“If there's a book that you want to read, but it hasn't been written yet, then you must write it.” ― Toni Morrison
Women having hair that is waist length. Most women I know don't have hair that is waist length. Do you know how hard it is to brush a monster that long, or keep it from getting caught in everything? Mine only went down to my shoulder blades and I had to chop it all off… Continue reading Annoying Clichés Writers Use (Featuring Adorable Cats)
I had my misgivings about this movie the first time I saw the trailer. Sure, I wanted it to be good, but I was concerned about having a universe that's so spectacularly British expand to the other side of the pond. However, this story...this story was great. From the beginning, this tale hits the ground… Continue reading “Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them” SPOILER FREE REVIEW
I wrote a post around 6 months ago about how I was going to write every single day, no matter how much the product sucked. And for a while, I stuck to that goal. However, in recent months I've had difficulty maintaining. Some reasons are legitimate like I have had homework to do and personal… Continue reading Sucking (Writing) a Little Every Day Part II
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
I've read recently that Accomack County Public Schools are suspending To Kill a Mockingbird and The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn for their usage of the N-word. If you aren't sure what I'm talking about, you can see for yourself in this exert from "Classic novels pulled from Accomack County Public Schools" : Earlier this month, a parent voiced concerns… Continue reading The Suspending of “To Kill a Mockingbird” and “The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn”
Hello, men. I am a woman. Today I am going to give you some tips on how to write female characters. Keep in mind that women are human beings and no woman is exactly the same as another. However, I'm hoping to give you at least a general idea of how to pull off a… Continue reading How to Write Women: a Guide for Men
If you have perused a YA section of a bookstore in the last three years, then you've likely come across the cover of a fairytale reimagining. Perhaps one book tells the story of Cinderella, a valiant warrior, who loses her magical boot in the middle of a battle and an infatuated warlord must return it… Continue reading Are Fairytale Reimaginings Becoming Unimaginative?
I hear readers complain time and time again that they cannot get into a story because the character is a "bad person."Now I can understand not wanting to read something because the character is unbelievable or underdeveloped, but a bad person? I say "bad people" make some of the best characters. Why? Three reasons: 1. They're more… Continue reading Why You Should Love Unloveable Characters
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
The Crooked Pen 