Category: On Writing and Genre

Saturday Writing Session # 2 – Take-aways from five hours of writing

For those of you who don't know, I'm a middle school teacher who is also trying to write a twelve-book fantasy saga in my spare time. It's the most amazing job in the world, as I get to work with children and their writing. To do my job correctly, I need to be efficient and … Continue reading Saturday Writing Session # 2 – Take-aways from five hours of writing →

Why I wrote for six hours on Saturday and will definitely do it again!

On Saturday morning, I woke up at 5 a.m. and groggily prepared myself for six hours of writing. Fueled with two large coffees, and ready for anything, I opened my laptop, sat down, and produced 6,000 words (4,500 of which I'm willing to keep). By lunch, I was running around my apartment, sharing my happiness … Continue reading Why I wrote for six hours on Saturday and will definitely do it again! →

Fantasy Fans United

Knowing that there is a wealth of people interested in fantasy fiction, world building, swords and sorcery, magic, and medieval-inspired stories and novels, we couldn't help but pose this question this week. If you like to read or write fantasy fiction, like this post, and comment!

Why should writers study horror?

Intelligent conversations about horror are happening daily, but who's hearing them? Despite the large number of horror aficionados in the world, many readers and writers have steered away from works of horror without fully engaging the genre as a whole. Putting aside your genre-preferences, all writers should spend a little time unpacking works of horror … Continue reading Why should writers study horror? →

Worldbuilding Tips: Five Useful Articles on Creating a Fictional World

I won't pretend that I'm the master of worldbuilding, but I will say that I am proud of the world that I built for my novel series A Thousand Watchful Eyes.  For my current novel, The Witch's Uprising, I've made several revisions to the world of Brylennia, ensuring that my fantasy world is both beautiful and believable.  … Continue reading Worldbuilding Tips: Five Useful Articles on Creating a Fictional World →

The Witch’s Uprising – Making Noteworthy Titles for Young Adult Novels and Middle Grade Lit

While working on a novel is the thrilling, the process is often fraught with little challenges. For example, finding the correct title for the book, section titles for the book's major divisions, or the simply picking names for each character and town are often difficult tasks. Rushing the process is never a good idea; however, … Continue reading The Witch’s Uprising – Making Noteworthy Titles for Young Adult Novels and Middle Grade Lit →