Category: On Writing and Genre

“Just writing” – How a summer of writing is teaching me to do life better

This is one of a series of posts for my writing challenge, Minutes to a Better Book. You can read more about the challenge, and see all related posts here.       I Wrote an average of 2.5-3 hours a day, for ten days... I've reached the 30-hour milestone for writing my books. I'm happy with the … Continue reading “Just writing” – How a summer of writing is teaching me to do life better →

A Summer of Writing: Minutes to A Better Book

I write books as a hobby, and last month I had to push that hobby to the side. The school year was ending, and I spent the first two weeks of June wrapping up loose ends and taking trainings. I was busy, to say the least. The three days that followed were fraught with mental … Continue reading A Summer of Writing: Minutes to A Better Book →

How would ______ do this? Three more questions to ask yourself when experiencing a creative block. . .

I knew I had an idea . . . I knew it was great, but where did it go? The blank screen had no answer for me, and only the sound of my cat meowing filled the air. What happened to that shiny object I was chasing? Luckily, I had an answer. This is the … Continue reading How would ______ do this? Three more questions to ask yourself when experiencing a creative block. . . →

When you have writer’s procrastination, try these five simple steps. . .

I sat down at my screen today wanting to write for my project, A Thousand Watchful Eyes. This resulted in the usual pattern of procrastination - surfing the internet, watching a video, writing notes about future projects, eating a snack... The list goes on. I have faced this dragon before, and I have defeated it many times over. When you don't feel like writing, try these five simple steps . . .  *While these five steps work for Writer's Procrastination, you can apply the same method to any task. You just need to get creative with Steps Four and Five.

Where is the most dangerous place for your characters to go? – Eight questions for building fictional worlds.

Building Fictional Worlds Part I: Setting and Characterization When building a fictional setting, the connection between your characters and the world they live could make or break the believability of your creations. Deepening the connection between the landscape and your characters is therefore very important.

Are you depleted of ideas, or do you just need to re-energize? Three questions to ask yourself when experiencing a creative block.

It was Saturday morning, and I stared at a half-written scene in the all-to-familiar agony of writer's block. My usual urge to craft a scene had left me, and my cat, Horton, made a bed of my forearms. The time had finally come to do something else.

A Lightning Storm in My Brain – Navy SEALS, Dark Magic, Middle School, and a Secret Worth Sharing

On my way to work, the sun is rising, I look across a snowy field, and a flock of birds scatters into the air like flakes of debris from a campfire.  I hear a navy SEAL sternly recount the horrors of war. He talks about discipline in everyday life, and I absorb his words through my headphones.

4 Stages of Writing: A plant-based approach to creating fiction

Crafting FictionI have a relationship with writing, and it's mostly good. Sometimes, I am consistent about creating chapters, and sometimes... I am not. Like all relationships, writing takes time, dedication, reflection, and care to stay healthy. I admire writers who have found systems that work for their writing processes. Personally, I try new strategies all … Continue reading 4 Stages of Writing: A plant-based approach to creating fiction →

How One Children’s Fantasy Book Inspired Me to Rethink My Artistic Process…

Lyra’s Oxford Philip Pullman published his trilogy, His Dark Materials in 1995.  The three main books in the series included: Northern Lights (The Golden Compass in the U.S.) The Amber Spyglass The Subtle Knife Lyra’s Oxford is a companion novel to the set, along with Once Upon a Time in the North. When I was … Continue reading How One Children’s Fantasy Book Inspired Me to Rethink My Artistic Process… →