There’s a trend in modern authors and books that greatly alarms me. Authors and characters alike are in danger of bottoming-out as growth is cast aside in favor of the dangerous alternative: affirmation. Let me show you what I mean. Let’s start with how this trend appears in fiction. The main characters in fiction rarely…
INDIE: Pros and Cons
I thought this might be a useful post for some of you who may have not taken the step or journey into the publishing world yet, or even maybe for those who have. I’ve compiled a list of pros and cons. Honestly, I don’t think Indie is the end all be all. There are so…
The Biggest Flaw in Your Book/World Building and How to Fix It
I’m a lover and writer of dystopian literature. It wasn’t the haunting hope within post-apocalyptic environments, futuristic warfare, common grunge scenery, or even the ruined memories of former civilizations that drew me to the genre. It was the great unknown at my fingertips. The ability to play with times that haven’t come to pass yet….
Editing. You Either Love It or You Hate It.
But editing is not just a necessary evil of nitpicking your story to death. Editing is a crucial process of transformation, and with the right mindset, you can learn to enjoy the journey. The Purpose & Philosophy of Editing. One of my favorite quotes about writing is “The first draft is just you telling yourself…
7 Quick Tips For Writing Growth
Growth is hard. It’s a battle and a journey and, like every battle and journey, the talisman of advice makes the path ahead a little easier. Today I sat down to reflect on what I’ve learned after writing for overly twenty years so that I can share those reflections with you. I’ve grown a lot…
Why Every Author Needs to Outsource
I was crying, shaking, and sick to my stomach. I put my face down on the desk and resisted the urge to scream. It was a familiar feeling; it was happening to me with far too much regularity. The feeling came over me every single time I tried to fix my perpetually crashing blog. Yup,…
Investment vs. A Poverty Mindset
I’m going to get a little personal and maybe a smidge uncomfortable in today’s post. It’s okay to invest in yourself. Not only is it okay, but it’s also amazing. I don’t have the fattest wallet. Never have. It’s been through seasons of extra leanness and I’m currently in one. But I’ve struggled with a…
4 Things I Wish I Had Done Before Publishing
Young writers are amazing. Never say I didn’t say that. More than that, they are capable of great things—like being awesome published authors who, yes, can make a career out of their writing! However, new writers (whether they’re ten or ninety-two) often make a basic beginner mistake, and that is believing they are ready to…
Writing the Character Behind The Genius
As the author of a mystery series which features an old school detective set in the early 1900’s in London, I speak from experience when I say that writing a detective can be a difficult task. In a lot of instances, or at least for me anyway, I had to create a character who was…
How to Plot Your Novel When You Hate Plotting
I feel you. I really do. Once upon a time, I despised plotting. I was a die-hard seat-of-your-pants writer. If a story idea came to mind, I immediately set to work and began drafting. I wrote a middle-grade fantasy rip-off of Narnia this way. However, as I grew and matured as a writer, I began to realize…