Inauthentic Emotions | Liar, Liar
Emotions play a driving force in our actions and reactions. They’re also patently difficult to counterfeit. In Real Life Genuine emotions linger. Fake emotions fizzle.… Read More »Inauthentic Emotions | Liar, Liar
writing
Repetition, Repetition, Repetition | Liar, Liar
Next up in our patterns of deception: repetition. In Real Life One very basic tell for deception occurs when someone repeats a question verbatim: Person… Read More »Repetition, Repetition, Repetition | Liar, Liar
Indirect Discourse | Liar Liar
Indirect discourse is a dead giveaway that someone doesn’t want to speak the whole and ugly truth. In Real Life Patterns for indirect discourse include… Read More »Indirect Discourse | Liar Liar
Contractions or the Lack Thereof | Liar Liar
We begin our basic patterns of deception with an easy fix: lack of contractions. In Real Life Authentic human speech patterns include slurring words together.… Read More »Contractions or the Lack Thereof | Liar Liar
Dialogue and Deception | Liar, Liar
Dialogue (n. \ˈdī-ə-ˌlȯg \ ) a conversation between two or more persons; also : a similar exchange between a person and something else (such as a computer) Merriam-Webster… Read More »Dialogue and Deception | Liar, Liar
Introduction: Liar, Liar, Pants on Fire
Why does language use differ in fiction versus nonfiction? We might point fingers in several directions: the goal of the writing, the intended audience, the… Read More »Introduction: Liar, Liar, Pants on Fire
2017 State of Kate: Business and Other Musings
It’s that time of year again, when I rehash the business of being. (Actually I’m a month later than last year, but who’s counting? No… Read More »2017 State of Kate: Business and Other Musings
Putting Place Names in their Proper Frames
Whenever I see fanciful or imaginative place names, real or fictional, my first instinct is not, “Ooh, how neat!” It’s more along the lines of,… Read More »Putting Place Names in their Proper Frames
The Official Un-obligatory Project Update
I finally finished my experimental manuscript. I’ve battled this beast for over a year, and my brain wanted it done a long time ago, so… Read More »The Official Un-obligatory Project Update
Dangerous Artifacts and the Characters Who Love Them
When it comes to dangerous artifacts in a fictional setting, every writer faces at least two dilemmas: Why does everyone want this thing? Why is… Read More »Dangerous Artifacts and the Characters Who Love Them