Sometimes I have an idea for a piece of writing (the topic for a blog post, for instance, or the main character relationships for a short story) but then I get stuck on developing the meat of the idea. It’s like – I know the idea is there in my brain. I had an idea […]
The more I think about it, the more I realize that some of my favorite movies involve writers and writing. (Which, as an author, is only natural.) I thought I’d share some of my favorites. This is not an exhaustive list. It’s just the ones I could watch over and over. You may have already seen many of these films, […]
Here it is, the night before the launch of A Shot in the 80% Dark. It’s the fourth book in the Bean to Bar Mysteries series, so it feels like everything should be routine by now. But each one of these books has come together in a different way and presented its own challenges. This […]
Let’s talk books! Specifically writing craft books. As writers, wanting to improve our art is natural, and learning from the insights – and the mistakes – of others is one of the quickest ways to do that. It’s no surprise that my own writing manual is my favorite. Obviously, it reflects the way my mind […]
Of course, nothing is going to replace having real-life conversations, or an in-person class where the instructor can correct your pronunciation. But starting with books and audio/video resources will definitely get you moving forward, and can serve to supplement what you have learned and offer opportunity to study and practice on your own. Try to […]
Here it is, release day for Out of Temper. I usually do these posts the night before, but I had a class to teach last night and we are visiting family, so by the time I would have been able to get to it, I was just too tired. Out of Temper really was a […]
In a way, pacing in a book is like interval training. The reader would get worn out if the events were always at peak tension and breakneck speed. But without any challenge to the characters and threat to their goals, the reader quickly becomes bored. As you write, be deliberate in the way each scene […]
Whether it is your first time trying to write a novel in November, or if you’re a veteran looking for ways to make the process go smoother, don’t overlook the benefits of planning in advance. If you come into NaNo with a reasonable idea of who your characters are, where they live, and where your […]
Here it is, very late the night before 70% Dark Intentions comes out. I’ve just finished editing some video for the launch party tomorrow, and I’m finally getting to my book-launch eve blog post. What did I learn this time around? For one thing, how warm and supportive people can be, when you are approaching […]
I’ve been talking to a lot of people lately about book openings, specifically what you need to accomplish in the first ten pages of your manuscript. To prologue or not to prologue? Do you need to set up the scale of the world, or give details on the science? Should you start with an action scene? These are […]
