Over nose and mouth, To keep the world safe for all, Mask if you can please.
Author: Hyacinth Grey
I'm a new Indie Author, and my book, Wounded Bride, is the first in a hard-boiled detective series. I love to read, and at the moment, I'm really into nonfiction. I like most topics, but am not very interested in politics.
Haiku – August 10
Warm sun and cool breeze, Children laugh somewhere nearby, A beautiful day.
Time Gone By – Part 4 – Science Fiction
This is a work of fiction. At 5:15, Lydia and I approached the camp site. As we did, I heard the boys laughing. Good, they were having fun. Then I heard what sounded like some weird electronic noises. We came out into the grassy area where the tents were, and I saw all three boys… Continue reading Time Gone By – Part 4 – Science Fiction
Get the eBook of Wounded Bride Today!
The best place to get Wounded Bride in eBook format is from the FriesenPress Online Bookstore. Why? You get three different formats with one purchase.EPUB - almost every eReader and app can read EPUB files.Mobi - this format is for Kindle devices and apps.PDF - this filetype can be opened on most computers, tablets, and… Continue reading Get the eBook of Wounded Bride Today!
Lockdown – Part 3 – Horror Fiction
This is a work of fiction. "Your order has been placed," the salesman says. "Thanks. When will it be delivered?" "You should get it in about a month." "A month? I need it for college now." The line clicks. He's hung up on me! I call back to speak to somebody in customer service. After… Continue reading Lockdown – Part 3 – Horror Fiction
Air – Haiku
Prompt: Air. Take in a deep breath, The people who've lived before, Have shared it with you.
Writing Wednesday: How to Show Your Readers a Story
"Show, don't tell," is frequent writing advice. Even though we say "tell me a story," showing a story is what many writers aim for, and in this post, I'll show you some examples of how to make your writing less "telly." Remove adverbs from dialog attributions. "I'm so excited to see you!" she said excitedly.… Continue reading Writing Wednesday: How to Show Your Readers a Story
Nothing’s Blocking Me! – using the coolest WordPress Editor
To start "change-it-up Tuesday," I thought it might be fun to begin a new weekly feature using the WordPress Block Editor. My computer's pretty old and a little "crashy," so I use the WordPress app on an iPhone. The app doesn't quite match the desktop version for power yet, but they add things all the… Continue reading Nothing’s Blocking Me! – using the coolest WordPress Editor
Haiku – August 3
Chill wind blows over, The high craggy mountain top, Wish I could feel it.
Short Fiction Sunday – Lockdown – Horror Fiction
Billy's nineteen and still afraid of the dark. His adopted mother has just given birth, and Dad can think only of his new daughter. Lockdown, part 1 was posted on July 10, and a new part will be posted every second Friday.
Get your copy of Wounded Bride
Detective Maria Mateo is new to the Chicago Police Department. Wounded Bride is available now. Get your copy today. From somewhere inside the book: There hadn't been any point in eating. She was out of the job she loved, so why bother?
Time Gone By – Part 3 – Science Fiction
This is a work of fiction. The car was quiet as I drove out of the city half an hour later. At first, the boys had talked a little, but that had petered out after about fifteen minutes. I guessed they were all too full from breakfast. Suddenly, Lydia let out a small cry. "What… Continue reading Time Gone By – Part 3 – Science Fiction
Words – Haiku
Words live in our minds, We add new ones throughout life, Faithful friends always.
A Letter to My Website Visitors
Dear Visitors, A thousand people, Have come to my site looking, For entertainment. You are each precious, And I'll never forget you, As long as I live. Thank you for coming, Even when I started out, You encouraged me. To the next thousand, The next one and the next ten, You're inspiration. Yours truly, Hyacinth… Continue reading A Letter to My Website Visitors
Genres: Tips for Writing Horror
I think that horror is one of the most flexible genres. You can do anything you want, and often, little or no research is required. I do have a tip for you, though. It's easy for a horror story to sound like a catalog of events. Each one is scary, but if you pile terrible… Continue reading Genres: Tips for Writing Horror
Haiku – July 27
Pieces of our lives, Are glued together in ways, That make new stories.
Short Fiction Sunday – Time Gone By – Science Fiction
A grandma. Four kids. They're all going camping this summer, sometimes they don't get along, and they might be called upon to help stop something terrible -- if there's time. Part 1 of Time Gone By was posted on July 3, and a new part will go up every second Friday.
Some Changes to my Weekly Blogging Schedule
As of Saturday, August 1, I'm changing up what I post each day. Please refer to my Accountability page for more information. I'm also thinking about redesigning my Home page. For now, it's my Books page, and this Blog can be found in the navigation menu.
