It all starts with an image… This is a short excerpt from Gabriel García Márquez‘s El olor a la guayaba (The Smell of Guava), a series of interviews/conversations with Plinio Apuleyo Mendoza (Tunja, 1932), Colombian politician, journalist and writer. The translation is mine: Mendoza: What is, in your case, the starting point of a book? García […]
Tag Archives: fiction
October
08
Writing Advice from Abelardo Castillo
posted by lasesana
Abelardo Castillo (Buenos Aires, 1935) is an Argentinian writer, novelist, essayist, and playwright. He is also well known for his short stories including “Ernesto’s Mother“. An amateur boxer in his youth, Castillo worked as director of several literary magazines including El Escarabajo de Oro and El Ornitorrinco. Following are a few tips from his book Ser Escritor (Being […]
September
27
“A Few Words About Short Stories,” Augusto Monterroso
posted by lasesana
“A Few Words About Short Stories,” Augusto Monterroso Born in Teguscigalpa, Honduras, Augusto Monterroso (1921- 2003) is mainly known as a Guatemalan writer. In his early life in Guatemala city, where his family relocated in 1936, Monterroso began to publish his short stories and was one of the founders of El Espectador with several other […]
Using Colorful Adjectives When Writing Fiction or Non-Fiction
posted by lasesana
Using Colorful Adjectives When Writing Fiction or Non-Fiction By using more descriptive words for colors, you will paint a more accurate picture for your readers. Instead of saying the sea was “blue,” you can say it was cerulean with streaks of slate. YELLOW RED BLUE PURPLE GREEN BROWN Gold Crimson Midnight Violet Olive Chocolate Citrine Magenta Navy Lavender Moss […]
August
28
Advice on writing a novel by Mario Vargas Llosa
posted by lasesana
Mario Vargas Llosa (1936, Perú) was awarded the 2010 Nobel Prize in Literature in recognition of his remarkable career and body of work as a writer. The Academy awarded him the Prize “for his cartography of structures of power and his trenchant images of the individual’s resistance, revolt, and defeat.” He has written over 30 […]
August
28
The Writer’s Decalogue: Ten* suggestions for writers, Augusto Monterroso
posted by lasesana
Augusto Monterroso (1921-2003) was most well known for his very short stories. His story, “The Dinosaur,” is often referred to as the shortest short story in literature. In Spanish, it has just seven words: Cuando despertó, el dinosaurio todavía estaba allí. When he awoke, the dinosaur was still there. Other stories, like “The Eclipse” are […]
August
27
Jorge Luis Borges On Writing Short Stories: El Zahir
posted by lasesana
Jorge Luis Borges (1899-1986) is one of the best-known Latin American writers. It is difficult to summarize Borges in a few sentences. The best way to get to know Borges is to read his stories. Many think he was a genius. His short stories are unique and let the reader step away from reality for […]
August
27
The Buddha in the Attic, Julie Otsuka REVIEW
posted by lasesana
**** Title: The Buddha in the Attic Author: Julie Otsuka First Edition: Alfred A. Knopf, 2011 This edition: Kindle edition Original language: English Awards: 2012 PEN/Faulkner Award for Fiction 2011 National Book Award finalist, fiction Quotes: “A girl must blend into a room: she must be present without appearing […]
August
26
Horacio Quiroga’s Ten Rules For Writing A Perfect Short Story
posted by lasesana
Horacio Quiroga’s Ten Rules For Writing A Short Story Horacio Quiroga (1878-1937) was an Uruguayan poet, playwright, and short story writer. He is considered to be one of the best Latin American short story writers of all time. His stories like “The Decapitated Chicken” and “The Son,” are deliciously bizarre and really grip the reader. […]
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