Writing Tips & Articles
This section contains Robert's articles, stories and tips in PDF format.
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'Deadlining' Your Way to Success
Click here to read above review
16 Criteria for an Effective Short Story
- Beginning: effective hook, or slow to get going?
- Ending: satisfying, natural culmination of events, or preposterous or predictable?
- Setting: clear sense of place or vague and could be set anywhere?
(File format: PDF
| Size: 11kb)
The Characters, a Two-Part Story
Part 1: Characters in search of a story
"Make me a character in your story," said an unknown woman. "Make me famous!"
"I'm dying for an adventure," said an adventurous man.
"This is a mystery, isn't it?" asked the mysterious intruder.
"If you need a detective to solve this case, I'm your man," said the rugged detective.
Download the complete story here
(File format: PDF | Size: 11kb)
Writing in Restaurants and Other Odd Locations
The Writer, November 2003, p36 (3rd place, Take Joy essay contest)
"I never travel without my diary," Oscar Wilde once said, "one should always have something sensational to read in the train." Or in a plane, I hasten to add. Nor do I travel without writing paper.
"Excuse me, are you a writer?" asked a Singapore waiter hovering over my table, my pages spilled everywhere.
"How did you know?"
"There's no place to put your food!"
Download the complete story here
(File format: PDF | Size: 13kb)
On Fridays - Short Story
Literary Review, Fall, 2003 by Robert Raymer
Caught in a torrential downpour I hail a passing taxi. I have to run for it and I accidentally step into a puddle and splash myself. It's a share taxi and the front seat is already occupied by a Sikh, so I help myself to the empty seat in back. After struggling to close my umbrella, I finally shut the door. As I settle in, I'm surprised to find another back seat passenger...
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