Category: Healings

An Experiment in Writing – Part 11: Language/Word Choice

Language is much more than how you use verb tenses and what adverbs and adjectives do, and word choice is much more than using the right word versus the almost right word.

This experiment in writing explores how to create a reading rhythm which keeps your reader reading, and how to use language to emphasize what’s happening on the page.

 
Think I’m onto something? Take a class with me or schedule a critique of your work.
Think I’m an idiot? Let me know in a comment.
Either way, we’ll both learn something.

Pick up several dozen copies of my books because it’s a nice thing to do, you care, and I need the money.

Or you can get copies of Empty Sky and The Book of The Wounded Healers and follow along.

The Book of The Wounded Healers (A Study in Perception) Chapter 49 – Hormone-Free Dancing In Harlem now available on BizCatalyst 360

BizCatalyst 360°’ Chief Imagineer and Founder Dennis Pitocco wrote a beautiful forward to my The Book of The Wounded Healers (A Study in Perception), and also offered to share some chapters (selected by my first readers) on the BizCatalyst 360° site.

Today’s offering is Chapter 49 – Hormone-Free Dancing In Harlem.

Enjoy.

An Example of the Experiments, 2 – Fains I

We left off in An Example of the Experiments – Fains I with a rewrite of the first paragraph, which was much better craftwise than the original and still sucked.

It was better than the original because of the solid POV, the protagonist’s situation was clearly stated, the setting and tone were much stronger, more character roles were defined, …

And still it sucked, and I knew it sucked, hence I wrote “Still needs work, though.” at the end of the post.

The real problem was I didn’t know how to fix it because I wasn’t sure of the specifics of what wasn’t working.

Much of the answer came while I worked on An Experiment in Writing – Part 8: Worthy Antagonists when I talked about developing a character’s backstory, about why the character behaves, thinks, responds, interacts, does as they do.

Give the reader only as much character background as necessary for them to understand the story.

 
Let me give you a caveat at this point: Give the reader only as much character background as necessary for them to understand the story.

Empty Sky’s Earl Pangiosi, The Inheritors’s Seth Van Gelder, look at any of the main and primary characters in my work and you’ll find lots of their background woven into the story.

It seems I do this weaving well because readers constantly comment on how real and vivid my characters are.

Back to Fains I (or “Eye.” I’m still deciding).
Continue reading “An Example of the Experiments, 2 – Fains I“

The Book of The Wounded Healers (A Study in Perception) “Chapter 40 – Dancing With Death” now available on BizCatalyst360°

BizCatalyst360°’s Dennis Pitocco wrote a wonderful foreword to my latest novel, The Book of The Wounded Healers (A Study in Perception) and additionally offered to share some reader-selected chapters on the BizCatalyst360° site.

This entry is Chapter 40 – Dancing With Death.

Many thanks to Dennis for his wonderful foreword and this opportunity.

My newest novel, The Book of The Wounded Healers (A Study in Perception), is available

My newest novel, The Book of The Wounded Healers (A Study in Perception), is available on Kindle and in print.

The rest of this email contains The Book of The Wounded Healers (A Study in Perception) early reader comments (which are front matter in the book) and a blurb.

<BEGIN HYPE>
“This masterpiece delves into the intricate interplay between trauma, healing, and perception. Through a series of poignant narratives, the Joseph invites readers to contemplate the profound ways in which our experiences shape how we see the world and ourselves.” – Dennis J. Pitocco, Chief Reimaginator, 360° Nation

“I genuinely enjoyed the way Joseph brought the characters to life and the depth of the storyline. Clearly he’s created something unique.” – Ipek Williamson, Transformation Coach, Speaker, Meditation Coach, Author

“Joseph Carrabis is a gifted writer who draws the reader into deep contemplation and self-reflection with each turn of a page, all the while skillfully weaving a story that grabs your attention and holds on till the end.” – Othneil Archer, RBN, Sensitivity Reader

Blurb
How many heartbeats does it take to change the world?

Ben Matthews is a mathematical linguist studying spontaneous languages at Columbia University in New York City. Recently home from committing himself to a northern New Hampshire psychiatric center, he spends a relaxing late-May day bonding with his son, Jiminy, at South Street Seaport.
They’re watching a juggler when the East River to Brooklyn and beyond becomes a white sand desert. A sirocco wind raises waves and whips ice cream wrappers, crumpled napkins, visitor guides, ticket stubs, and other ground level trash intown.
Three creatures, their images shimmering in the heat like a mirage, walk across the sand towards The Battery and TriBeCa South. Ben is knocked down and loses track of Jiminy as people race to safety.
The desert fades away, the sirocco recedes, and the three creatures walk up to Ben. The one in front says, “We are Healers from the Land of Barass.” It points to the one on its right. “He is Cetaf, who cries for his own pain.” It turns to the one on its left. “This is Jenreel, who tends to his own needs. I am Beriah. I will tell you how I feel.”

The creature offers Ben its hand. “We are Healers from the Land of Barass.”
All Ben can think of to say is “I’ve lost my little boy.”
Beriah helps him up. “Then you must find him.”

Ben, aided by The Healers from the Land of Barass, embarks on a quest through Manhattan and learns he’s lost much more than his son, and finds much more in himself.