Lockdown – Part 2 – Horror Fiction
This is a work of fiction. "Dad, we're—" He looks at his watch and says, "Oh, it's 9:30. Somebody's coming at ten to see how Mona's doing." Before I can ask him if he has any pretzels or chocolate in his home office, he runs into the kitchen, comes back with the broom, and tries… Continue reading Lockdown – Part 2 – Horror Fiction
Tomb
I was working on a book and wrote the word "tombstone." Then I started to wonder why "tomb" rhymes with "gloom" and doesn't sound like "Tom." According to Wiktionary, "tomb" was borrowed from Old French into Middle English, and since I understand neither Middle English spelling nor pronunciation, I don't know why the o, but… Continue reading Tomb
A Letter to Books
Dear Books, During the last ten or so years, I've been hearing people say that printed books are on the decline, due to the rise of eBooks. I don't think the trend has continued as fast as initially predicted, and I think that some printed books will always be produced. I don't believe it when… Continue reading A Letter to Books
Genres: Tips for Writing Science Fiction
Sci-fi can be a difficult genre to write in, so here are a few tips. Know your science. I once wrote a sci-fi story in which there was a temperature of minus a thousand degrees. Such a temperature does not exist. Yes, you're allowed to change things, but it's better to know how the real… Continue reading Genres: Tips for Writing Science Fiction
Haiku – July 20
Snowflakes flutter down, Flung indiscriminately, By God's loving hands.
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Hyacinth Grey’s Books for Young Readers
I'm working on children's books, and I've created a second website for them. Please visit Hyacinth Grey's Books for Young Readers (www.hgb4yr.com) for details.
Time Gone By – Part 2 – Science Fiction
This is a work of fiction. "Let's see if we can find those boys," I said. I'd already seen they weren't in the kitchen, so I walked by the bathroom, but the door was open and nobody was inside. Next was the office, but that was locked, so they couldn't have gotten in there. Time… Continue reading Time Gone By – Part 2 – Science Fiction
Tiny
Somebody used the word "tiny" in a tweet, and it sparked this post. Interestingly, the word "tiny" may relate to the tines of a fork. They are quite small, although I personally wouldn't call them tiny. I read the definition of "tine," and discovered, to my surprise, that it can be used as an adjective,… Continue reading Tiny
A Letter to COVID-19
To the virus: I don't like you. After thinking about you for a few minutes, I've realized that when it comes down to facts, you're neither good nor evil. I want to hate you, to despise you, and to destroy you with the depth of my dislike for you. You've made a great many people… Continue reading A Letter to COVID-19
How to Pick Genres to Write in
There is a huge variety of genres from which to choose before you sit down to write some fiction. Here's how to pick them. You will probably hear the suggestion to write in a genre you read a lot. I don't have a problem with this, but why limit yourself? If you have an idea… Continue reading How to Pick Genres to Write in
Haiku – July 13
Over the mountains, An ocean lies waiting for, You to explore it.
Short Fiction Sunday – The Choice
Rita is offered a choice: either stay in the job she hates, or take a chance. The Choice was the first piece of short fiction that I published on this blog. Check it out, and find out what Rita chooses... and the consequences of that choice.
Looking Forward to November
I'm very excited about NaNoWriMo this year. Please check out this post to learn why. If you've read it before, you'll notice it's been updated.
Lockdown – Part 1 – Horror Fiction
This is a work of fiction, and was inspired by this Tweet from Mims the Word. The street light I can see from my window is broken. I'm nineteen, and Dad took away my nightlight when I was ten. We're in lockdown, but I'm a lot more afraid of the dark than of COVID-19. That's… Continue reading Lockdown – Part 1 – Horror Fiction
Three Writing Prompts I Had a Blast with
Tempo Volume Lousy
Four Letters I’m Glad I “Sent”
A Letter to FriesenPress A Letter to Nonfiction A Letter to Short Fiction A Letter to the Pacific Ocean
Two Previous Writing Advice Posts
Due to illness (not COVID-19), much of what I post this week will be previous content. I had a lot of fun with How to Overcome the Fear of Plotholes in Your Fiction, and A Couple of Great Reasons to Write Fiction. I hope to be back next week with new stuff.
Haiku – July 6
Let's help each other, Encouragement means a lot, As we live our lives.
Writing Community Insults
This tweet by @mims_words and the comments are great "resources" if you want to fire off writing insults, but be warned. If you go on the attack with these, expect it right back and so, so much worse. I will never use these on you and request the same courtesy. They are great and I… Continue reading Writing Community Insults
Happy 4th of July!
🇺🇸 Happy Fourth of July!
Time Gone By – Part 1 – Science Fiction
This is a work of fiction. It was a crisp July day and everybody was complaining that summer wasn't acting very summery, but the cool air was perfect for the day ahead with my grandkids: Curly (Benjamin), Sammy (Samuel), Freckles (David), and Lydia. She was like me in that we were both girls, shared the… Continue reading Time Gone By – Part 1 – Science Fiction
The Penny, the Dollar, and the Pound
I'm having some book covers created by David Collins of DC Cover Creations, and I pay in British pounds. I started thinking about the names of various currencies, and what they mean. The penny. Well, pennies are old, and I don't mean just sort of old. The word has a Proto-Germanic origin and there are… Continue reading The Penny, the Dollar, and the Pound
A Letter to FriesenPress
🇨🇦 Dear FriesenPress, Happy Canada Day! You are my favorite self-publishing company ever, and thanks to being able to work with your great team, I have a 294-page reason to celebrate year round! I look forward to publishing more books with you. Yours truly, Hyacinth Grey
What Writing Is (and is not)
Writing is not an arcane activity. You don't need to be an expert in anything to be able to write. Having good grammar, spelling, and punctuation helps, but as long as you have a story to tell, you can write fiction. You don't need to take a writing course or follow certain rules. You can… Continue reading What Writing Is (and is not)
Haiku: What would you like to read on this blog?
