Alma Thinks... Alma's Books world building Writing Wordbuilding: From one scene to a finished novel October 18, 2020June 9, 2021Alma Alexander The making of ‘Changer of Days’ I am used to this – or I should be, it’s happened to me often enough. A character steps out of the ether, introduces…Continue readingWordbuilding: From one scene to a finished novel
Alma Thinks... world building Writing Writing School Worldbuilding ‘The Were Chronicles’, Book by Book October 11, 2020Deck Deckert ‘Random’ the first book in ‘The Were Chronicles’ triptych of novels, literally started as a short story aimed at an anthology which wanted to deal with “Were” things which were…Continue readingWorldbuilding ‘The Were Chronicles’, Book by Book
Alma Thinks... Writing Quarantine Diaries: Reflections on a writer’s legacy October 7, 2020Deck Deckert Artist in Residence I am currently using some of the time I am spending inside my house – covid, toxic air and all that – to earn some additional money…Continue readingQuarantine Diaries: Reflections on a writer’s legacy
Alma Thinks... world building Writing Creating the story arc of the luminous Babylon 5 series September 30, 2020Deck Deckert In Valen’s name The first time I crossed paths with the TV series Babylon 5, it was a disconnected episode from Season 2, Confessions and Lamentations – the Markab plague…Continue readingCreating the story arc of the luminous Babylon 5 series
Alma Thinks... world building Writing Writing School Worldbuilding 101 — Creating your own myth September 27, 2020Deck Deckert We all create our own myths. I don’t mean, at least not here, creating your own mythology – as in, creating a pantheon for a world of your own making,…Continue readingWorldbuilding 101 — Creating your own myth
Alma Thinks... world building Writing writing tips Worldbuilding 101: Three Ways to Make a New World September 13, 2020Deck Deckert The first law of writing is that there are no laws The worst possible thing that beginner writers can do is find an overly prescriptive ‘rule book’ of fiction writing…Continue readingWorldbuilding 101: Three Ways to Make a New World
Alma Thinks... Alma's Bookshelf Writing Superheroes (retired) you never heard of September 10, 2020Deck Deckert Whence stories? Stories rarely spring from some grand idea. More often they are sparked by something small, something unsuspected. Some time ago a friend tossed me an idea “challenge” —…Continue readingSuperheroes (retired) you never heard of
Alma Thinks... Alma's Books Writing The story of a story – from idea to a four-part series August 23, 2020Deck Deckert One of the most common questions any writer gets is, ‘Where do you get your ideas?’ I often say, ‘From the idea tree in my backyard.’ Another writer says blithely…Continue readingThe story of a story – from idea to a four-part series
Alma Thinks... Writing Why does everyone make money off a book but the author? August 9, 2020Deck Deckert A big regional book sellers association in my area has a literary prize and invites nominations. You’d think that it would be a great opportunity for a local writer to…Continue readingWhy does everyone make money off a book but the author?
Alma Thinks... Reviews/Interviews Writing When the interviewer wants to know, you say … August 6, 2020Deck Deckert The Fantasy Hive experience I was just interviewed by The Fantasy Hive and it was a whole lot of fun. One question was: Q: Dazzle us with an elevator pitch?…Continue readingWhen the interviewer wants to know, you say …