I’m baaaaaack with more writing tips.
The pandemic slammed the doors on school classrooms
across the country, so I temporarily closed my blog thinking that I would post
again when schools reopened, which meant soon. Wrong! Eighteen months later, this
blog is resurfacing.
A lot happens in one-and-a-half years, especially if
cooped up inside with nowhere to go. As always, I turned to writing, my
personal outlet for all things sweet and bitter. Not associating with friends
was bitter. Fear of a virus we can’t see, hear, or touch was bitter. The loss
of a “normal” lifestyle was bitter. The silver lining of the dark, threatening
cloud was more time to kick up my heels—sweet. More time to read—sweeter. More
time to write—sweetest.
More time to write gave me the incentive to revise a mystery
novel I’d drafted years ago. Month after month, I pounded the keyboard and
finished that rascal. Sweet! I’ve been visiting classrooms, virtually. Sweet! I’ve
kept up with friends and family via text and phone. Sweet!
During this time, an editor asked me to write a
picture book based on an illustration of a spooky old house. So, I accepted the
challenge and enjoyed playing with words. Ooooo. Strange characters. Zap!
Strange actions. Boom! Strange sounds. A picture book is forthcoming.
The publication of my 50th book, COWBOY
JESSE, was another speck of silver lining during this pandemic, a speck I will always
cherish.
Let’s have fun with another silver lining often used
in writing—The Rule of Three. Play this hunt-and-find activity by identifying examples
of the “Rule of Three” in this blog. (Hint: There are several.)
Rule of three:
using a word or phrase three times for emphasis.
In my next blog, the talented author, Sandi Underwood,
will visit with news of her latest book, ON A SCALE OF ONE TO TEN, a
middle-grade novel.
Nancy Kelly Allen has written 50 children’s
books and a cookbook, SPIRIT OF KENTUCKY. Check out her blog at www.nancykellyallen.com
