“If there's a book that you want to read, but it hasn't been written yet, then you must write it.” ― Toni Morrison
Writing the first draft for a novel is hard. Writing the second draft is harder. As a notorious quitter with a graveyard of W.I.P.s on her laptop, I was surprised when I actually wound up completing the first draft of my passion project. Considering how often I become overwhelmed by the prospect of cramming all… Continue reading W.I.P Novel Draft 2- Electric Avenue: The Emotional Stakes Are Higher
In our day-to day lives we play a role—small or large—in each other's stories. Sometimes we are the comic relief, the best friend, the loving mother/father figure that espouses wisdom. Other times we have a less flattering role: We are the bad guy. To be the bad guy in someone's narrative, you don't necessarily need… Continue reading POV: You’re The Bad Guy
Writer's Block is easy enough to understand. Writer's Guilt, however, is a bit different. Writer's Block passes—sometimes like a kidney stone, but it passes. But Writer's Guilt lingers. At least it does for me. Writer's Guilt is when you, as a writer, find yourself in a rare moment of calm, of relaxation, of repose, but… Continue reading Writer’s Guilt: You Should Be Writing….or Should You?
For decades the easiest way to get across to the audience the protagonist was a poor-unfortunate soul was to make them an orphan; someone with no northern star to guide them through this perilous hell-scape we call existence. It was a method to make the main character sympathetic from the get-go, but it was also… Continue reading Babes in Tropeland: Not ANOTHER Alcoholic Dad, Please
I like to think I have acquired a decent collection of words over the course of my life. Words are, after all, a writer's currency. Barring the ability to articulate a certain vision, words are arguably the most important tool in a writer's arsenal. Without them we are useless. However, ever so often, I find… Continue reading Writer Problems: Word Drought
AN: This is an absurdist flash fiction piece I wrote based on the Reedsy short-story prompt "he glared at the kitchen sink in fury." Enjoy! Leo glared at the kitchen sink in fury, holding the remnants of his spaghetti dinner in his hands. “Hope this pleases Your Highness,” he murmured bitterly. With a fork he… Continue reading Flash Fiction: Everything and The Kitchen Sink
Just as a heads up, this is as close to addressing political issues as I am likely to get on this blog outside of discussions involving freedom of expression. The only reason I'm even bothering typing up this post is because, as bloggers, may of us have lives that are saturated by media. Hell, most… Continue reading Unpopular Opinion: Outrage Culture Conditioned Me To Not Care About Anything
I never thought procrastination would be so simple, but I found a way. I found a way. I set out working on chapter seven of my story and somehow found myself plunging into the ether of pop culture sludge. For literally no reason at all, I began looking into the Drake and Josh controversy. In… Continue reading How Drake and Josh Are Destroying My Novel
I doubt many people my age will know who Adam West is, but he is possibly the best Batman that has ever lived. Adam West was the Batman for the hammy but earnest live-action Batman TV show from the 60s. Each episode was primed with colorful and strange characters, adrenaline-charged fight scenes, and impossibly creative… Continue reading A Tribute to Adam West, My First Batman
Is there anything quite as beautiful as writing the first draft of a story? Every moment is primed with intrigue, wonder, and mystery. You just paint everything on the metaphorical canvass as you see it in your mind's eye. Ideas pour forth from you like a soda fountain filled with Mentos You pat yourself on… Continue reading Editing is the Worst Thing Ever
The Crooked Pen 