What kinds of posts would, You like to read on this blog? Please leave a comment.
Get Wounded Bride – Haiku
Get Wounded Bride now, Fast-paced detective thriller, The FriesenPress store.
All Haiku
I have so much fun, Writing haikus for this blog, Category page.
The Dark Tide – Part 10
This is a work of fiction. "Before we go," my wife said, "why did that man want to kill me?" I told her about the bicycle cart accident just as the mother bird had been landing. "My daughter," my wife said when I'd finished speaking, "would you please help me pull him out of this… Continue reading The Dark Tide – Part 10
Ramshackle – Haiku
Somebody used the word "ramshackle" on Twitter. It's a fun word, in spite of its not so fun meaning, so here's a ramshackle haiku. The roof leaks badly, It's freezing cold in winter, But I was born there.
A Letter to Summer – Haiku
Dear Summer, Spring is just too wet, Fall is nice but it's not you, Winter is too cold. Yours truly, Hyacinth Grey
A Couple of Great Reasons to Write Fiction
Lots of us love to read fiction, but have you considered writing some? Here are two great reasons why you should. The news is often frightening, confusing, and bad. Some people post on blogs or social media, some write physical letters or e-mails, and some, like me, turn their fear and uncertainty into fiction. Here… Continue reading A Couple of Great Reasons to Write Fiction
Haiku – June 22
The kitchen fills with, Wonderful scents of spices, Holiday season.
A Beautiful Tweet
This Tweet by Haiku Book is just perfect for today.
What I’m Doing This November
November is National Novel Writing Month (NaNoWriMo), and last year, I wrote one novel and started another. This year, I'm going to write one novel, but every day, I'm going to post what I've just written to this blog. My regular features will be suspended during November, so if I'm in the middle of a… Continue reading What I’m Doing This November
The Dark Tide – Part 9
This is a work of fiction. It took longer than four hours to reach the place where the young sitting bird, the children, and my daughter's love were, because we had to stop along the way for food and water. My daughter ran ahead to warn her love that he mustn't be seen or see… Continue reading The Dark Tide – Part 9
Clock – Haiku
Tick tick tick tick tick, Students in classrooms waiting, For the bell to ring.
A Letter to Self-Publishing
Dear Self-Publishing, Please, don't tear this up before you read it. I know you get a lot of hate mail, but this is a love letter. I think you are probably one of the most misunderstood aspects of the book world. I've seen some of the letters you get, and they're not pretty. No, I… Continue reading A Letter to Self-Publishing
How to Overcome the Fear of Plotholes in Your Fiction
Are you afraid of the following: You've spent a lot of time crafting a wonderful story, but when you read it over, you find something that doesn't agree with something else -- a plothole. I'm pretty sure it happens to every writer at some point. It's certainly happened to me. The question isn't weather writers… Continue reading How to Overcome the Fear of Plotholes in Your Fiction
How Many Syllables are in an Emoji? – Shopping List – Haiku
🍎 🍐 🍌 🍉 🍑 🥔 🧅 🥕 🌽 🥒 🥦 🍅 🥛 🥚 🧀 🍞 🧈
Why I Plan to Keep on Blogging
My feet have been dragging a little lately. I haven't been thinking about quitting, but when I came across Read This if You Want to Quit Your Blog by Cristian Mihai from The Art of Blogging, I thought I'd better read it. I did, got inspired to pull myself out of the mud of a… Continue reading Why I Plan to Keep on Blogging
Why I Love to Write Letters
Every Wednesday for a while now, I've been writing letters. Here's why: it's fun. I took the everyday inspiration course from Blogging University, and one of the suggested tasks was to write a letter as a blog post. I did so and then got hooked. Most are humorous, some are serious, and some are both,… Continue reading Why I Love to Write Letters
The Dark Tide – Part 8
This is a work of fiction. I went to check on the female Leader of Worship. As soon as I removed the gag, she asked for water, which I provided. Then she said, "What will you do with my Partner of Worship and me?" "I will set you free once I have killed him." "May… Continue reading The Dark Tide – Part 8
House – Haiku
The writing prompt for this haiku was the first word that popped into my head: "house." The outside's not much, Walls and windows roof and doors, The inside is home.
A Letter to My Internal Editor – Haiku
Dear My Internal Editor, You help me work hard, Through long days of revision, But sometimes you're mean. Yours truly, Hyacinth Grey
When and How to Self-Edit Your Fiction
Should you self-edit your fiction? If so, when and how? Yes, every writer should self-edit. To do otherwise is to be untrue to your stories. No, that last statement wasn't meant as some kind of high-horsed snobbery. Self-edit and revise are synonyms, but self-edit has a further connotation of "doing it all yourself." Some writers… Continue reading When and How to Self-Edit Your Fiction
Haiku – June 8
I've been reading A Brief History of Japan by Jonathan Clements, which contains vivid descriptions of the armadas sent by Kublai Khan to attack Japan. This haiku is written from the perspective of an "observer" floating in the sea. A hail of arrows, Sounds of wind and war cries fierce, Hot blood meets cold sea.
