Author: Candace Williams

Candace Williams lives with her husband and beloved rescued Iggys (Italian Greyhounds) in Texas. Her first novel, THE EARTHQUAKE DOLL, was inspired by her early experiences in post-war Japan while her father was serving in the Korean Conflict. Learn more about Candace on her website and her Author Central page.

Storyboarding for Novelists

save the cat by blake snyderStoryboarding is a plotting technique used by screenwriters, but it’s also popular with some novelists. I like it since I’m a planner, not a pantser. Storyboarding is not a rigid plotting device. The whole point of the board is that it’s flexible. The greatest advantage is seeing exactly how your novel is “built,” just as an architect refers to a blueprint.

Now, I realize that some purists eschew structuring their work according to a storyboard. That is fine for those who wish to write Litrachure. But as popular Victorian novelist Wilkie Collins once said, “I have always held the old-fashioned opinion that the primary object of a work of fiction should be to tell a story.” I feel the same way, and I don’t think storyboarding need adversely affect good writing. Continue reading “Storyboarding for Novelists”

Remembering Author, Poet, and Playwright Oscar Wilde

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Oscar Wilde, Oct 16, 1854 – Nov 30, 1900

While he was in prison, Oscar Wilde wrote De Profundis, a lesser-known work. I say “work” because it was 50,000 emotionally charged words written under abhorrent conditions over a three-month period. Unlike The Importance of Being Earnest, one of the most successful plays of all time, or his remarkable novel, The Picture of Dorian Gray, this work was not written for commercial purposes. Continue reading “Remembering Author, Poet, and Playwright Oscar Wilde”

National Read a Book Day

national-read-a-book-day-september-6national-read-a-book-day-september-6No one seems to know who came up with the idea for National Read a Book Day. Perhaps it was a teacher or a librarian. With September 6th chosen for the date, the idea was probably designed to instill the love of reading in children starting a new school year. Whatever that good soul intended when s/he set this day on our national calendar, the day has become a time for everyone, of every age or reading habit, to celebrate the joy of reading books.

When is the last time you read a book for pleasure? If you have a hard time even remembering, then you’re most likely a student who has to read textbooks and assigned materials. Or maybe you’re in a profession, such as law or medicine, that leaves you little time to read anything outside your chosen field. If you’re a busy mom or dad, you’re probably wondering if this is a trick question. When did I last read a book just for fun? Hah, good one!

If it’s been a really long time since you’ve read a book, then here’s a helpful chart: Continue reading “National Read a Book Day”

How to Make a Book Trailer in iMovie Part Two

Author Candace WilliamsGuest Post
by Candace Williams

In our last installment, we went through the steps needed to prepare for making a book trailer with iMovie. Now for the fun part – actually making your very own fabulous book trailer!
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 3. Make Your Book Trailer

If you followed the steps in the first installment, all your pictures and music should be available (top) for you to click and drag to the timeline (below). Continue reading “How to Make a Book Trailer in iMovie Part Two”