Category Archives: Pen Points

HOW TO USE 3,000 STRAIGHT PINS

Posted on January 3, 2023 by Char of inkydancestudios

Queen Elizabeth (b. 1533 – d. 1603) used about 3,000 straight pins a month, probably more than most, but still an impressive amount. Pins have been used for about 4,000 years, appearing around the emergence of the bronze age. You … Continue reading →

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From the End to the Beginning: Saying Goodbye

Posted on December 8, 2022 by Char of inkydancestudios

Originally posted on CHARLENE BELL DIETZ, Author: Inkydance Studios:
Everyone says that cousins were marrying cousins. According to family lore, my great grandfather wanted a more diverse bloodline for his grandchildren.  When he married in 1859 he moved from Maryland…

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COAUTHORS WRITE WINNING BOOKS

Posted on November 20, 2022 by Char of inkydancestudios

by Charlene Bell Dietz Engagement Required: Young children often want the same book read aloud again and again or will latch on and study one book over and over, excluding all others. When this happens many parents worry about their … Continue reading →

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HOW FAR DO WE STRETCH THE TRUTH?

Posted on September 29, 2022 by Char of inkydancestudios

Stretch the reader’s credulity, his sense of logic, to the upmost—it is quite elastic—but don’t break it. In this way, you will write something new, surprising and entertaining to both yourself and the reader. -Patricia Highsmith If you’ve read Highsmith’s, … Continue reading →

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Part 3: THOSE SNEAKY RESEARCH ASSUMPTIONS: Who wrote the 1635 version of “A Relation of Maryland”?

Posted on August 2, 2022 by Char of inkydancestudios

Imagine this: It’s England, the year, 1635. You’ve angered some notable Protestants along with the king’s men.You need to leave because you’re Catholic, and now they’re searching for you. A friend whispers in your ear for you to hurry down … Continue reading →

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PART 2: WHEN FACTS AREN’T FACTS Historical Writing Pitfalls and What to Do

Posted on June 12, 2022 by Char of inkydancestudios

As a child, I saw Frog legs listed on the menu. Horrified, I could only imagine the little frog’s pain from having the legs torn off. Mother comforted me by saying, “They grow back.” Truly? No way. But to this … Continue reading →

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