Who I am, What I Do, and Where to Find Me
Hi. I'm Hyacinth Grey, and here's my About the Author page. A lot has changed since that was written for my book, Wounded Bride, so I'd like to add to it. I think the quickest way is to show you my Accountability page. There, I sketch out what I'm working on and what I'm planning.… Continue reading Who I am, What I Do, and Where to Find Me
What happens when the gods are angry but a man cannot leave behind what he treasures most? – The Dark Tide – fantasy fiction
The Dark Tide - Part 1
The Dark Tide – Part 7
This is a work of fiction. As soon as I took the gag out of his mouth, the male Leader of Worship started screaming for help. Quickly, I gagged him again, and then I listened. I heard a distant voice. So did he. He smiled. It took a few seconds before I could hear it… Continue reading The Dark Tide – Part 7
Lousy
It's interesting how the meaning of words changes over time, but even more so that we don't often think about the words we use, and where they come from. A remarkably good (or bad) example of this is the word "lousy." The dictionary definition, or at least the first one, is "remarkably bad," "poor quality,"… Continue reading Lousy
A Letter to Time – Haiku
Dear Time, If you were my dad, I would never once be late, Also not human. Yours truly, Hyacinth Grey
3 Tips for Fiction Writers Struggling with Setting
Setting is crucial to creating something your Readers will love, and if you struggle with it, then you're like me. Getting setting right might be easier if stories took place entirely in one location, but they seldom do, so writers have hard work ahead. We have to constantly change the scenery, move in and out… Continue reading 3 Tips for Fiction Writers Struggling with Setting
Haiku – June 1
Dancer in silk robes, Infused with the rising sun, Inspiration tea.
Where I Learned to Write Interesting Post Titles
From Day One, I've struggled to come up with interesting post titles. No more. Cristian Mihai from The Art of Blogging has written The Art of Crafting a Brilliant Headline. It's a post worthy of being saved, printed out, and kept near at hand when you're blogging.
What Would You Choose? staying in a job you hated or… facing the unknown – The Choice (short fiction)
It's Saturday night, and Rita is offered a choice: either stay in the job she hates but be able to pay the bills, or reply to Matt's e-mail... The Choice Short story previously published in six parts on this blog, and when it was finished, I put it together on a page for your convenience.
The Dark Tide – Part 6
This is a work of fiction. The canoe drifted toward the house, and I thought it was going to collide with it, but it skimmed past the corner of it and carried me downstream. I had nothing left in the world except the canoe, the clothes I wore, and my daughter's sketches. If I could… Continue reading The Dark Tide – Part 6
Find
I post a haiku on Mondays, but I can never have too many and I like starting them with writing prompts. Prompt (first word that popped into my head): find A computer screen, The mind wishing to know things, Hands on the keyboard.
A Letter to Pantsing and Plotting
Dear Pantsing and Plotting, I'm really happy I've got y'all as my best friends. If I didn't, nothing would get written, and my life would be incredibly boring. Pantsing, do you remember that day in August 2017 when we sat down with only the idea of writing a detective novel? I do. The page didn't… Continue reading A Letter to Pantsing and Plotting
Writing Advice – The Long and the Short
Featured image: tranquil lake reflecting house and forest -- Photo by Tatiana Syrikova on Pexels.com There's nothing like sitting down with a thick book or tucking into one on your tablet. But at other times, you probably want something lighter. There's no reason you can't have both. Does the idea of writing a novel fill… Continue reading Writing Advice – The Long and the Short
Haiku – May 25
Blue all around me, Oxygen tank on my back, The ocean is warm.
Another Me
When I was picking a pseudonym to write under, I did a quick check to see if there was already a well-known author with the name I was planning to use. There were people with the same name, but none of them appeared to be authors. I did find something cool: a character named Hyacinth… Continue reading Another Me
Four Months since Wounded Bride was Published!
Today, it's been four months since Wounded Bride was self-published with FriesenPress. I have some cool stuff to show you today. David Collins at DC Cover Creations has crafted a logo for me! It's now being displayed on every page and post of my site.I have two previous posts to show you, and five videos.Morgan… Continue reading Four Months since Wounded Bride was Published!
The Dark Tide – Part 5
This is a work of fiction. The two men laughed as they drove the bicycle cart away, and I was left standing alone at the edge of the precipice. For a few seconds, I considered jumping off and joining my daughter, but my wife might still be alive, and I owed it to my daughter… Continue reading The Dark Tide – Part 5
Sober
It's almost Friday, so I'm thinking about the opposite of sober. I had no idea where the word "sober" came from, so I looked it up; it's pretty much Latin for not drunk ("without intoxication.") Well great! I like to learn something I didn't already know when I research words for these posts. Maybe I… Continue reading Sober
A Letter to Nonfiction
Dear Nonfiction, Boy, you must be mad after reading last week's letter to short fiction. First I said it was fun writing something other than essay-style posts, and then I went on and on about my romantic, moon-lit relationship with fiction. Well, all of that is true, but you know what? You shouldn't have opened… Continue reading A Letter to Nonfiction
Writing Advice – Point of View
Pistol: Why, then the world's mine oyster. Which I with sword will open. William Shakespeare -- The Merry Wives of Windsor, act 2, scene 2 There are no rules about POV. That's right, there really aren't any. In this post about Starting NaNoWriMo, I said that I was struggling with third person narration in a… Continue reading Writing Advice – Point of View
Haiku – May 18
Abandoned buildings, Dusty gray and sky the same, Black mud underfoot.
