Tag Archives: red pen of doom
The Red Pen of Doom shoots up Train’s DRIVE BY
Here is an interesting song, and I mean “interesting” in a tragic, train-wreck sort of way. Because it’s a decent melody by a good band with some of the WORST LYRICS EVER. And the music video itself isn’t horrible at … Continue reading
Filed under 2 Music Video Monday
Storytelling insights from 3 minutes of glorious film WITH SUBTITLES
Because I am not a pretentious nancypants, I don’t typically watch movies with subtitles. They are in black-and-white, with people smoking French cigarettes while speaking French and watching things happen to other French people FOR NO DAMN REASON. The only … Continue reading
Filed under 3 Tinseltown Tuesday
ICE, ICE BABY as interpreted by the Red Pen of Doom
If you like music — and who doesn’t? — you have to love music videos. Last time, I took apart ELECTRIC AVENUE, one of the first music vids ever, and interesting stuff. Click here with your mousity mouse to read … Continue reading
Filed under 2 Music Video Monday
Why the Inverted Pyramid must DIE
If you are a writer, you know all about the inverted pyramid. It’s one of the first blueprints we get taught: put the most important stuff on top and the least important on the bottom, like an upside-down pyramid. As … Continue reading
A BOWL OF WARM MILK AND MURDER
I was shocked — SHOCKED — to learn that there are mystery novels featuring talking cats, cats who help old British ladies solve murders and whatnot. Then my mind was blown to itty bitty pieces when I heard THIS IS … Continue reading
Filed under 4 Writing Secrets Wednesday, Fiction, Thrillers and mysteries
The Red Pen of Doom destroys FREEDOM by Jonathan Franzen
FREEDOM By Jonathan Franzen The news about Walter Berglund wasn’t picked up locally – (add spaces here to match dash format in 2nd graf) he and Patty had moved away to Washington two years earlier and meant nothing to St. … Continue reading
Filed under 4 Writing Secrets Wednesday, Red Pen of Doom
The Red Pen of Doom murders THE FOUNTAINHEAD by Ayn Rand
THE FOUNTAINHEAD by Ayn Rand Howard Roark laughed. (I approve of this. It asks a narrative question – who is this guy, and why did he laugh? – and I like short sentences anyway.) He stood naked at the edge … Continue reading
Filed under 4 Writing Secrets Wednesday, Red Pen of Doom
A secret society of British editors discovers my silly blog
It’s two in the morning. Everybody sane is asleep. But a secret society of British editors was busy sneaking onto my blog, reading my love letter to all who wield the Red Pen of Doom to pay the mortgage. I … Continue reading
Filed under 4 Writing Secrets Wednesday
The Red Pen of Doom guts THE NOTEBOOK
THE NOTEBOOK (The title makes sense, since the story turns on an actual notebook.) by Nicholas Sparks Chapter One: Miracles Who am I? And how,I wonder, will this story end? The sun has come up and I am sitting by … Continue reading
Filed under 4 Writing Secrets Wednesday, Red Pen of Doom
