I’m about halfway through drafting the first book in my new dragon series. As this story unfolded, I realized something about my writing. It’s driven by secrets. I find things out at the same time as you do. Sure, there are some things I know before any character does, but much of it, I don’t….
I am a firm believer that being healthy leads to all sorts of benefits. As a writer, I especially want to do the things that add quality to my writing. The more healthy I am, the better I think, write, plan, organize, and step into another person’s (replace with “character’s”) shoes. Sleep. We absolutely must…
I love reading about the creative process. So many things effect the act of creation. There is place, time, deadlines, atmosphere, and a sense of purpose. But a recent article covered the idea that emotion has an effect on results and even on what area of creation the artist should focus on based on that…
It is that time of year again when everybody is writing either their New Year’s resolutions or their accomplishments for the past year. My thought is more along the lines of what is still present, still ongoing. So here is my New Year’s list post. My Labrador companion, Cagney, it turns out, is not turning…
A couple of years ago, a fellow blogger and I discussed writing guest posts for each other. She writes in the combined fantasy/urban legend genre and hoped I could write a post about magic or how place contributes to a story. I decided to do it on how every story has rules, and how rules…
You know that feeling: itchy fingers, voices in your head, ideas backing up, the urge to sit and type like a maniac through a scene, a tirade of dialogue, a well-strung motif? That’s where I am at, about to break out in a rash of words. But there is a hold, the ever present disruption…
My last post was about brainstorming with my writer pal Marcy on a novel idea involving dementia and Alzheimer’s. Much of what is going into the book is based on my experience with my mother and my father-in-law who are both suffering from this kind of memory loss. Every phone call I have with them…
Partner and group brainstorming: I use this technique in my creative writing class. We gather around the table and discuss ideas. After we settle on one, I step back and write down each plot point or character decision as they work through them and build a consensus. Now and then I read through what they…
