Fear in Writing
Yesterday I started a new book. There is a very particular reason I chose this book for my first ever NaNoWriMo. I have been thinking about this book for a…
A Lesson in Subjectivity
When I was in eighth grade, I took art at St. Francis Middle School in St. Francis, Minnesota. It was a one quarter class, which means it only lasted for…
Making Mythology Mine (aka Artistic License)
Every so often I get an email or read a review that calls into question some of my choices regarding the mythology of my books (especially in Oh. My. Gods. and…
Proper Manuscript Format
First of all, the title of this blog is misleading. There is no such thing as a single proper way to format a manuscript. Agents and editors read hundreds of…
Why Why Why? (aka Motivation)
Over the holidays I had the great misfortune opportunity to go see a local production of A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens. It is a wonderful play (based on a…
But This Time It’s Different
There comes a time in the writing of every book where I have some variant of the following conversation with either my parents or my best friend: Me: I’m really…
Research the Business of Writing (Writing 101)
You wouldn’t go on a trip without doing some research about your destination, would you? Then why would you embark on a career in writing without finding out what you’re getting…
Read as Much as You Can (Writing 101)
If you’re an aspiring writer, chances are that you love to read. Right? Well, I have good news. Because being a voracious reader is one of the critical first steps…