I’m all about setting and detail these days, trying to flesh out the land of Tlefas where all the action takes place. To help me along, I’ve been looking for some images that fit different scenes. This is the cliff Iskra climbs when she’s fleeing the bandits. Next are what Iskra is told the riskers’ …
One of the people who has read an excerpt from my novel thought that I should spend a little more time world building. He suggested that I read some of the works of LE Modesit for an example of great world building. I followed his suggestion. Legacies (Corean Chronicles, Book 1) was a fun read, …
As I write my current work in progress, I think of the idea of using something that is evil for a good purpose. In my novel, my main characters have exactly that dilemma. Should they tap into an evil power in order to defeat a wicked and depraved enemy? This is another way of looking …
Or, the Joys of Accomplishment There’s a reason seasoned novelists advise beginners to start with short stories. Learn the craft in small chunks, they say. Figure out how to create characters and write dialogue, play with setting and theme on a small scale. Then you’ll have the basics down when you expand to your epic …
An exercise in frustration has been finding really good indie fiction. Oh, it’s out there. Finding it is the problem. I’d love to find some independently published novels that I can add to my list of favorites, books I go back to and read over and over, feeling like I’m visiting old friends. I can …
Like many self-published writers, I’m forever concerned about sales and revenue. How can I get some financial return for my money? There’s an avalanche of advice out there, but today I want to explore just one strategy. Several people who claim to know what they are talking about advise authors to publish multiple books. That …
I’ve been feeling stuck with my editing. You know the feeling. Like no matter how hard you try, how many editing passes you make on your novel, it’s just not getting any better. All the momentum I had after NaNo seemed to have vanished with the smell of fresh-baked Christmas cookies, long since eaten. So …
Now that I’m in the editing phase of the memoir I’m ghostwriting, I went back and reviewed some blog posts I’ve read in the past year on the subject. Here are the best five, and why: Perfecting Your Plot This post won a spot on my list because one successful writer gives his process for …
As I revise and edit my novel, I’ve been thinking a lot about plot and structure. I want to make sure that the plot is compelling and the novel is structured in a way that will keep readers wanting more. In other words, I want to tell the story in the best possible way. To …
I’ve been reading all kinds of writing books and blog posts, and have come to the conclusion that every writer has their own process. Some are plotters, figuring out all the details in advance. Others are pantsers, who just take an idea and run with it, letting their characters take the story where they will. …