WordPress is my Favorite
My first web-hosting company didn't work for me. It was Weebly, and I'm sharing that because it may work great for you and they are still hosting one of my domains. Last year, when I realized that I needed to find a different company to host this site, I tried to think of where I… Continue reading WordPress is my Favorite
Books for Young Readers
I've always loved stories, and I want to share that passion with readers of all ages. Therefore, I'm working on some books for young readers (they're also meant to be enjoyed by adults!) Please visit Hyacinth Grey's Books for Young Readers (hgb4yr.com) to learn more about what's coming later this year or early in 2021.
Free eBook Offer
This offer has ended.
The Dark Tide – Part 4
This is a work of fiction. The bird flew through the clear air, and I looked far into the distance, and could see nothing but evergreens, snow, and blue sky. A frigid wind blew all around me, and I thought how good it was that the children and the young bird were tucked up safely… Continue reading The Dark Tide – Part 4
New Words
Lately, I've been seeing the word "clickbait." Is it something I was supposed to bite down on? Since I do a writing prompt on Thursday, "clickbait" will be the word I use. I usually like new words, but sometimes it takes me a while to get used to them. Other times, I never do. For… Continue reading New Words
Some Testing Going On
I've been having a few issues with the publish dates of my blog posts, so WordPress Support is going to help me figure it all out. Therefore, you may see some test posts in the next few days. Please ignore them, because I'm going to delete all posts about testing except this one.
A Letter to Short Fiction
Dear Short Fiction, Every Friday, I post some of you on my blog to give my readers free content. It's also nice to take a break from writing essay-style nonfiction posts. I fell in love with you at first write, but I don't quite remember the first time we met. All I recall is somebody… Continue reading A Letter to Short Fiction
Writing Advice – Subject and Object Pronouns
Pronouns can be a problem, and if your book contains many instances of incorrect ones, reading it can feel as frustrating as reading a book full of typos. Here are some sample sentences. Mom bought some oranges for Lisa and I. Mom and me bought some oranges for Lisa. Lisa and I bought some oranges… Continue reading Writing Advice – Subject and Object Pronouns
Haiku – May 11
The world upside down, Testimony of outlaws, Painted on tombstones.
Sharing Sunday – Writing Space
I'm similar to number eleven on this list, but I love number sixteen. Writers Writing Place. Indoors Or Out? 17 Confess. by Dr. Shelly C from Success Strategies.
Remembering Accountability
When I first heard the suggestion to add a page about what I was working on, I scoffed at the idea. I mean, what if I didn't do what I said, and then all my readers waved goodbye and walked out the door, never to revisit my blog or consider buying my book? I don't… Continue reading Remembering Accountability
The Dark Tide – Part 3
This is a work of fiction. I held the sketch in my hands and looked at it carefully. It showed two babies. I couldn't tell for sure, but I thought it might be of the two children upstairs. Why had she done this sketch? It was as good as the ones she'd done when she… Continue reading The Dark Tide – Part 3
Volume
When looking for a prompt for today's post, I just picked the first word that popped into my head, which was, "volume." How much coffee or tea does your cup hold? How loud do you like your music? I like words with multiple meanings. One of the novels I'm working on is about a guy… Continue reading Volume
A Letter to Revision
Dear Revision, I'm kind of confused. I've always thought that the other half of writing was reading, but you sort of complicate matters. Reading came first, so maybe it's the older sibling, and writing and revision are a set of younger twins. While we're at it, where does publishing fit into the family? Is it… Continue reading A Letter to Revision
Writing Advice – Characters
Without characters, stories would tell very little. Would you want to pick up a book and find that the whole thing was nothing but a description of a setting, a world, or several planets? Whether you write sci-fi, fantasy, or romance, your story needs a set of characters. Don't let the magic, technology, or amazing… Continue reading Writing Advice – Characters
Science Fiction
Because it's May 4, I want to talk about science fiction, even though this post has nothing to do with Star Wars. In November 2019, my NaNoWriMo novel was a sci-fi story called On Ice. It's still in the freezer, waiting for me to take it out and revise it, but while it's coming up… Continue reading Science Fiction
