by AnnMarie Kalus | Oct 8, 2025 | Writing Tips
When you open a book that instantly feels heavy, mysterious, or warm, and you feel a tangible presence of emotion… that’s the mood. It’s that intangible quality that makes a scene feel alive, the emotional color on the page. Mood is not just about what happens in a...
by AnnMarie Kalus | Oct 8, 2025 | Writing Tips
I think we can all agree that show, don’t tell is, in fact, the most dreaded (and hated) phrase in the history of writing. I know. But what does that really mean? At its core, that advice points to one of the simplest truths about writing — everything...
by AnnMarie Kalus | Jun 18, 2025 | The Sea Whisperer
Everything around me is history here. Below my apartment is a 220-year-old pub whose regular customers sometimes sing drunken songs, but I don’t usually mind. The singing is as much a part of the town as are the old buildings and cobblestone streets. None of it helps...
by AnnMarie Kalus | Jun 18, 2025 | The Sea Whisperer
It has been a long-time wish of mine to write about the sea. I wanted to create a story that was personal, with characters who are close to my heart and who I hoped would resonate with others the same strong way they do with me. And so came the idea for The Sea...
by AnnMarie Kalus | Feb 16, 2025 | Original Short Story
Submitted for Reedsy Short Story Competition, Contest #266 I had all of it laid out: my Phrygian cap, the Golden Fleece, the epic poetry tablets of Calliope, the sacred laurels of Apollo, fragrant incense, milk, and honey. Desperately, I chanted her name...
