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What am I Reading?

Sarah SoonWriting

This week is busy with deadlines looming on an editing and separate marketing project, so this post is a diversion from the November theme, What Our Characters Want. Instead, I’m giving you a peek into my current reading list and would enjoy knowing yours as well. Fiction: The Dutch House by Ann Patchett. I’ve finished this book last week, but …

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Effective Ways to Show Internal Conflict

Sarah SoonWriting, Writing Tips

Ever been ghosted? I have a few times. It hurts. Continuing our November series, What our Characters Want, the short story, “A Telephone Call,” by Dorothy Parker, has us follow the monologue from an unnamed protagonist as she tries to convince herself she’s not been ghosted. What does she desire the most? It hits us immediately in the opening line: …

Story Inspiration for J.B Wilson’s An Innkeeper’s Wife

Sarah SoonGood Tidings Christmas Anthology

Sarah’s Note: If you received a paperback of Good Tidings but didn’t see J.B. Wilson’s story inspiration for “An Innkeeper’s Wife”, here’s the entry she wrote: Since I have multiple food allergies, I loved leaning into the challenge and opportunity of contributing to an anthology including holiday recipes. I hope Sophie’s story encourages folks struggling to relate to their own …

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Do You Know What Your Characters Really Want?

Sarah SoonWriting

“To touch readers on an emotional level, you’ll need your main characters to desire something your readers also desire.” Steven James from Story Trumps Structure. Today, as I stood in line to vote, I read a craft book. After about fifteen minutes, I casted my vote and felt satisfied that this election is almost over. More than any election, I’ve …

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Lets Find the Beauty in Your Story

Sarah SoonMemoir, Memoir, Writing

Do you know the beauty in your story? Sometimes, especially if you’re a novelist, you don’t write or share anecdotes about your personal history, family history, and inspiring story. We’re creating unknown worlds and characters, so why leave the world of daydreams and fantasies to dive into our autobiography? I recommend we do. Helps us to understand ourselves and our …

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Do you like the Beauty of Romantic Poetry

Sarah SoonPoetry, Writing

Lately, my husband and I have been reading poetry together. Usually at the dinner table. We take turns reading a short poem out loud. Poetry is the language of symbols. Depending on the type, it can elicit violent feelings and emotions. Or linger into your soul like a melancholy thought. Or it can inspire with its beauty and rhythm. And …

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Why Beauty in Story Requires Not to Be the Answer

Sarah SoonWriting, Writing Tips

How as storytellers do we tackle the issue of brokenness? Can we tell a story without giving absolutes and solutions to every tragedy or unknown? It’s tempting to provide answers to every philosophical and even spiritual questions our story poses, but is that the author’s responsibility? Or is art showing life in its true form? Art is what is, even what …

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Two Universal Elements In Every Story

Sarah SoonWriting

“A bridge of silver wings stretches from the dead ashes of an unforgiving nightmare to the jeweled vision of a life started anew.” ― Aberjhani, Journey through the Power of the Rainbow: Quotations from a Life Made Out of Poetry Two elements in every story are a death and resurrection. Death to a dream. Death of a loved one. Death to a …

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Do You Remember These Notable Events from 2018?

Sarah SoonLove At the Mayo

To conclude with this month’s focus on Love At the Mayo, I wanted to provide notable events from 2018, the year my novel takes place. With the ongoing pandemic of 2020, 2018 feels like light years away. Since my novel starts May 2018, I’ll list some historic or notable events that occurred from that date to the end of that …

How My Love Story Intersects with Love At the Mayo

Sarah SoonLove At the Mayo

Today on a vlog, I collaborate with my husband, Robert Ward. He has played an important role in my work in progress, Love At the Mayo. He not only encouraged me to write this story, but he also intertwined our love story to the iconic Mayo Hotel. Check out the vlog to learn more!