Plotter or pantser—which do you identify with? Whether you're an outliner extraordinaire or draft based on vibes, I think we can all agree that having an idea for a story is the easy part. Then comes writing. At some level, we love writing. That's why we're writers, right? But drafting is messy and unpredictable, especially … Continue reading Trying to Write a Book as a Pantser? Start Here.
fiction writing
The Editing Process Isn’t as Scary as You Think
Do you ever think about how the book in your hands came to be? I considered it often as a kid. My whole life, I've wanted to be an author, so I took every chance I could to learn more about the writing process. I went to author talks. I read books on writing. But … Continue reading The Editing Process Isn’t as Scary as You Think
Does Every Story Have a Story?
The story of how Whispers of Worlds came to be began so long ago that I can’t even pinpoint the year. I’ve written countless stories over my lifetime. Some long, some short, some complete, many not. Back in 2019, it occurred to me that I had tons of short stories sitting around, so why not … Continue reading Does Every Story Have a Story?
Slaying Dragons, Paid Book Reviews, Writing Lessons, and More!
It's December!! Anyone else enjoying the chilly weather? Anyone not enjoying it? Personally, I love that time of year when I can finally, finally, dig my sweaters out from underneath my shorts. (Just kidding, I don't actually put my pants in the same drawer as my shirts. I'm not a monster.) I feel like I … Continue reading Slaying Dragons, Paid Book Reviews, Writing Lessons, and More!
Why I Chose ProWritingAid Premium Over the Competition
A few weeks ago, I got an email from ProWritingAid that changed my life. Funnily enough, I had never used ProWritingAid before, but I was subscribed to their emails because of their writing events. Despite the positive reviews I had heard about the software, I used Grammarly instead because its free version was much more … Continue reading Why I Chose ProWritingAid Premium Over the Competition
Reblog: What Is a Story Keystone? by JGlover – The Art of Storytelling
http://theartofstorytelling.co.uk/2023/11/22/what-is-a-story-keystone/ What in your story is so important that the rest of the story can't stand without it? It's the theme, of course. This is why I love thinking of theme as this new term I heard from JGlover's post: the story keystone. Even after you've heard me harp on theme time after time, you … Continue reading Reblog: What Is a Story Keystone? by JGlover – The Art of Storytelling
What I Learned about Emotional Storytelling from a Kid’s Video Game
I've been a nerd all my life; maybe that's why I still play Pokémon as an adult. Pokémon was as instrumental in my growing up as Disney, Star Wars, Narnia, and Lord of the Rings. Some of my earliest memories are waking up early to watch Pokémon on TV with my older sister. In my … Continue reading What I Learned about Emotional Storytelling from a Kid’s Video Game
Get Rid of the Fluff!
Time. It’s one thing to experience it, another to relate it to a reader. It takes careful work to manage the flow of time in a fiction story. When do you describe a character brushing their teeth? Or waking up in the morning? When do you detail a conversation and when do you skim over … Continue reading Get Rid of the Fluff!
Three Keys to Crafting Memorable Dialogue
'How are you?' [Mr. Holmes] said cordially, gripping my hand with a strength for which I should hardly have given him credit. 'You have been in Afghanistan, I perceive.' 'How on earth did you know that?' I asked in astonishment. 'Never mind,' said he, chuckling to himself. 'The question now is about hemoglobin. No doubt … Continue reading Three Keys to Crafting Memorable Dialogue
From Hobbiton to Mordor: Creating Your Own World Like Tolkien’s
There are few works as enduring as J.R.R. Tolkien's Lord of the Rings trilogy. Even now, decades after the books were written, movies and shows are still being made. Books on Middle Earth are still being published. In fact, there's even a Lord of the Rings concert coming to my city soon, and it's a … Continue reading From Hobbiton to Mordor: Creating Your Own World Like Tolkien’s
The Story Canvas 