Tag Archives: writer

The Frog Prince + Merlin the Magician = Weeping Lake (a fairy tale inspired short story)

Weeping Lake by Dorlana Vann Vivian stood beside of the lake. Her bright hair waved like the water as the wind graciously blew in from the south. She inhaled and then looked down at her newly acquired engagement ring. She had said yes, but she knew that wasn’t what she meant. Everyone had been there, …

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En garde WIP – Bring every Weapon in your Writing Arsenal to the Battlefield

I’m in the middle of a fight. My Work-in-Progress is my opponent, and right now I feel like I’m losing. I’m frustrated. However, I have to remember that this is how I feel every time I write a rough draft or edit. And this is not the time to give up; this is the time …

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The Little Mermaid Inspired Short Story

His Soul Inspiration by Dorlana Vann “Have you read this?” My husband, Philip, held the book of fairy tales I had bought from a used bookstore for my niece’s ninth birthday. “Well, not that one, but I’ve read fairy tales before,” I said as I shut the door and stepped out of my heels. He …

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Don’t Get Mad, Get Editing (Look at every critique in a positive way.)

I have observed some really upset writers after they’ve received written or verbal suggestions about their stories. And I think most writers at least wince (I know I do) when they receive tons of edits on one copy. But you can actually learn to see these as gifts, huge favors, and even unexpected muses instead …

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Building a Novel

I have used a lot of different methods to write my books over the years. The technique depends on the story and if I already have an idea or not. One tactic is to build inspiration upon inspiration, like a house, from the ground up. Creating a novel in phases not only gives you a …

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My Frankenstein Bio

I wrote my Frankenstein-bio back in 2012 when I was trying to come up with my “About me” page for my blog. At first, I was reading other author’s bios on Goodreads to get ideas on how to write one, but when I notice my similarities to other writers (Except for that little, tiny NY …

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Beauty & the Beast + Rip Van Winkle = Wink (fairy tale poetry)

Wink by Dorlana Vann Wink was an elf; lavender was his color. His world was made up of sunshine and magic. The sky was ginger, and the trees were scarlet. All the ladies declared he was most charming. His kind parents urged him to settle down And to carry on his name and his beauty. …

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