Articles written by R.L. Lake

What is Helium

About me - R.L. Lake

I am a writer of fiction, poetry, and creative nonfiction making my entry into the freelance world. Visit me at finelinefreelance.wordpress.com

+ more bio information

RSS Feed

Arts & Humanities > Writing for Success Writers: How to handle rejection: 2 of 34
Rejection is an inescapable fact of the writing life. Some writers will have their work rejected hundreds or even thousands of times before they finally find acceptance. Rejection can be crippling to the ego and stop even the best of writers in his or her tracks. Rejection is never easy, whether it's the first time or the fiv... More..
Arts & Humanities > Thoughts on Writing Why writers write: 19 of 193
The most tried and true fact of being a writer is that a writer writes - period. Being a writer means knowing unequivocally what it is you're meant to do in life. Knowing why you feel compelled to do it however, is another matter altogether. Ask any writer why they write and they are guaranteed to give you a variety of answer... More..
Arts & Humanities > Thoughts on Writing Are great fiction writers born with talent or can fiction-writing be taught?: 1 of 6
Fiction writing can most certainly be taught-just ask anyone with a Creative Writing degree. Anyone with enough time and patience can learn the basics of creating plot, writing realistic dialogue, and developing memorable characters. Certainly, the mechanics of writing fiction is something that can be learned. However, the ab... More..
Arts & Humanities > Writing Tips Tips for writing a first draft: 3 of 16
A first draft is just that-a first draft. It's the first version of the short story, poem, or novel that's floating around in your head and it certainly will not be the last. A first draft is rough, unpolished, and most likely full of errors but it is also the most honest expression of your ideas. While there will certainly ... More..
Arts & Humanities > Writing Tips How to keep readers interested in your novel: 4 of 18
Keeping readers interested in your novel is a difficult task for any writer. Many readers will decide whether they will continue reading your book based on the first few chapters or sometimes even the first few paragraphs. Hooking your readers into the story early on is key to attracting and maintaining an audience for your w... More..
Arts & Humanities > Writing Tips Breathing life into your fictional characters: 22 of 72
Memorable characters are the foundation any good story or novel is built on. The best novels feature characters who are multidimensional, believable, and relatable. They often take on a life of their own and they continue to live on in the minds of readers long after the story ends. By creating memorable characters, you give ... More..
Arts & Humanities > Writing Tips Ideas for overcoming writer's block: 8 of 19
Writer's block happens to everyone, from the new writer starting out to the established author with a string of bestsellers under their belt. You put pen to paper or sit down in front of the computer and-nothing happens. The harder you try to make the words come, the more frustrated and blocked you become. You become trapped ... More..
Arts & Humanities > Poets & Poetry Poetry analysis: Loose Woman, by Sandra Cisneros: 1 of 1
Poet and author Sandra Cisneros is probably most well-known for her story collections, The House on Mango Street and Woman Hollering Creek and Other Stories, and her novel Caramelo. Loose Woman, Cisneros' third volume of poetry, is a collection of love poems divided into three sections, each of them addressed to the heart.To ... More..
Creative Writing > Reflections Reflections: The colors of Autumn: 21 of 22
Summer is over. It won't be official for another few weeks but the signs are there; it's undeniable. This morning, I got out of bed, shivering against the chill that crept in overnight. I pulled on jeans over legs that have lived in the sunlight for the past six months, not caring that my tan has already begun to fade. I walk... More..