I have been writing since I learned to read. I wrote stories, plays, and screenplays as a child, and I knew that I would be a storyteller in one way or another all my life.
Many of my stories are based in part on my own life. For instance, the story "Viking Funeral" that appears in the collection "The Signpost Up Ahead" was written to honor my older brother, who passed away early in 2024. He always said he wanted a viking funeral, and I wrote a fictionalized account of what that might be like in a darkly twisted manner that I know he would appreciate.
I learned to read at the age of three and always loved the written word. We were a literate family and always had books in the house. Also, I was a TV and movie nut and always wanted to tell stories, whether it was for print or performance. Even when my childhood friends and I would play outside, I would create scenarios and tell them how to let the "story" unfold.
A good story starts with compelling characters, though structure is important as well. Each scene should serve a purpose to develop character, advance the plot, or reinforce the theme. Also, good writing is knowing how to be precise with your words to maximize efficiency while painting a picture in the minds of your readers.
