Blog Posts

Why Walking More Impacts a Writer’s Brain

9/26/2022

Discovering new places by walking in nature ~ Lori Twining

Last week, I scheduled some time away from work and my every day responsibilities to attend a seven-day writing retreat in the middle of the woods in Haliburton County. I hoped to review and revise my current novel by taking my characters deeper and solving a few lingering issues I had with plot holes.

The weeks leading up to this retreat stressed me out. Lists needed to be made for everything I required to accomplish at work before I could leave. I had lists of food that I must shop for and pack. I also had a weekend wedding in Hamilton to get ready for that followed the writing retreat with only a one-hour break between them. My brain was fried when I finally arrived at the retreat, and I didn’t have a plan of exactly what I would be working on. Poor planning.

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My Guest Post at Ascribe Writers

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What’s Inside and Outside Your Metaphorical Wheelhouse?

8/15/2022

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While attending the Thrillerfest conference in June, I couldn’t help but notice the frequent use of the word “wheelhouse” in conversations about reading and writing books. The word became the newest buzzword of the year. It is a term that has slowly made its way into many writers’ vocabulary, including my own.

“Ohmygod! I need to preorder the new book by Ed Aymar, “No Home For Killers”—it is totally in my reading wheelhouse. Plus, the cover is freaking gorgeous!” ~ Lori Twining

So, what do I mean by the word wheelhouse?

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My Guest Post at Ascribe Writers

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The Obsessive List Approach: How to Write a Winning Short Story

7/27/2022

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Since being chosen as "one of the lucky ones" to be included in the anthology published by Chicken House Press, I have had a few writers ask me about my process for creating a winning short story.

The question makes me laugh because there are probably 101 different ways to tackle this task, and only a tiny percentage of writers want to attempt it my way: The Obsessive List Approach. I always start with five interrogative or question words: who, what, where, when, and why (not necessarily in that order). Each one gets a whole page where I list things of interest or intrigue out in point-form, so it is easy to cross-reference from one list to the next. Let me explain in more detail:

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Chicken House Press

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7 Tips on “Putting Yourself Out There” at Writing Conferences

6/27/2022

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#5amwritersclub at Thrillerfest ~ Christine Clemetson, Ralph Walker & Lori Twining

In June, I had the opportunity to attend the Thrillerfest Conference in New York City for the first time in three years. At this point in the pandemic game, I don’t have to tell you that booking the hotel and airfare were scary enough, but traveling via plane and subway with thousands of other people rubbing up against your ribs would be a nightmare. So, I will skip the conversation about risking my health and tell you that it was time to be brave. With three vaccinations in my arm and over a dozen N95 masks in my book bag, I knew I would be well protected while traveling to the U.S. conference for a week.

I, like most writers, am considered an introvert. So, attending a writing conference to start conversations with strangers face-to-face is not only intimidating but also terrifying. So, to appear like the extrovert that I wanted to be, I decided to take it easy, relax and be stress-free. I only concentrated on one goal for the conference: To make new friends and connect again with my old ones.

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My Guest Post at Ascribe Writers

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How to Plan a Productive Solo Writing Retreat

5/23/2022

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Sometimes, life is hard.

Your typical day can get so hectic that you barely have enough time to change out of pajamas in the morning before it is already bedtime again. You are so busy juggling responsibilities that you can’t find the time to finish that short story, complete the novel edits, or even take a few minutes to write a four-line poem.
So, maybe you need a solo writing retreat?

I will admit that I won the lottery a few months ago. I didn’t win a cash prize or a prestigious award; instead, I won a writing residency opportunity to spend almost two weeks on a private island in the middle of a quiet lake. It is the perfect place for me to focus on three things: Eating, sleeping, and writing.

The exciting thing is:

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My Guest Post at Ascribe Writers

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Why Walking More Impacts a Writer’s Brain

What’s Inside and Outside Your Metaphorical Wheelhouse?

The Obsessive List Approach: How to Write a Winning Short Story

7 Tips on “Putting Yourself Out There” at Writing Conferences

How to Plan a Productive Solo Writing Retreat

Lori Twining

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