I'M IN the process of shifting gears and concentrating heavily on finishing both my novella TO BE FRIENDS and the zombie novella WB Welch and I are co-writing, and I'm getting nervous. I've been in the writing community for almost exactly three months now, and on Twitter only a few days more than that. Before … Continue reading Should My Author Name be Party Freckle?
Gratitude
I promise I will start a series of writing tip posts soon but, reflecting on this weekend, I wanted to talk about gratitude. This past Saturday, I was a part of the Take 190 Book and Art Festival in Killeen, Texas. It was such a wonderful experience. I arrived early and sipped on a latte … Continue reading Gratitude
Your Protagonist’s Low Point
EVERYTHING WAS just fine for your protagonist. They were living a normal life. It wasn’t a great life by any means, but at least nothing bad lurked on the horizon. Or maybe that’s wrong. Maybe your protagonist was doomed if they continued sitting around, not taking charge of their life. Or maybe an imminent threat … Continue reading Your Protagonist’s Low Point
How to Twitter Effectively: Vol. 2
SO YOU want to build your Twitter following and grow your engagement and reach. Well, the first thing to remember is this: don't start a blog series and then let a month pass before you make the second entry, which is what I'm doing right now. Guilty. Yes. Shame me, abandon me, warn others against … Continue reading How to Twitter Effectively: Vol. 2
Show, Don’t Tell
This is the ultimate phrase, isn’t it? I remember hearing it over and over in grade school; I remember seeing it scrawled in red pen throughout my college papers. Why is this so hard, and what can we do to improve upon it? This topic was actually requested by a Twitter friend. I promise to … Continue reading Show, Don’t Tell
My Writing Process
I FIND myself zoning in on a thought, turning it over and over in my mind until all else fades and my consciousness is reduced to a machine that serves only to deconstruct and reconstruct and toss and tumble and prod and observe this singular obsession. In this state I am a predatory animal, driven … Continue reading My Writing Process
Slow Boil
Ripping off a bandaid hurts like the dickens. Jumping into a cold pool takes your breath away. Turning on the radio after your sibling unknowingly cranked the volume to max will probably make you feel like you've shattered your ear drums. Change can be abrasive and uncomfortable; it can make you seek the familiarity of … Continue reading Slow Boil
