Category Archives: Pen Points

WHEN FACTS AREN’T FACTS AND ASSUMPTIONS ARE FAULTY Historical Writing Pitfalls and What to Do: Part I

Posted on June 7, 2022 by Char of inkydancestudios

A DIFFERENT TIME AND PLACE I write historical stories and constantly worry I’ve overlooked something. Most likely, I have. Anachronistic traps hide everywhere. I hadn’t realized pre-colonial Maryland indentured servants went barefooted because shoes costs too much, or Governor Calvert … Continue reading →

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SECRETS OF HISTORICAL LETTER WRITING or How to Lock your Letters

Posted on June 19, 2021 by Char of inkydancestudios

Richard Fisher (16 June 2021) posted a terrific article giving insight as to how a postal-free delivery system in the 1200-1850s kept correspondence from prying eyes. This task required ingenuity and adept eye-hand coordination. In my newest book (working title: … Continue reading →

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What You Don’t Say Tells Another Story: The Power of Subtext in Writing

Posted on May 16, 2021 by Char of inkydancestudios

Facial expression, misdirection, avoidance, double meaning, body language, and quips, are some of the ways to use subtext. How fun for your readers when you let them take part in writing your story. Think about it. If you haven’t spelled … Continue reading →

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TRIBUTE TO A FRIEND- Judith Van Gieson

Posted on March 6, 2021 by Char of inkydancestudios

Judith Van Gieson passed away unexpectedly in Albuquerque, NM in January. I took these photos of her at what I expect was her last public appearance. Here she is holding the manuscript of her book that had been adopted for … Continue reading →

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DEODAND: A THING THAT MUST BE OFFERED . . . .

Posted on August 10, 2020 by Char of inkydancestudios

Left-overs from my historical-biography novel research. The year, 1637: Poor John Briant, lies there crumpled in the dirt, bleeding with cuts and scratches. His body has become a broken bulk. Poor, poor John is now quite dead. Who killed John? … Continue reading →

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Children, Spinsters, and Patriots

Posted on July 22, 2020 by Char of inkydancestudios

Babies died. Children died. Young men and women died. Life in 1630s early-colonial America called for hard work, endurance, and brought much heartache. Here in our high-tech automated world of designer medicines, we think of our ancestral grandfathers and sons … Continue reading →

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