by Pat McCaw | Sep 15, 2018 | Pat's Chat, Writing tips
Dialogue fills our world as we chat with family and friends. Often we recognize excitement, sorrow, or frustration in the spoken words or the tone of a voice. Dialogue plays an essential role in giving depth to writing. “Yo, dude, snag me a Butterbeer while...
by Pat McCaw | Sep 2, 2018 | parenting, Pat's Chat
I live in rural Iowa where people still hold the door open for you, strangers wave from their passing car, and there is a sense of peace in the Heartland. When a college girl gets kidnapped and killed in a rural town only minutes away, and then a twelve-year-old boy...
by Pat McCaw | Aug 24, 2018 | Pat's Chat
So – it could be a midlife crisis? I am inching up on 50, and the thought makes me barf. The kids are back to school and they apparently grew up overnight. Today a freshman – tomorrow college visits. Where did these ten pounds come from? Goodbye...
by Pat McCaw | Jul 13, 2018 | Pat's Chat
The day began when I poked the teenagers early in the morning with a promise for a day filled with adventure. They were skeptical, grumpy, and tired – but I asked for trust and optimism! Triggered by a morning post on Facebook showing a waterfall tour through Iowa, I...
by Pat McCaw | May 18, 2018 | Pat's Chat, short story
This short story was written in response to a writing prompt about “story endings”. The challenge was either and open ending or plot twist. I have no clue why my fingertips led me down a dark path, but this story contains violence and a couple swear words....
by Pat McCaw | May 1, 2018 | book review, Pat's Chat, Uncategorized
A novel in verse was a foreign term to me not long ago, but now that they are on my radar – I am in love. A novel in verse takes poetry and wraps it into a novel. It is shorter and easier to read for reluctant readers, but carries the same power of a novel....
