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.
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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
The Importance of Plot Bunnies
When I was a kid, I thought plot bunnies were actual bunnies. Though I soon realized that I do indeed suffer from plot bunny syndrome (or, in other words, “too many ideas syndrome”), I originally thought that plot bunnies referred to a random thing happening in your story when you couldn’t think of anything else … Continue reading The Importance of Plot Bunnies
How a Kids Cartoon Became the Defining Story of a Generation
What’s your story with Avatar: The Last Airbender? Most people nowadays have one, whether you watched it growing up, found it sometime later, or even saw your kids watching it on TV. Why are we talking about it? Because, 20 years after the show first aired, it’s still making an impact. Who doesn’t want to … Continue reading How a Kids Cartoon Became the Defining Story of a Generation
The Biggest Birthday Book Haul
There’s something about walking into a used bookstore. The heavy scent of aged pages lingering in the air. The quiet voices barely breaking the stillness. The multicolored spines lined up for yards and yards. The silent call beckoning you to tarry as long as you need. How does it move you? a used bookstore in … Continue reading The Biggest Birthday Book Haul
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?
Does Creativity Matter Anymore in the Book Industry?
What does writing a book mean to you? I’m curious to know. Do you picture sitting there at a desk for hours on end, crying over your manuscript? Maybe you feel a spark of excitement at the thought of getting your ideas down. Perhaps there’s even fear. If you’re an author, I hope you at … Continue reading Does Creativity Matter Anymore in the Book Industry?
Most Writing Tools Are Overrated
You don’t need what they’re trying to sell you. Back in the good ol’ days, all a writer needed was a pen and paper. Is that the kind of writer you are? Or are you more familiar with the sight of a crowded desk and even more crowded tabs? It sure is popular to be … Continue reading Most Writing Tools Are Overrated
A New Chapter: An Open Letter to My Fellow Writers and Readers
Dear writers and readers, What a year it's been! Through busyness, goals that didn't pan out, weeks where I just couldn't write, and the biggest change this blog has ever had, I want to thank you—you, specifically, reading this—for being with me through it all. Even more, I want to thank those rare few who … Continue reading A New Chapter: An Open Letter to My Fellow Writers and Readers
Resource: Capitalize My Title
Writing a book? Easy. Capitalising a title. . . infuriating. Whether you write books, articles, blog posts, or anything and everything in between, I'm sure you've run into the title capitalisation obstacle before. I can't tell you how many times I've sat there wondering, Do I capitalise this "as"? What about the "before" here? And … Continue reading Resource: Capitalize My Title
The Story Canvas 