Perhaps one of the biggest challenges in anyone’s life is time. It goes by quickly, and as adults, the demands on our time only continue to increase. We have to balance home, family, work, interests, health, friends, and then all the pulls. By pulls, I mean all the things that come up. These are thingsContinue reading “Mastering Time: Finding Balance in Life and Writing”
Tag Archives: Writing Tools
From Fairy Tales to Urban Fantasy: A Writer’s Journey
When someone asks how long it takes to write a book, I usually say a few years. From concept to finished product, it’s a process! A few years ago, I started playing around with the idea of fairy tale retellings. I’m not a huge fan of fairy tales, more specifically, the passive princess. I didn’tContinue reading “From Fairy Tales to Urban Fantasy: A Writer’s Journey”
Why Every Writer Should Read Save the Cat
As with any profession, professional development is ongoing. For writing, this means continually learning about how to write and exploring existing works in my chosen genre. Since I write fantasy, I read a lot of fantasy. As for improving my writing craft… the supply is endless, but there are a few gems I’ve gleaned fromContinue reading “Why Every Writer Should Read Save the Cat”
The Discipline of Writing
I’ve always been a writer. From my earliest memories, the written word has fascinated me. Like most people, I easily default to the excuse of, ‘life is busy’ when struggling with finding time to write. Over the years, I’ve tried numerous suggestions that have worked for other authors. I have to be honest, none ofContinue reading “The Discipline of Writing”
Writing Resources -Brandon Sanderson
When I meet other aspiring authors, I often get asked questions about improving one’s writing. I can share a little bit, but like anything in life, we’re always learning and growing. So, I’m always reading or listening to resources on writing. Perhaps one of the best resources, especially for new authors, is Brandon Sanderson’s lectureContinue reading “Writing Resources -Brandon Sanderson”
This Meet That: Genre Blending in Modern Fiction
Consider a recent book you’ve read. Did it feel like a mix of genres? Perhaps there was a romance story mixed in with an adventure. Or maybe a sci-fi with a touch of western (think Firefly). Genre blending or genre mixing is a term used a lot with fiction. It’s pretty common to see blurbsContinue reading “This Meet That: Genre Blending in Modern Fiction”
Naming Characters: Building Worlds with Meaningful Names
It seems like an obvious enough title. And it’s true, each character in a book does have a name that connects them to something. In a previous post, I spoke about how I like to choose names for characters. One of biggest things I do is pick a name that has a meaning that matchesContinue reading “Naming Characters: Building Worlds with Meaningful Names”
The Human Approach: Connecting the Reader with the Main Character
About two decades ago I attended a writing class where the teacher said the main character needs to be larger than life but also relatable. Since then, I’ve read numerous books on writing and they all say something similar. Main characters are the center of the narrative because essentially, the story wouldn’t happen without them.Continue reading “The Human Approach: Connecting the Reader with the Main Character”
Creating Believable Character Trouble and Redemption
It is said that the author’s job is to make trouble for their characters. And then the character must find their way out of the mess to become the hero. It is also said that the reader must care about the character. So now the author has a delicate balance. The author wants to makeContinue reading “Creating Believable Character Trouble and Redemption”
Fairy Tale Retellings: Preserving Tradition While Adding Uniqueness
Imitation is the highest form of flattery. -Oscar Wild Do you agree or disagree? This quote is often used to justify copying. Perhaps someone says it as a form of comfort. Or perhaps it is said it to explain motives. It’s a popular expression and to a certain extent very true. When studying drama inContinue reading “Fairy Tale Retellings: Preserving Tradition While Adding Uniqueness”
K. M. Wray 