Aly Writes

And Still the Planet Burns

We must evacuate alike; we all will suffer loss, equal now if only in our devastation. Our memories go up in smoke as we flee. What are we running to? There is no future.

The Man Who Died Twice (Richard Osman)

The Man Who Died Twice combines murder and intrigue with the banality of life and growing old in a way that is simultaneously fast-paced and gripping and delightfully comic.

Candy Floss Concerns

We make political statements with cupcakes
While half the world burns
They can’t rebuild their broken lives
With our candy floss concerns

How to Write a Third-Person Author Biography

Give your readers a sense of who you are, lend credibility to your writing, and arouse interest in your work.

There’s a Fist-Sized Hole in the Kitchen Window

It’s that kind of day where you pray for a whisper of a breeze to kiss the beads of sweat that sting your eyes. You don’t move a muscle, lying on the dock, fingers trailing in tepid water. The lump of a secret too huge to swallow grows in your throat until you think you’llContinue reading “There’s a Fist-Sized Hole in the Kitchen Window”

The Word is Murder (Anthony Horowitz)

As always, reading a book as well-written as this one is, for me, as much an education as it is entertainment. It informs my own writing in an invaluable way.

When the Singing’s Done

Through the boredom in the quiet
He’d start to softly sing.

Bumbleberry Buckle

This recipe will have you feeling like summer and ready for strawberry season, which is fast approaching.

Writing People with Depth

Above all else, the real key to writing people with depth is to persevere. Hone your craft by reading widely and becoming a keen observer of people. Write your people into scenes and scenarios you concoct, and let them reveal their character to you. It feels like a lot of work, but that’s what writing is . . .

Sunshine, Lollipops and Airport Delays

Terrence had never been one to just suck a lollipop. No sooner had he popped it in his mouth than his teeth were clamping down, chipping shards as sharp as glass.