Beth Freely
Bio
Beth A. Freely calls Texas home and she loves comic book super hero movies, Star Wars and shooting pool. She is an accomplished writer and published author and holds a Bachelor's in Journalism and a Master's in English and Creative Writing.
Stories (25/0)
Friday The 13th, Norse Mythology, and Triskaidekaphobia
Triskaidekaphobes beware! It’s Friday the 13th. In case you were wondering, triskaidekaphobia is the “fear of the number 13” according to the Merriam-Webster Dictionary. The word first appeared in print sometime in the late 1800s. No one is really sure if it was used prior to that, but someone came up with it. And some doctor diagnosed it.
By Beth Freely3 years ago in Journal
Creating Mood and Tone in Your Writing
I was going through the questions on a Quora forum that I contribute to and came across one about mood and tone. The question was asking what the difference was and how do you create it in your writing. It was a question that made me, as an author, stop and consider what we do to create tone and mood in our writing.
By Beth Freely3 years ago in Humans
HOW TO WRITE A NOVEL: ONE AUTHOR'S PERSPECTIVE
As a published author I have had many people ask me, “How do you write a novel?” They are fascinated with the concept behind putting creative words to paper and spinning a yarn that will be remembered for years to come. While you can read up on how to write a novel in a variety of literary magazines and trade journals, the truth is, writing a novel is not quite as complicated as the professionals make it sound.
By Beth Freely3 years ago in Journal
Writing The Villain
Villain. Anti-hero. Mischief-maker. Miscreant. Antagonist. Most stories have one. Some of them are subtle antagonists, such as Crispin Yates' father in my most recent novel, The Loch. Others are true villains in every sense of the word. Evil. Determined to undermine your hero at every turn.
By Beth Freely3 years ago in Journal
7 STEPS TO WRITING A GREAT BLOG POST
You’re sitting at your computer ready to write your first blog post. The cursor is blinking at you…waiting. And you suddenly just drew a blank and have no idea what to write. Take heart, you’re not the first person this has happened to. It happens to all writers and bloggers at some point in their life. You can’t even call it writer’s block. It’s more like…writer’s freeze.
By Beth Freely3 years ago in Journal
BEYOND THE STEPS OF STONE: MATURITY, CHARACTER VOICE & STORY
When I first started writing Beyond the Steps of Stone, I did not understand how much this story would come to mean to me. It is based on a premise a friend gave me that just sprang to life in my head. I started the first draft of the story in 2003. It is the only finished manuscript my father got to read before he passed in 2006. For years, this book was bittersweet for me until I used it for my editing class while earning my master’s degree.
By Beth Freely3 years ago in Journal
7 TIPS ON HOW TO AVOID BIAS IN YOUR WRITING
Avoiding bias in your writing, especially journalistic or academic forms of writing, is important. It shows your readers you are sensitive to topics and labels that cause concern in today’s high-voltage news climate. It also shows that you can look at both sides of an issue and begin writing about it without pushing your view of the situation onto someone else. Here are seven tips to help you avoid bias in your writing so you may present arguments and viewpoints that meet everyone’s expectations.
By Beth Freely3 years ago in Journal
ARE YOU A PLOTTER OR PANTSER? PLANNING YOUR NOVEL
I hate making a formal planning outline for any novel I am working on. I had to make so many formal outlines while studying for my two degrees that I refuse to make a plot outline for my novels. As a novel writer, I’m asked all the time, “How do you write your novels? How do you plan for them? Do you use plotting software?”
By Beth Freely3 years ago in Journal
JUST HOW LONG IS THIS STORY SUPPOSED TO BE?
How long am I supposed to make my blog? What about my article? Hey, a white paper? A novel? Flash fiction? Okay, no one said writing was easy, whether you write fiction or non-fiction. When I first started writing stories, I was never sure how long to make my chapters. I wasn’t even sure if short stories were supposed to just have break marks or chapters. As I’ve continued writing and made it my professional career, I’ve come across other writers starting out that have the same questions.
By Beth Freely4 years ago in Journal
Do You See What I See: Symbolism in Literature
Every story has a theme. That theme could be love, hate, peace war… the possibilities are endless. It all depends on what the author is trying to convey. Even Dr. Seuss' Green Eggs & Ham, a children's book my 19-year-old daughter can recite in its entirety, has a theme (in case you're wondering, that theme is to try something new before you say you don't like it). While the casual reader may not sit down and analyze the novel they are reading, subconsciously they are recognizing the theme of the story.
By Beth Freely6 years ago in Geeks
What Inspires Your Writing?
People ask me all the time, "What inspires your writing?" It's not an easy question to answer. There are a lot of things that inspire my writing, a lot of things that get the creative juices flowing, the hand writing, fingers typing, words appearing on the page. Inspiration can be found anywhere: from a nature walk in the woods to a single piece of music from a movie or your favorite band.
By Beth Freely6 years ago in Journal