Of Rabbit Holes and Revisions My current work in progress was born of two parents. One, to create a humorous, offbeat fantasy a la Terry Pratchett and two, to follow a writing guide, i.e. the Hero’s Journey (and Donald Maass’ Writing the Breakout Novel). The tale started well enough. But by the fourth and fifth chapter I was hip-deep in banal epic fantasy normality. I followed the tale where it led me, even though I had laid out the outline and four act structure beforehand. It felt like I was on track. The characters were… Read Article →
Posts Tagged: craft of writing
Registration is open Hello Fellow Writers! It’s registration time for Pikes Peak Writers Conference – “Wordstock ’23: 3 Days of Peace, Love & Writing!” Join me there for my workshop And…ACTION! Fighting and Fight Scenes 101 and see me on stage as the conference emcee. The crew putting this together are second to none. Check out all the info below. Links embedded to help you navigate our conference website and registration. Keynotes: We are thrilled to have amazing keynotes this year! And equally thrilled to announce our Featured Author is USA Today Bestseller Siera London. For more information about… Read Article →
Writers conferences aren’t cheap, but their benefits are priceless. Registration opened November 1st for the 30th Annual Pikes Peak Writers Conference and I wouldn’t miss it for the world. America’s Friendliest Conference is where the spark of my writing journey caught flame. The benefits of writers conferences like PPWC keep the fires burning even when rejection letters or life’s interventions threaten to dowse them with stank bog water. If you’ve never attended a writers conference, for those that are con-curious, please, allow me to illustrate a few reasons to fork over the dough and go… Read Article →
Part 3: Writers Groups and Networks Surprise! A Writer’s Toolbox was originally intended as a two-parter focused on print and digital resources I use to help me in my fiction writing journey. However, no writer’s kit is complete without actual human resources. You know, peers and pros, fellow writers and the knowledge and wisdom they provide both as individuals and in organized (sometimes) groups. So, this unforeseen third installment of A Writer’s Toolbox will look at the people who help me out. Thank you to every one of them! At a certain point (the earlier… Read Article →
Part 2: Print Resources This second part of A Writer’s Toolbox covers the print resources I keep close at hand to aid in my fiction writing. If you missed part one about the online resources I use, you can check it out here. I’ll admit, I’m not as quick to buy a printed book as I once was. With ebooks and audiobooks, I consume perhaps 20% of the print books I used to. So, when I do buy a book, it’s one I know I will reread. That goes double for instructional resources. The following… Read Article →
Part 1: Online Resources Writers need tools they can rely on to help build their best story, edit it, publish and publicize it. Unfortunately, much like the hardware section at Lowe’s, the plethora of options can be overwhelming. In this two-part series, I will share what I use and invite you to comment with tools you have in your writer’s toolbox. This first part will take a look at online resources. Let’s face it, most of the time it’s easier to throw a search into Duck Duck Go (or [sigh] Google) than it is to… Read Article →
Writers conferences are fuel for my creativity. Gathering together with hundreds of other creatives generates a vibe, a visceral buzz and hum of energy that floods my circuits with a desire to knock out twenty-thousand words at one go. I love writers conferences. At least the ones I’ve been to. I started attending writers conferences in 2016 with the Pikes Peak Writers Conference (my home, first conference, and first love). That year I met NYT bestselling authors Kevin J. Anderson, Rachel Caine, Joe R. Lansdale, Jeff Lindsay, and Wendy Corsi Staub. My story idea–for I… Read Article →