Writer Ellen Morris Prewitt Blog

Obvious Things I’ve Learned While Reading My Stories Aloud

Written by Ellen Morris Prewitt on October 31, 2012. Posted in General. 2 Comments on Obvious Things I’ve Learned While Reading My Stories Aloud

The Story Tittle Matters The title does so much of the initial work of the story. Not only does it establish the tone, it provides the reader with subliminal clues, such as the setting, the plot’s main conundrum, etc. I’ve always known my titles encapsulate the meaning of the story—if you didn’t get the title, I haven’t written the story...

Leaving the Station

Written by Ellen Morris Prewitt on October 28, 2012. Posted in General. 2 Comments on Leaving the Station

We slowly roll from the platform, green metal tankers absorb the golden sun. Where does the red in the light come from? Why does the end of the day bring clarity? The buttery light loves the iron couplings the grey stained concrete, and slicks against the surface close as morning toast. The broken windows of the Good Samaritan Center flash...

“Buck Up, You Fool!” or Crying at Your Own Writing

Written by Ellen Morris Prewitt on October 26, 2012. Posted in General. No Comments on “Buck Up, You Fool!” or Crying at Your Own Writing

I’d been working on the short story for years. An early version was workshopped in Richard Bausch’s Moss Group. Later, the story received an Honorable Mention in the Memphis Magazine Short Fiction Contest. But I’d never successfully placed the story for publication anywhere. That’s because it wasn’t right. “Ain’t No Commies ‘Round...

Why I Have Decided to Podcast My Short Stories

Written by Ellen Morris Prewitt on October 22, 2012. Posted in General. No Comments on Why I Have Decided to Podcast My Short Stories

In filing new query letters for my short story collection, I came across an old document. The year was 2007. The list identified agents who asked for stories or the entire manuscript. There were many. I chose one. The agent I picked was not good for me. I piddled around with him for four years, only to ultimately part ways, my fiction...

Don Chickote: Or the Strange Adventures of Lucinda Mae Watkins on the Train

Written by Ellen Morris Prewitt on October 11, 2012. Posted in General. 2 Comments on Don Chickote: Or the Strange Adventures of Lucinda Mae Watkins on the Train

As irrefutable proof of my ingrained belief that the problem must be mine, I retained the title, description, and target audience given to me by a former agent whom an editor said was not marketing my novel correctly. That period is over. Old Title: Trouble at Big Daddy’s Chicken Palace Emporium New title: Don Chickote: Or the Strange...

Are You Still With Me?

Written by Ellen Morris Prewitt on October 8, 2012. Posted in General, GRIEF. No Comments on Are You Still With Me?

When I was three years old, my daddy died. That’s quite a sad thing to happen, losing one’s father at such a young age, particularly when he was so young himself. Worse, he died suddenly, violently. His car was hit by a train, at a crossing that had a red light, but no warning arm to descend protectively across the track. He likely didn’t...

Questions Begging for Answers (I’m serious – let me know)

Written by Ellen Morris Prewitt on September 20, 2012. Posted in General. 2 Comments on Questions Begging for Answers (I’m serious – let me know)

* Are filberts even nuts? * What the hell color is fawn? * Did all those spam emails from my friends originate w/me? * Can William tell when I don’t understand him? * Why am I always talking about how the brain works? * Can I erase and start over? * Can Thomas J. write a crossword puzzle w/out “spa” as an answer? * Is...

Terrible in its Sorrow

Written by Ellen Morris Prewitt on July 26, 2012. Posted in General. 1 Comment on Terrible in its Sorrow

Sometimes I read what I’ve written and I think, how could you do that? The Bone Trench novel is pocked with very brief flashbacks of the deaths of the bones in the trenches. Despite their brevity, they are intense. When I re-read them, I wonder how I could write scenes filled with such sorrow. I’ve just finished revising a short...

The Land Behind Pickwick Lake

Written by Ellen Morris Prewitt on July 25, 2012. Posted in General. No Comments on The Land Behind Pickwick Lake

One novel is under consideration by two publishers and an agent. Another is with a final set of readers. I’m revising my first set of interlocking short stories. Suddenly, I’m running like a well-oiled writing machine. These very early short stories are good. Their problems lie mostly in mechanics. Too many words to describe simple...

The Endowment Emperor has No Clothes

Written by Ellen Morris Prewitt on June 27, 2012. Posted in General. 4 Comments on The Endowment Emperor has No Clothes

We are being hoodwinked. Those who operate in the nonprofit world, and those of us who give to nonprofits. We’ve all drunk the endowment Kool-aid. Nonprofits whose hearts are in the doing of good have adopted as the gold standard sitting on a big fat pile of money they never intend to spend. This hoard of cash, they’ve been told,...