Sharing Sunday – A Gem in the Blogosphere
Every Sunday, I share posts or other links that are interesting, inspiring, or thought-provoking, and How to Build a Web of Content That Hooks Your Readers for Hours by Cristian Mihai from The Art of Blogging is all of those. I like it so much, it's the only thing I want to share with you… Continue reading Sharing Sunday – A Gem in the Blogosphere
Previous Post Saturday
Today, I'd like to introduce you to a new weekly feature - Previous Post Saturday. I'm going to use this space to resurrect posts from my archives and point you to pages and other content on my websites that I'd like to show you. Because this is the first one, I got to thinking about… Continue reading Previous Post Saturday
The Dark Tide – Part 2
This is a work of fiction. The wind howled all night, and I woke up several times, but no cloud came for me out of the earth. At dawn, I rose and got dressed. I put my daughter's sketches, still in their folder, into a light bag and strapped it securely onto my back, and… Continue reading The Dark Tide – Part 2
Focus
I like using a prompt on Thursdays, so I headed over to Discovery and found Focus. One suggestion was to talk about a sound, smell, or other stimulus that makes it easier to focus. For me, the stimulus has to be internal. I have to feel that interest, that drive, that get-up-and-go to be able… Continue reading Focus
A Letter to My First Reader
Dear Reader, In January 2020, Wounded Bride was self-published through FriesenPress. One eBook copy was sold in February, so whoever bought it is my first Reader. I want you to know that you were the first person in the whole wide world to take a chance on a book with no reviews; one that had… Continue reading A Letter to My First Reader
Writing Advice – Tell a Story
There's a lot of writing advice out there. Following some guidelines, such as the ones in my post about dialog attribution might make your writing more pleasant to read, but don't let writing advice bog you down. Things can be fixed later. There's no need to wait until your idea is perfect, or until you've… Continue reading Writing Advice – Tell a Story
Stuck in my Head
What do you do when you get the name of the WordPress.com anti-spam feature Akismet stuck in your head? I mean, it's a catchy name, but really, I could have a much more relaxing day without those three syllables rolling around inside my cranium. Strategies I use to get things to leave me alone include… Continue reading Stuck in my Head
I Love to Share
This is a list of all the blog posts I've ever liked. I haven't been using the Reader for very long yet, so there are seventeen of them so far. The list goes from first liked to most recently liked, so the numbers don't reflect how much I liked the post. The 5 Tricks That… Continue reading I Love to Share
Two Weeks
I've posted something each day for the last fourteen days. I find myself wanting to harmonize the spelling of "week" and "streak," so instead of calling it a "too weak streak," I'll go with a "strong two-week streek." Saturday Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Indie April Why I Write What I've Learned The Choice… Continue reading Two Weeks
The Dark Tide – Part 1
This is a work of fiction. Die Religion ... ist das Opium des Volkes. Karl Marx Everyone had been called to Worship. I stood outside the temple, and waited for the doors to be opened. It was early morning, and very bright, with sunbeams reflecting off the snow that had fallen the night before. I… Continue reading The Dark Tide – Part 1
Tempo
Today's post was inspired by this writing prompt: Tempo . I've been thinking about this poem lately, so when I read the section in the above post aimed at poets, I thought of it right away. E. J. Pratt's "The Lee-Shore" is about the Atlantic Ocean, but while drafting A Letter to the Pacific Ocean… Continue reading Tempo
A Letter to the Pacific Ocean
Photo by Pixabay on Pexels.com Ocean and humans, Pacific, no more conflict, World without stories. Photo by Gantas Vaiu010diulu0117nas on Pexels.com Dear Pacific Ocean, I've been reading a book about you. It's called Pacific, and it's written by Simon Winchester. It's also Earth Day, so I guess I've been thinking about you lately. My publisher,… Continue reading A Letter to the Pacific Ocean
Writing Advice – Dialog Attribution
You've probably heard the phrase "show, don't tell." I'd like to show you why I think this is good writing advice when you're writing dialog. Here are a few sample sentences written solely for this post. "Not again," she sighed. "My best friend forever doesn't want to talk to me anymore, and I'm completely and… Continue reading Writing Advice – Dialog Attribution
How Often?
