dallas, fiction, flowers, garden, gardenia, hair accessories, honeysuckle, hydrangea, jasmine, lambs ear, needlework, novel, oxalia, plants, sage, salvia, sharon k owen, sharonkowen, summer, sweet potato, texas, winter, writing
2 Comments
CHANGING SEASONS
Today I substituted in a freshman English class at a local high school. This meant I left home at a little before 7:00 am. The air was crisp and cool, some of the leaves on the trees were turning and, as … Continue reading
Posted in Football, Music, Pets, Seasons, Teaching
Tagged boys of fall, college football, dallas cowboys, fall, french bulldogs, halloween, halloween costumes, hemingway's whiskey, high school, high school football, high school marching band, kenny chesney, leaves, pet costumes, pets, professional football, seasons, sharon k owen, sharonkowen, substitute teaching, TCU Hornfrogs, tony romo
2 Comments
CHANGING SEASONS
Today I substituted in a freshman English class at a local high school. This meant I left home at a little before 7:00 am. The air was crisp and cool, some of the leaves on the trees were turning and, as … Continue reading
Posted in Football, Music, Pets, Seasons, Teaching
Tagged boys of fall, college football, dallas cowboys, fall, french bulldogs, halloween, halloween costumes, hemingway's whiskey, high school, high school football, high school marching band, kenny chesney, leaves, pet costumes, pets, professional football, seasons, sharon k owen, sharonkowen, substitute teaching, TCU Hornfrogs, tony romo
3 Comments
MARKETING YOUR WRITING
I’ve mentioned the Trinity Writers Workshop before when I talked about the importance of writers’ read/critique groups. This fall, TWW is sponsoring a writing seminar on how to market your writing. TRINITY WRITERS’ WORKSHOP FALL 2011 SEMINAR MARKETING YOUR WRITING … Continue reading
Posted in Writers Groups, Writing, Writing Seminars and Conferences
Tagged chuck sambuchino, creative writing, creative writing class, fiction, fiction writing seminar, marketing class, marketing seminar, workshop, writers critique group, writers digest, writing, writing seminar
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WHEN YOU THINK TAYLOR SWIFT I HOPE YOU THINK OF KATE
When I’m in the early stages of writing a novel, I collect pictures of people that fit the image I have of my characters. For Kate O’Donnell in Thicker Than Water, it was difficult to find that role model. I … Continue reading
PRIMING THE PUMP
After a lazy weekend dog-sitting two of my favorite canines, my return home reminded me of all the things that didn’t get done in my absence. Like watering my starving plants and giving expected attention to my cats, Matt and … Continue reading
Posted in Home and Garden, Pets, Writing
Tagged adopting a pet, alpha, cats, chapter, creative writing, dogs, fiction, flowers, gardening, novel, pets, plants, scene, sharon k owen, sharonkowen, water, writing
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SUNDAY MUSINGS
Sundays are usually quiet days for me. I always have some new materials, assignments and questions to post to the online composition/communications class I teach. After that, the cats and I usually go outside and do some gardening. Working with my … Continue reading
Posted in Home and Garden, Pets, Writing
Tagged cats, creative writng, dogs, gardening, jd robb, kindred in death, nora roberts, novels, pet-sitting, pets, readers, sharon k owen, sharonkowen, writing, writing classes
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SUNDAY MUSINGS
Sundays are usually quiet days for me. I always have some new materials, assignments and questions to post to the online composition/communications class I teach. After that, the cats and I usually go outside and do some gardening. Working with my … Continue reading
Posted in Home and Garden, Pets, Writing
Tagged cats, creative writng, dogs, gardening, jd robb, kindred in death, nora roberts, novels, pet-sitting, pets, readers, sharon k owen, sharonkowen, writing, writing classes
Comments Off on SUNDAY MUSINGS
WRITERS’ READING AND CRITIQUE GROUPS
Writing is such a solitary endeavor. Those of us who practice that art (craft?) always yearn for a safe, supportive, constructive group which provides the opportunity to meet with other creatives, read our work in progress and receive positive, constructive … Continue reading
Posted in Musical Performers, Musicians, Trinity Writers Workshop, Writers, Writers Groups, Writing
Tagged bedford, dallas, fiction writing, fort worth, north texas, sharon k owen, sharonkowen, texas, writers, writers critique groups, writers groups
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GETTING READY FOR FALL
After a couple months of mostly triple digit temperatures. I am definitely ready for fall. I know it will be a while before the leaves begin to turn . .. But soon the new fall line-up of TV shows will start. … Continue reading
Posted in Arts and Crafts, Favorite TV Shows, Football, Home and Garden, needlework, Reality Talent Shows, Seasons, Sports, Writing
Tagged american idol, andy dalton, blue blood, castle, cincinnati bengals, dallas cowboys, dancing with the stars, dvr, etsy, fall, football, grays anatomy, harry's law, needlework, reality shows, sing off, so you think you can dance, tcu, texas, the good wife, the voice, tony romo, tv, x-factor
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REQUIEM
When I was a child I was fascinated by the stars. I remember asking my grandfather what those sparkling lights in the sky were. His explanation had little to do with science–as a four-year-old, I wasn’t ready for astronomy lessons. … Continue reading
Posted in Family and Friends, Life in the Village, Pets
Tagged animals, dogs, family, friends, loss, pets, sharon k owen, sharonkowen, stars
2 Comments
WELCOME I’m glad you’ve dropped by for a visit. To see my blog click the link on the sidebar. You can also follow me at Twitter and FaceBook.
Posted in Uncategorized
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TRADING SPACES
Sometimes a change of scene makes all the difference. This past week two other wormen in my family and I traded spaces. While Kimberly and her fiance enjoyed a Hawaii vacation, I pet sat their French Bulldogs Hurley and Mitzer. … Continue reading
Posted in Family and Friends, Pets
Tagged family, hawaii, oklahoma, pet-sitting, pets, texas, travel
3 Comments
