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Tag: Joanne Guidoccio
Dealing with Dialogue Tags
Glancing back at some of my earlier work, I cringe at my use of “said bookisms” such as roared, admonished, exclaimed, queried, and hissed. I was trying to avoid overusing the word “said” and searched for suitable alternatives. I realize now that substituting those words made it sound like I enjoyed using my thesaurus. Instead,…
Email Power!
Can you compose efficient and effective emails? When I heard this question, my first impulse was to say, “Yes, of course.” But glancing through my in-box, I realized I wasn’t that efficient or effective. While I don’t ramble or use ambiguous language, I could improve the tone of my emails. In her book, Playing Big,…
Life Lessons from Hidden Figures
While several weeks have passed, I can still vividly recall scenes from Hidden Figures. The movie has left an impression, one that will linger in my consciousness. And I’m not only thinking of the Oscar-worthy performances delivered by Taraji P. Henson, Octavia Spencer, and Janelle Monáe. Instead, my thoughts gravitate toward Katherine G. Johnson, Dorothy…
Celebrating La Befana
Growing up, we celebrated the feast of the Epiphany with a special meal and treats. While my brothers and I attached more significance to Christmas Day, my mother considered January 6th to be the Italian Christmas. She would regale us with tales of la Befana, the friendly witch who delivered gifts to good children and…
Takeaways from #NaNoWriMo 2016
When I started my NaNoWriMo project, I had mixed feelings. While I listened and nodded when the other GuelphWriMos spoke of 5K-word spurts and pulling all-nighters to achieve the ultimate goal of 50K words, I decided to be more realistic. A linear pantser, I preferred to write sporadically, at most 1K words a day. My…
Starting #NaNoWriMo
Never say never. For years, I’ve been shaking my head whenever the topic of NaNoWriMo (National Novel Writing Month) came up. I couldn’t fathom the idea of writing 50,000 words in one month. Madness…undue stress…why on earth would I subject myself to that kind of torture? In a podcast with Stephen Campbell, I listed several…
When Less is More
I reread the blurb for the flash fiction writing contest several times. It was the perfect antidote for the lingering writer’s block that was preventing me from moving forward with the next book. The entry fee was a bargain— three flash fiction stories for only $15—and the $500 prize added to the contest’s appeal. I…
Three Steps, No Failure
When asked about her extraordinary success, recording artist and motivational performer Jana Stanfield said, “I believe in the power of small steps to create great changes.” Jana left a lucrative career as a broadcast journalist and moved to Nashville to pursue her dream of securing a recording contract. While waiting for her breakthrough, she signed…
Small Doses of Inspiration
While I enjoy attending workshops and lectures, sometimes I need inspiration in smaller doses. During my teaching years, I would pop my head in a neighboring classroom and chat briefly between periods. Those three to five minutes of conversation would be all that I needed to receive (give) encouragement and support. As a writer, I…
Word by Word 