Dear Reader, How often would you like me to post short stories (or parts of them) on this blog? You can answer via this Poll on Twitter or by leaving a comment below. The choices are the following: once a week every 2 or 3 days as often as possible other (please explain)
My Writing Space and a Question for Readers
I write best when I'm alone. Whether it's a blog post or a novel, I can write anywhere, as long as nobody else is in the room. In practice, that means my home office, where my computer lives. I don't need anything special. As long as I have a computer and am not too hot… Continue reading My Writing Space and a Question for Readers
The Choice – Part 6
This post is a work of fiction inspired by the Everyday Inspirations writing course from WordPress. The one-word prompt was "choice." Matthew's phone rang. Good, his new client would be ready for him. He lifted the receiver, but didn't speak. "Good morning, Mr. Reid," his secretary said. "Your nine o'clock has arrived and is in… Continue reading The Choice – Part 6
The Choice – Part 5
This post is a work of fiction inspired by the Everyday Inspirations writing course from WordPress. The one-word prompt was "choice." Rita watched Matt walk out of the Starbucks and get into a dark gray car. The engine came on and he roared away. She took a sip of coffee but it tasted awful. Might… Continue reading The Choice – Part 5
The Choice – Part 4
This post is a work of fiction inspired by the Everyday Inspirations writing course from WordPress. The one-word prompt was "choice." Rita looked into Matt's clear blue eyes and wanted to ask a million questions, but didn't know where to start. "How are you feeling, Rita?" His words were soft, mellow, and yet very clear.… Continue reading The Choice – Part 4
The Choice – Part 3
This post is a work of fiction inspired by the Everyday Inspirations writing course from WordPress. The one-word prompt was "choice." Rita asked Matt to meet her at a Starbucks the next morning. He replied almost immediately, confirming that he'd meet her there at 7:00 a.m. She tossed and turned all night long. At five,… Continue reading The Choice – Part 3
The Choice – Part 2
This post is a work of fiction inspired by the Everyday Inspirations writing course from WordPress. The one-word prompt was "choice." Rita tried to think who Matt might be. The older guy with sallow skin who would probably drop dead if he didn't eat some vegetables soon? Or maybe Matt was the thirtysomething black guy… Continue reading The Choice – Part 2
The Choice – Part 1
This post is a work of fiction inspired by the Everyday Inspirations writing course from WordPress. The one-word prompt was "choice." What to do? She looked at the clock. It was 9:24 p.m. on a rainy Saturday evening in April. Take a chance, accept his invitation, or pretend his e-mail didn't exist and go back… Continue reading The Choice – Part 1
What I’ve Learned
Blogging is a great sport. Reading about writing makes me want to write more. I can rarely resist an upgrade. I should pay attention to things I don't know about, such as using tags in blog posts, because doing so could bring more people to my website. Trying a suggestion, such as writing a list… Continue reading What I’ve Learned
Why I Write
I write because I enjoy writing. I also deeply feel the need to express myself through the written word. Writing helps me to deal with my emotions in a safe and liberating way. Let's take the current coronavirus pandemic as an example. I don't want to blog or tweet about how I feel about it.… Continue reading Why I Write
For Booksellers
I've added a For Booksellers page to my site.
Indie April
This is the first Indie April for me as a new author. I have heard mixed opinions about self-publishing, and this blog post is an examination of some of them. Is it hard work, or is it just vanity? You may have heard the term "vanity publishing," meaning that anybody with money can have a… Continue reading Indie April
Write about what you know
Lots of people say to write about what you know. This is good advice, or is it? What is "know" anyway?How much would you need to know about something to be considered knowledgeable on that topic, and who decides this? I probably don't know a great deal about engineering, but I could learn enough about… Continue reading Write about what you know
Leap Day GiveAway Winners
Thank you to everybody who retweeted something about the giveaway. Entries are closed as of 3:00 p.m. PST on Saturday, February 29, 2020. Ten (10) winners will each receive one (1) Apple Books / iBooks gift code for Wounded Bride via direct message (DM.) The winners will be announced on Twitter, so if you'd like… Continue reading Leap Day GiveAway Winners
Genres: Part 2 – Fantasy
I think that the strength of fantasy is its limitless possibility. You can create places, creatures, and powers that don't need to be real to be believed. I can do pretty much whatever I want, and I don't even have to think, is this possible? Anything is possible, and that includes whatever story I want… Continue reading Genres: Part 2 – Fantasy
Genres: Part 1 – Detective
On Twitter, I was asked why I write in my particular genre. While Wounded Bride is a detective novel, I like to write in many genres. I've decided to answer this question in a series of blog posts, because I would like to talk about many genres, and putting them all in one post would… Continue reading Genres: Part 1 – Detective
GiveAway – Ten Apple Books / iBooks gift codes to get Wounded Bride
Cover image of Wounded Bride by Hyacinth Grey It starts on: Thursday, February 13, 2020 at 3:00 p.m. Pacific. Entries close on Saturday, February 29, 2020 at 3:00 p.m. Pacific. All you need to enter is to go on Twitter and retweet something about this giveaway. One entry per Twitter account, but multiple retweets are… Continue reading GiveAway – Ten Apple Books / iBooks gift codes to get Wounded Bride
A Lesson Learned about Outlining
My relationship with outlining has always been a little rocky. I'm a Pantser, so I usually just start writing, often with little or no idea about the story I'm going to tell. When I decided to write science fiction for NaNoWriMo, I did a brief outline because I wanted my plot to stay on track.… Continue reading A Lesson Learned about Outlining
An Update on my NaNoWriMo Novel
Today, I finished the first draft of Be a Movie Star, the second novel I started after finished my first NaNoWriMo draft in two weeks. The second novel took me much longer, but I now have a first draft, and it hit 165K words. I originally called it a romance, but it's more a family… Continue reading An Update on my NaNoWriMo Novel
Now on Goodreads
I've signed up as a Goodreads Author, and I'd love to connect with you on there. I'm currently very interested in books about writing and editing, so if you read a good one or wrote one yourself, please send me a message. http://www.goodreads.com/grey_hyacinth
Wounded Bride now available from more Booksellers
Cover image of Wounded Bride Wounded Bride is now available from more Booksellers. To get a list, please visit my Buy Wounded Bride page. I'll update that list as Booksellers add Wounded Bride to their offerings. This requires me to search for my book manually, so if you find Wounded Bride somewhere not listed on… Continue reading Wounded Bride now available from more Booksellers
Wounded Bride is now available
Wounded Bride cover image Now Available from the FriesenPress Online Bookstore in Paperback, Hardcover, and three eBook formats (EPUB, Kindle, and PDF.) https://books.friesenpress.com/store/title/119734000082595167/Hyacinth-Grey-Wounded-Bride There is also a Teaser Trailer video on YouTube at https://youtu.be/RJfcBMydp8g
Wounded Bride – book preview
Wounded Bride will be published in a week or so. In the meantime, please check out the book preview on the FriesenPress Online Bookstore. This link will take you to the page where Wounded Bride is listed, in case you wanted to check out other titles in fiction. https://books.friesenpress.com/store/browse/FIC000000/Fiction
Wounded Bride – coming very soon
(Cover image of Wounded Bride) Wounded Bride is coming very soon.
