Tag: writing

Accomplishing the Impossible

Accomplishing the Impossible

Every time I get mired in the rejection fugue brought on by the inability to sell my latest work, I remind myself, as everyone does, things aren’t as bad as they seem. Getting published isn’t as impossible as it feels. And even if it is, I shouldn’t feel daunted. After all, I’ve already accomplished one …

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Three by Three

Three by Three

Awhile back I wrote about my favorite books. I was careful to choose books which stood alone. Books in a series tend to have different qualities. And while they can stand tall on their own, most are stronger if taken in context, with the series treated as a whole. I’ve always intended to write about …

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Life-Shaping Experiences

Life-Shaping Experiences

I’m relatively young. I’m not sure if I’ll say the same in a few years, when I turn thirty, but at the moment I don’t feel old. I’m probably too young to write blogs including life-changing advice, but I’m going to attempt it anyway. Because I can. And because, though I’m still fairly young, a …

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The Right Way to Write

The Right Way to Write

I can’t claim to be a writing expert. I don’t have any publications under my belt yet. But I have spent the last two years trying to make writing my full-time gig and I’ve learned quite a lot during that time. One thing I’ve consistently struggled with is my productivity. It’s great to work from …

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A Shiny New Year

A Shiny New Year

It’s that time again! The time when we let the old slip away in favor of the new. We put all the negativity of the past year behind us and look forward to the bright new future. This is a fresh start. A new page, just waiting for new scribbles. It’s also time for New …

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Sounds of the Soul

Sounds of the Soul

I’ve always needed noise in the background. There are rare occasions when I prefer silence, if I can get it, but I’ve always found music best way to block out the buzz of life. Not only does music sharpen my focus, it inspires me. Random song lyrics trigger character or plot ideas. Epic background music …

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Influence Maps

Influence Maps

Influence maps are a popular exercise among artists. The basic concept is to make a collage of all the art and artists who have influenced and inspired your work. A friend of mine made a book cover influence map to show the authors and series which have influenced her writing. I suppose an equivalent exercise …

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Moonbeams in a Jar

Moonbeams in a Jar

One of the greatest things about fantasy settings are the magic thingamabobs floating around making the world interesting. One of the best moments in a video game is discovering an item with a magical effect. It’s even better in D&D, where magical items are often more difficult to find, despite the impressive list you can …

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An Acquired Skill

An Acquired Skill

Discipline is a hot topic among writers. Until I started reading the blogs of other writers, I never realized how important a concept it is, especially for those of us just starting out, trying to break into the professional world. It’s obvious the most important step in the writing process is to write. Writing often …

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