The Writer's Pulse

Image: wili_hybrid

You’ve heard it before: the first line of your story should be the best. It should be intriguing, maybe even poetic. Even in news writing, you’ll want your first paragraphs, or lead, to reach out and grab your readers before they move on to the next story. Read the rest of this entry »

Image: Sarah G...

I guess I never thought much about the reliability of online reviews. Sure, when I’m shopping around for computer hardware, I try to read between the lines (of reviews for, say, video cards) to make sure the reviewer knows what he or she is talking about. Their level of computer expertise. What kind of computer they were using in the first place. Those details are important but often left out.

So there’s certainly room for user error. And when it comes to books, movies, or music — well, those things are better left for each individual consumer to decide. Different tastes and all that.

The point is, you should always make your own decisions. Read the rest of this entry »

Letters written by JD Salinger have been released to the public following his death, revealing that the author had indeed continued writing “long after he stopped publishing in 1965.”

Image: Jason Gulledge

J.D. Salinger passed away on January 27, 2010 at the age of 91. He was best known as the author of Catcher In The Rye, a novel lauded by many as the universal anthem of American teenage life, a coming-of-age story for those still searching for a voice of their own. Whether or not you think that’s true, it’s difficult to find a high school student who hasn’t at least seen its front cover. Read the rest of this entry »

Reviews have been pouring in for Stephen King’s latest novel, Under The Dome, and my sources tell me it’s already sold over ten bajillion copies.

As if that wasn’t enough, King also received a key to the city during “a sold-out event at the Van Wezel in Sarasota on Monday night.”

Under the Dome: A Novel is available now.