The End
Here's what I have at the end of NaNoWrimo. A first draft of "On Ice." A lot of a first draft of "Be a Movie Star." It took me fourteen days to write "On Ice," at an average pace of 3,574 words per day for a total of 50,032 words. In sixteen days, I wrote… Continue reading The End
Week Four
After week four, "Be a Movie Star" is 86,989 words. That's fairly long, and I know it's going to be a lot of work to revise this thing, but the first draft is not finished yet. There are twenty chapters so far, but I still have a long way to go. It feels like I… Continue reading Week Four
Week Three
At the end of week two, I had already written 50,000 words and had completed the first draft of "On Ice." This week, I started a second novel, called "Be a Movie Star." During the last seven days, I have written 47,426 of it. It's going a lot faster than "On Ice," which was science… Continue reading Week Three
Be a Movie Star
91,464 of 50,000 words written title: Be a Movie Star genre: some kind of family and relationships romance thing personal goal for the project: no violence, and only minor accidents I finished "On Ice" in fourteen days and am starting a second NaNoWriMo project. synopsis: Natasha loves her job, and when she meets Peter, who… Continue reading Be a Movie Star
Week Two
Week one ended with the realization that my word count could only increase if I did some revising. I certianly wasn't looking forward to it. I like to take the often-given writing advice to put your draft in a drawer for a few weeks or months, and then have a fresh manuscript to work with.… Continue reading Week Two
Wounded Bride – Coming Soon
(Link to Coming Soon version of Teaser Trailer removed.)
So Fast
My site maintenanace went so fast, all the domain stuff seems to be working. The content updates aren't yet complete, but there shouldn't be any disruptions.
Site Maintenance
I'm figuring out some things with domains and my website content. My site will probably act weird for a few days, but the blog shouldn't be affected. Please continue to visit my site during this time but it may not work as expected.
Week One
In the first seven days of NaNoWriMo, I have written an average of 4,000 words per day. My novel isn't finished, but I have reached the end of the story. A lot of details need to be added, so I will spend the next twenty-three days doing that. I know what happens, now I just… Continue reading Week One
Starting NaNoWriMo
I was quite nervous, but I got started on Friday. My book took an unexpected detour, and I've managed to make up a new word, and am now trying to prevent myself from overusing it. I have an idea of how the story will end. When I revise, I will need to add a lot… Continue reading Starting NaNoWriMo
After You Revise
You've worked very hard and finished revising your novel. Isn't it amazing how long it takes? I've been working on a fairly substantial book, and have logged about forty-eight hours of revisions. That's more than a work week. It's not finished yet. Writing it was fun, and revising it sometimes is, but I find it… Continue reading After You Revise
The Hardest Part of Writing
For me, it's not getting the idea that I find difficult. I don't struggle with the blank page, nor with the first chapter. Sometimes, I do find the middle of the novel a little bit slow, but if I sit on it for a few hours, I usually figure out how to fix it. Writing… Continue reading The Hardest Part of Writing
Word Count
50,032 words written in fourteen days first draft complete book title: On Ice genre: started as science fiction romance, but turned out more like a science fiction psychological thriller with a pinch of romance
I Intend to Win
I'm feeling revved about NaNoWriMo. I plan to update a blog post each day with my Word Count. Feeling as ready to win as I am? Why not join NaNoWriMo. You have seventeen days to get ready for November 1! http://www.nanowrimo.org
Getting Ready for NaNoWriMo
I was too late last year, but this year, I'm going to do NaNoWriMo. National Novel Writing Month is November. I have thirty days to write a novel. My first NaNoWriMo novel will be called "On Ice," and is a sci-fi romance about a researcher stranded on a very cold planet and the computer expert… Continue reading Getting Ready for NaNoWriMo
One day in the Garden
This post isn't about gardening, or even being outdoors. I didn't know this two years ago, but people who write without having much in the way of starting ideas are sometimes called Gardeners or Pantsers. (Those who use outlines are often called Architects, Plotters, or Planners.) All I knew was that I wanted to write… Continue reading One day in the Garden
Welcome
Welcome to my blog! My name is Hyacinth Grey, and this blog is about writing, becoming an author, and promoting my books. I'm working with http://www.friesenpress.com to publish my first book, a thriller called Wounded Bride. Please visit my website http://www.hyacinthgrey.com for more details. There is also a Teaser Trailer on YouTube https://youtu.be/9asDz6mD0Ng which can… Continue reading Welcome
The Journey Begins
Thanks for joining me! Good company in a journey makes the way seem shorter. — Izaak Walton