author, educator, lover of books, angels, & dragonflies
“Literature is the art of discovering something extraordinary about ordinary people, and saying with ordinary words something extraordinary.” Boris Pasternak Novelist and poet Boris Pasternak described “literature” as finding the extraordinary in people and relating that discovery through “ordinary” words. He does not list the types of writing that meet this threshold. However, other definitions… Continue reading Screenplay as Literature: Shell Shock, a Book to Be Read by PortiaLily Taylor
“When obstacles arise, you change your direction to reach your goal; you do not change your decision to get there.” ― Zig Ziglar Although my professional life involved writing legal documents, policy-based materials, and academic curriculum, I always aspired to write fiction. To support that interest, I took creative writing classes, joined writing groups, and read… Continue reading Changing the Direction of My Publication Goal by PortiaLily Taylor
"The perfect is the enemy of the good." Voltaire I haven’t blogged in a while. I blame my procrastination on the sentiment of the saying attributed to Voltaire, “The perfect is the enemy of the good.” While working on completion of my novel, Sarah Finn, I began sharing my efforts with a new online, writers’… Continue reading Accepting My Writing Isn’t “Perfect” by PortiaLily Taylor
"Music, once admitted to the soul, becomes a sort of spirit, and never dies." Edward Bulwer-Lytton The words of English author Edward Bulwer-Lytton resonate with the thought that music is more than mere sound. It can be something ethereal that seeps into one’s very being and doesn’t leave. Then music, especially when intertwined with lyrics,… Continue reading Music as Social, Personal, and Literary Inspiration as Exemplified by “We Shall Overcome” by PortiaLily Taylor
Everyone has a story to tell. Everyone is a writer. Some are written in the books, and some are confined to hearts. – Savi Sharma Each person’s lifetime exists in a compilation of stories. Some are joyful. Some are tragic. Others are filled with humor while still others are cast in tears. People may share… Continue reading Writing Your Holiday Story by PortiaLily Taylor
"What I know for sure is that speaking your truth is the most powerful tool we have." -- Oprah Winfrey You have probably heard words similar to those of Oprah Winfrey regarding the power in speaking one’s truth. But, what is meant by “one’s truth” and how does that relate to a person’s writing, especially… Continue reading Writing One’s Truth through Fiction by PortiaLily Taylor
“Don't be dismayed by good-byes. A farewell is necessary before you can meet again. And meeting again, after moments or lifetimes, is certain for those who are friends.” Richard Bach My best friend died this week. Her name was Kay Mahaffey. She did not achieve world fame or monetary riches, but her life was filled… Continue reading Saying Farewell to a Friend by PortiaLily Taylor
“Hidden histories are events of the past that are not widely known or taught. Most of the time, these histories which are not well known have a negative connotation. They are not favorably viewed for one reason or another and so they have been suppressed. Usually, hidden histories revolve around controversial events such as the… Continue reading The Tulsa Massacre of 1921: Writing about Hidden Histories by PortiaLily Taylor
“If we want to write, it makes sense to read—and to read like a writer. If we wanted to grow roses, we would want to visit rose gardens and try to see them the way that a rose gardener would.” ― Francine Prose, Reading Like a Writer: A Guide for People Who Love Books and… Continue reading Reading Like a Writer by PortiaLily Taylor
“Introducing your protagonist to your reader may be the single trickiest job for a novelist. You have to let readers get to know your character in a very short time–then entice us go on a journey with this person into a brand new world. If you tell us too much, you’ll bore us, but if… Continue reading Hello, Protagonist! (Tips on Introducing Your Novel’s Main Character) by PortiaLily Taylor
PortiaLily Taylor 