Writing School In the beginning, the author created… When I first began writing historical fantasy, I was inspired by times and places rooted in our own familiar world – but…Continue readingHow to build a world, word by word
In the beginning, the author created… When I first began writing historical fantasy, I was inspired by times and places rooted in our own familiar world – but leavened…Continue readingHow to build a world
“Dune” did it to incredible effect. Asimov’s Foundation series did it beautifully. There are other books where this was used to enhance and deepen the worldbuilding. I am talking about…Continue readingWhy epigraphs?
Running late For reasons too boring to elaborate on, I’m running behind on this week’s blog entries. Please bear with me.I’ll be back on schedule shortly. Meanwhile… An “Embers of…Continue readingMea culpa
From Lovereading infographic The Lovereading site explains that they love epic books with swathes of characters creating a wonderfully complex plot, but ask rather plaintively: “Sometimes is it all too…Continue readingToo many characters?
It is a a writerly thing. Some of us have dogs, to be sure, but the classic writerish badge of belonging to the scribe tribe is…a cat. In some ways…Continue readingOde to the literary cat
Unh… 20 Killer Series? It’s satisfying to have a stand-alone book. When you are writing it, that’s the story, and when you’re done you’re done. You can go onto something…Continue reading20 Serial Killers?
I was born on the same continent that gave us the stories, legends, myths, and fairy tales that underlie things like Lord of the Rings, Narnia, Wheel of Time, and,…Continue readingWhence fantasy?
Some last lines have the power to disrupt the course of an entire story, shaking up our expectations, the Huffington Post tells us. Others leave us hanging, and still others…Continue readingWhat’s your favorite last line?
Image credit: ThinkStock Hemingway believed “the best writing [happen when you are in love,” which might explain his serial marriages, while others found that romantic tumult spurred their creativity, Shannon…Continue reading10 Tempestuous Writerly Romances