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If you write novels, I bet you can connect with poor old Sisyphus, who Zeus punished in the underworld by forcing him to roll a boulder up a hill for eternity. Every time Sisyphus almost reached the top of the hill, the boulder rolled back down. Isn’t that a lot like publishing? Continue Reading
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Things get intense in the second third of Part Four, with a near-death, a fumbled suicide attempt, and a baby who isn’t thriving. But it could be worse. Everyone survives, at least for now. 16. Levin shows Kitty his diary We can’t have secrets. Sex? God? My soul isn’t pure. Will you still loveContinue Reading
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How do you make sure that your characters–both main and supporting–are three- dimensional? It can be easier said than done, but if you follow these three steps, you’ll develop characters who are believable, relatable, and compelling. 1: Your characters need to want something. And you, the author, need to know what their motivations are. TheContinue Reading
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Late last month, my short story, “You and Jane” was published by Abandon Journal. It’s about a modern-day, parallel universe Charlotte Bronte who’s receiving genetic counseling, and she must reckon with grief and the deaths of all her siblings and her mother. I know that doesn’t sound like a barrel of laughs, but the pieceContinue Reading
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Breaking News: Levin is happy! There’s not much joy in Anna Karenina, and certainly not when it comes to Levin. But for a few brief chapters, Levin is aboard the happiness train. Go, Levin! 11. Levin and Kitty go off by themselves She’s the only one At this party, in the world I care to talk toContinue Reading
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Get ready! It’s time to pour the vodka, talk politics, and compare your bear-hunting stories. That’s right! Stiva and Dolly (definitely the two most fun characters) are having a dinner party. The only problem? Levin and Alexey (definitely the two least fun characters) are both invited. But Levin has some moments of levity, and StivaContinue Reading
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Nobody is happy at the beginning of part 4, and unfortunately, things are only going to get worse. Vronsky has a bad time showing a prince around The prince is a snob Brainless beef! Am I like that? #mindset #loveyourself 2. Vronsky has a run-in with Alexey, and Anna looks deep into Vronsky’s eyes IfContinue Reading
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Late in her life, Eve Babitz became both a cultural and a feminist icon. But for decades, she was overlooked, dismissed even. I see her as the Dorothy Parker of her time. Eve Babitz was author, artist, and socialite whose writing style has been widely acclaimed for its wit and insightfulness. She was best knownContinue Reading
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The last third of part three is mostly about whether Levin can outdo himself with gloominess and being self-involved. Spoiler Alert: He can! Even when he realizes that his brother is dying, Levin is more worried about his existential reckoning with mortality than with his brother’s life. There are a couple of dramatic chaptersContinue Reading
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I guess these chapters focus on the hypocrisy of the rich. That’s what I get from it; also, they’re superficial. But does that mean that Anna and Vronsky’s love is also superficial? The jury is still out. Anna struggles to answer Alexey’s letter I tried to love him But he’s split my soul in twoContinue Reading
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Recently, I’ve made a habit of combing through Amazon’s book categories, in an effort to finesse my marketing efforts. That’s how I noticed the category, women’s psychological fiction. I’d heard of the psychological thrillers, and of course, of women’s fiction. But women’s psychological fiction? Tell me more. I did a bit of research, and thisContinue Reading
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I’m so behind! I have a good reason though, and it’s because I’ve been working hard to polish my next novel, set to be released December 2023 (more on that later.) Anyway, here’s a few new haikus, picking up where we left off. Not a huge amount happens, but Levin’s feelings when sees Kitty inContinue Reading
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What is it about cats that makes them so literary? It just seems like books and cats are the purrfect combination! From the ancient Egyptians who kept cats as sacred animals, to the medieval folks who believed cats were a symbol of witchcraft, to modern-day readers who adore cats’ mystique and intelligence, cats have anContinue Reading
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Part three of Anna Karenina moves to the countryside, on Levin’s farm, and then on the neighboring farm that belongs to Dolly and Stiva. The first six chapters of part three are PRETTY DULL. We hear a lot about Levin and his half-brother Seregy, and their views on labor and farming. So I only wroteContinue Reading
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Anna watches Vronsky race, and Alexey is next to her Smile your chilly smile Call me a wicked woman I see only him Anna loses it when Vronsky falls during the race Go, you hateful man. I am Vronsky’s mistress. Stop Being so polite. Kitty is in Germany, finding herself and making aContinue Reading
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Has chat GPT taken the place of bloggers? To find out, I gave it a prompt similar to something I’d post about here on Laurellit. The prompt: List and describe the five strongest heroines from modern American novels. Here was its response: Katniss Everdeen from The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins – Katniss is aContinue Reading
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Things get intense in part 2, chapters 21-27, with an unplanned pregnancy and a tragic day at the horse races. All I can say is, poor Frou Frou. Vronksy visits his race horse, Frou Frou Frou Frou understands A throbbing heart must move and bite. Dreadful. Delicious. Anna and Vronsky have a life-changing conversation No,Continue Reading
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Thanks in advance for helping me choose a title for my latest novel, which is still a work in progress. (The images above were just me taking a break and having fun.) Scroll down to read a brief pitch and choose a title! Rylee Lynch longs to leave Bemidji, MN and become a successful author,Continue Reading
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Something big happens in part 2, chapter 11. Anna and Vronsky sleep together! But you don’t get any description of their love scene. No, instead you get a detailed description of their anguish afterwards. Vronksy feels like a murderer (foreshadowing, anyone?) and Anna is convinced she no longer deserves happiness. As for chapters 12-20, well…I’mContinue Reading
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Are you experiencing the winter doldrums, as your New Year’s Resolutions quickly fade from the forefront of your consciousness? You’re not alone. Yet as writers, we must constantly discover new ways to hone our craft. But how? One approach is to find new inspiration from old sources. Challenge yourself with exercises or prompts that mayContinue Reading
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