One of the reasons speculative readers love fantasy is the originality. When reality doesn’t apply, the possibilities for unique characters, worlds, powers, politics (you name it) are endless. But one of the chief complaints of many veteran fantasy readers is that few stories actually provide that sense of originality. (Raise your hand of you’ve ever […]
December 18, 2011 by 40 Comments Writing InspirationHow Do You Decide Which Story You Should Write?
Most writers don’t have ideas because they’re writers. They write because they have ideas. Mountains of ideas. Hordes of ideas. Overwhelming oceans upon oceans of ideas. For me, just looking at my overflowing idea file can sometimes give me a rather counter-intuitive bout of depression. How am I ever going to live long enough to […]
September 14, 2011 by 41 Comments Outlining Your NovelMisconceptions About Outlining Your Novel
Today, we’re continuing with our series of video/audio trailers, offering a sneak peek into the first chapter of Outlining Your Novel: Map Your Way to Success. We’re also continuing our month of prize giveaways, building up to the Grand Prize, worth over $400, on September 26th. Be sure to leave a comment on this post […]
July 24, 2011 by 34 Comments Writing InspirationWhat The Story Knows Best Really Means
When writers start talking about the autonomy of their stories, non-writers are likely to give us looks that range from confused to concerned, especially when our comments include the following: “The story knows best.” Or— “Nothing was working for me until I quit fighting my story and let it do what it wanted.” Or— “I […]
February 13, 2011 by 38 Comments Writing Inspiration8 Signs You’re Stuck in a Writing Rut—and Why You Should Care
Laziness and fear—a writer’s two great nemeses—do their best to keep us stuck in the writing rut. Usually, it’s a very comfortable rut. All our characters are down there with us, keeping us company, cooking up tea, playing chess, and just generally having a happy ol’ time. Life isn’t very difficult, since we never have […]
January 30, 2011 by 52 Comments Writing InspirationThe Good News? Writing Never Gets Any Easier
First-time novelists often believe their first novels will be the most difficult writing of their lives. Once they’ve stamped finis on Novel #1, our writing worries will be over. By that point, surely we’ll have a handle on this writing gig, and everything from here on out will get progressively easier. But… not so fast! […]
January 23, 2011 by 65 Comments Researching Your Novel5 Reasons to Read the Same Type of Stories You Write
Aside from writing itself, reading is the single most important element in a healthy writing life. As Natalie Goldberg and Stephen King, respectively, point out: If you read good books, when you write, good books will come out of you. If you don’t have the time to read, you don’t have the time or the […]
January 16, 2011 by 55 Comments Editing Your Novel10 Steps for Working Past the “This Stinks” Blues
You’ve spent months laboring over your manuscript. Long nights, early mornings, blood, sweat, tears—the whole ball of wax. This story is your darling. The words are more than just words; they’re the outbreathings of your soul. Sounds like a fairy tale—every writer’s dream come true—until one morning you boot up your computer, glance through the […]
January 2, 2011 by 64 Comments Writing Life10 Writing Resolutions You Can Fulfill Today
Sometimes even the most well-intentioned writing resolutions can end up being whimsical, erratic, and just plain unrealistic. But when you focus on goals that are slightly more achievable, you’re not only more likely to pull them off, but you’ll also feel much better about yourself come deadline time. Following are ten writing resolutions you can […]
November 6, 2010 by 19 Comments Writing Inspiration10 Essentials for an Inspired Author’s Life
The romance of a tortured artist’s life aside, we are all in search of the secrets that will allow inspiration to flow through our lives. In my book Conquering Writer’s Block and Summoning Inspiration, I discuss the best ways to keep Madame Muse at your beck and call—rather than the other way around. But for today, […]
