Rusty Strait

I received a rather unusual request this week from Barbara in Palm Springs. “I am writing about a government agency. How do I research that? I’ve been running into blank walls.”

How you define your characters in a book is crucial to the flow of your story. Dialect often defines characters more than mere descriptions. If your protagonist is from the deep south, don’t expect him or her to speak with a Boston accent. Perhaps he or she is from New York, where the manner of dialogue is crisp and fast.

Dan Ferguson and his wife Susan from the Ramona play | Courtesy Photos of Golden Era Productions

I received a note from Melissa in San Bernardino. Her question was, “Why do I need a line editor? I have a spell check.” That is a question that needs to be answered, and Melissa isn’t aware of some of the rudiments of completing any manuscript.

Some rather reliable sources are telling me that the Hemet City Council may place a ballot initiative on the upcoming March 2024 Primary Election that would, at long last, allow the citizens of Hemet to determine who serves as their Mayor. It is about time.