“If there's a book that you want to read, but it hasn't been written yet, then you must write it.” ― Toni Morrison
For some people creating new worlds is easy. For others it's a bit more difficult. Here are a few things I've learned from experience: Write more information about this world than you will use in the story. Get out a notebook and write down as much about this world as you can: the landscapes, the… Continue reading The Short Guide to World-Building for Noobs
They say one of the best things about being a writer is that you can do it in your pajamas. I'm inclined to agree (although I very rarely write in my pjs ). But it goes farther than that. One of the greatest things about being a writer is the freedom to express yourself. However,… Continue reading Ode to My Lack of Motivation
It's pretty obvious that one of the central components to a story is the conflict. It doesn't matter what the conflict is: fighting the Dark Lord, winning the beef cake, or keeping the world from losing its Twinkies. There just has to be a problem for the protagonist to solve. I am good at coming… Continue reading A Writer’s Dilemma: The Problem With Conflict
It's been over a week since I've updated this blog and I've been feeling guilty about neglecting it. I would use the excuse that I've been busy (and I have), but more than that, I've been emotionally rung out (haven't we all) and I didn't trust myself to use this medium without making it all… Continue reading Amidst Political Chaos, My Novel Progresses
I suspected this day would come. I had just hoped I would be more ready for it. I realized upon rereading the most recent draft of my latest project that I would not be able to do my characters justice in such a short amount of time. If I want to tell the story and… Continue reading My Novella is a Novel Now
After over a year of the same theme, I thought I might try something a little more bold as far as my blog's template is concerned. I'm not sure how people will respond to it, but I believe it's an improvement over the original. My attempt was to look a little bit more professional and… Continue reading Giving My Blog a Makeover
I am a nocturnal writer. I have been since I was a wee one, scribbling Fairly Oddparents fanfiction inside of a notebook on a long car ride home. There have been freak instances when I've produced quality material during the daytime, but it usually involves having a magic talisman and whispering ancient languages into the… Continue reading My Mind Only Lets Me Write at Night
Hello, reader. I am a writer person like you. Definitely not someone strapped to a chair against their will. Do you want to learn how to write like a super-awesome writer guy? Becoming one of the giants of literature is easy with these simple steps. Step One: Take something you've written. Just anything. It could… Continue reading How to Become the Best Writer Ever in the History of the Universe!
I’ve put it off long enough. I must edit the third draft of my story. It’s been a while since I looked at this novella and, to be honest, I’m kind of terrified. Is it going to be better than I remember? Worse than I remember? I have no way of knowing until I reread it.… Continue reading Editing My Novella, or the Red Pen of Death
Does anyone else have a difficult time writing on Sunday? For me, it's one of the most grueling days to get any work done. Here I am, in a cafe, sitting in front of a laptop with a Pages document open to a story I've been writing for God knows how long, and all I… Continue reading The Dreaded Sunday Slump
The Crooked Pen 