Writing New Worlds
How many people have sat at their computer, word processor open in front of them and a wistful sigh on their lips: "If I had time, I'd love to write a novel." Okay, maybe I'm making the scene a little more dramatic than it needs to be, but you get the idea. Let's be honest, …
Continue reading "Finding the Time (when you don’t have it)"
I sat down the other day to read a book. It's a fantasy book I've been interested in reading for a while now - the Magicians by Lev Grossman. It's an interesting premise, and I've watched some of the show so I know it has the darkness I really like in my fiction. First, let …
This was a writing prompt I stumbled across a long time ago. It stuck with me, but I was never sure what to do with it. I finally felt the spark, so here you go. Disclaimer: As usual, I take no credit for the writing prompt featured. This is an exercise of taking a presented …
Continue reading "The Writing Prompt Project, part 3: CAMP WHITEPINE"
Way back when, I went to school for business, specializing in Accounting. At my school, we had very complex, Hogwartsian politics between the four specialties. First, there's Accounting. We were clearly Gryffindor. We were those brave souls who faced our enemies with the cry of "no, it's not in the budget". We were the unsung …
Continue reading "How to Pitch your Novel: Writing a High Concept Pitch"
If you ask someone what sticks with them most after reading a book, the answer is usually the same: The characters. Reading a novel is not a light endeavor. You're devoting hours of your life (or days, or longer) to another person's imagination, investing yourself into their words. Plot carries you through the movements, but …
My last edition of the project turned out pretty heavy, so this time I wanted to write something a little more lighthearted. This is one of the more traditional writing prompts out there. I've stumbled across it a hundred times without noticing it, let alone feeling a spark. But for some reason, today it made …
Continue reading "The Writing Prompt Project, part 2: NOT QUITE A FORTNIGHT (…with zombies)"
First of all, thank you. Truly, thank you for the time (lots of it) you have devoted to sharing our passion. Without your eyes and your own love of reading, not to mention your courage to tell us what you really think, our manuscripts wouldn't be possible. As the authors, we know the ins and …
Continue reading "Sharing our Work: An Open Letter to our Test Readers"
As a fantasy author, mythology holds a special place in my heart. The shape of a culture's mythos speaks to more than just the beliefs of a people. It teaches about the world around the people who created the ideas in the first place. Gods, monsters, heroes, realms. The keepers of multiple underworlds, the master …
Continue reading "Mythology in Fiction: What it Can Look Like, and What it Doesn’t Have to"
Kira's bodyguard pushed her against the wall, his rifle cracking the air. Two enemy soldiers fell. "Lady, we need to keep moving." Kira pulled herself straight, her hands trembling as she tugged her hood higher. "Did Farren make it across?" The older man shook his head. She closed her eyes and nodded, fighting tears. It was supposed to be a simple operation. Her name was all through the intercepted reports. They found her. Now, she needed a new place to hide before the enemy moved on the intelligence. They thought they acted in time. They didn't.
