Category: Writing

I have been trying my hand at the one-soul tale. I totally botched it and couldn't make it interesting. To discuss this failure in writing, let me begin by defining the one-soul tale.  Examples include: Island of the Blue Dolphins (Scott O'Dell) Hatchet (Gary Paulsen) Julie of the Wolves (Jean Craighead George) My Side of the Mountain (Jean… Continue reading Writing: Successful one-soul tales →

I love writing villains. Heroes are easy. Determination. A clear sense of right and wrong. Justice. Hope. Just a dash of threat and weakness to bring them back to be "related to" by the reader. Something special to make the reader imagine they are special too. Easy. It's like cooking a good dessert. Just enough savory that… Continue reading Writing: Villians are more fun →

I know a lot of people with true hobbies - golf, kickball, computer gaming, board gaming, etc. - but then there are people who I can't quite tell if it's a hobby or a really-poorly-paid-job.  Sometimes they even "earn" money from their hobby - woodworking, knitting, LARP (yes, there are people that make some money… Continue reading Musings: When does a hobby turn into work? →

I pity people who don't love English. I am not ashamed of my love affair with the language. Part of the beauty is in the acceptance the English language has for the nuance and culture which other languages can provide.  Oh, I will grant you that sometimes it's gets a little creepy the way the… Continue reading Writing: My Love Affair with the English Language →

I started writing essentially fanfic.  I took my five or six favorite books and smooshed them into something "novel". Sorry for the pun, but at the time I thought I was being entirely original. It was only when I went back to it a few years later I could see what a mockery my "novel… Continue reading Writing: The Story I Want to Read →

As a fantasy and sci-fi writer and fan, I spend more time thinking about different magic systems than I probably should. In every system I design for my worlds, I like to answer several questions to myself: Are people equally equipped to access or utilize magic? (example: if the system is based on alchemy than… Continue reading Writing: Thoughts on magic systems →

I walked as quickly as I could down the corridor, the books bouncing hard against my ribs in their sack.  I snarled a bit at the passing faete, his massive green hands shifting upwards, the leaves slowly getting out of my way.  I hurried out of the building, grateful classes were over for the next… Continue reading Nanowrimo: First “Chapter” Excerpt →

The first one-thousand words of a novel might be my favorite part - but they are also terrifying.