After working with authors from all over the world on many kinds of different story projects, I've seen a common theme. Many times, they present me with their masterpiece and I can instantly tell that the writing is good - but something is missing from the story. Something very important. Maybe there's no character development, a … Continue reading Do You Really Know Your Book’s Genre?
books
You’re Going to Hate Writing Your Book – But Here’s How You Keep Going
The slump is coming, but you can get past it. Nearly every writer faces the same hurdle when penning a brand new shiny book. Somewhere in the middle of the process, we lose motivation. We get stuck. The words won't come. We get writer's block. We get bored. Whatever you want to call it, it's … Continue reading You’re Going to Hate Writing Your Book – But Here’s How You Keep Going
The Stories that Shaped Me: Star Wars
How do you like Tuesdays? Specifically, what do you think of my Tuesday blog posts? I think it's beneficial to talk about good (and bad) stories so that we can learn from what others have done. Let me know your opinion in the comments! For now, I'm starting yet another new series about the stories … Continue reading The Stories that Shaped Me: Star Wars
Why Does It Matter to Tell Stories that Matter?
Why do we tell stories? You could probably give me at least a million different reasons. We tell stories to entertain, distract, raise awareness, help others, even just to make money. Everyone has their own reason. But really, every storyteller has something in common. Deep down—so deep down, in some cases, that the person doesn't … Continue reading Why Does It Matter to Tell Stories that Matter?
Pixar Uses a Secret to Make Their Stories Unique—Now You Can Use It Too
Have you ever noticed that most protagonists are...kinda the same? Whether it’s a children’s picture book or an adult thriller novel, the protag usually falls into one of two categories: a boy (young man, man, etc.) looking for adventure or a girl (young woman, woman, etc.) looking for independence/freedom. The secondary character and/or best friend … Continue reading Pixar Uses a Secret to Make Their Stories Unique—Now You Can Use It Too
Reblog: How To Finish Writing A Book by Sara Flower Kjeldsen Writes
This post is for people who have great story ideas, but can’t seem to finish a book. I’ve definitely been there – my teens and early 20’s were consistently filled with moments of me being inspired, but not yet having the tools to finish a story. I’m going to share what has helped me finish […] … Continue reading Reblog: How To Finish Writing A Book by Sara Flower Kjeldsen Writes
Creative Gems 2 (and 3!)
Last year, I had the joy of participating in Creative Gems Volume 2, a collection of children's short stories based on artwork by the wonderful Andrea Benko. I wrote a story about a snake who faced a big challenge! You can find Creative Gems on Amazon! I was so happy to discover that Andrea is … Continue reading Creative Gems 2 (and 3!)
How Do You Write a Book?
An updated version of a post from Feb. 2022 Apparently, 81% of people in the U.S. want to write a book. That's enough to say that most people want to write a book in this country, and I suspect the numbers would be pretty big in other countries, too. On the one hand, it's a … Continue reading How Do You Write a Book?
Resource: Fantasy Name Generators
I used to think I was great at coming up with names - until I realised I wasn't. At all. It took me far too long to find Fantasy Name Generators, a website that pretty much instantly solved one of my most difficult writing struggles. The name is a bit deceiving; the name generators on … Continue reading Resource: Fantasy Name Generators
My Review of Swipe: The Science Behind Why We Don’t Finish What We Start
Rating: 5/5 stars - must read! As time marches on, human beings adapt—but that isn’t always a good thing. According to Swipe: The Science Behind Why We Don’t Finish What We Start by Tracy Maylett and Tim Vandehey, the rapid acceleration of technology in the past few decades has exacerbated a fight or flight coping … Continue reading My Review of Swipe: The Science Behind Why We Don’t Finish What We Start
The Story Canvas 