“If there's a book that you want to read, but it hasn't been written yet, then you must write it.” ― Toni Morrison
I have been trying to pin down exactly what has contributed to my lack of productivity in the last few months in terms of my WIPs. While I have been relatively consistent with posting on this blog over the intervening months, I have not been nearly so diligent about making sure I am devoting time… Continue reading Writing Isn’t Safe
In preparation for my own novel, I've been reading quite a lot of fantasy novels to get me in the right headspace. As such, I've been exposed to the normal trappings of fantasy lit i.e, magical creatures as racial allegories, repurposing of traditional folk-lore stories and, of course, the concept of "destiny." Destiny gets a… Continue reading Opinion: Thoughts on “Destiny” in Fiction
WARNING: SPOILER ALERT FOR DOCTOR WHO SERIES 12 FINALE EPISODE. I know I said I was done with Who but I promise this isn't just another reason to rag on the series 12 finale and why The Timeless Children is undoubtedly the most insulting episode to anyone that cares about Doctor Who and its history. The… Continue reading Why Canon Matters
I wrote a couple weeks ago about my conversion from a pantser into a plotter. Since then I have continued to hammer away at this outline and I thought it would be interesting to talk about my experience with it so far. Firstly, I still find my new and improved method of plotting leaps and… Continue reading Diary of a Pantser Turned Plotter: Status Update
To anyone that has read this blog for any length of time, it's no secret I love reviewing stories in all forms of media. It enables me to think critically and learn what makes a story fail or succeed. I owe much of my growth as a writer to watching other reviewers discuss what they… Continue reading How to NOT Suck at Reviewing in Five Easy Steps
I think most people in the writing blogosphere know what a pantser and plotter are by now, but just in case you don't, here's a quick definition: A "pantser" is someone who writes based on their intuition, or "flying by the seat of their pants." A "plotter," however, well....plots. That isn't to say pantsers don't… Continue reading Why I Converted From a Pantser into a Plotter
Now that we've shucked off our ugly Christmas sweaters and vacuumed up all the tinsel, it's time to create unattainable goals for ourselves! We do this pretty much every single year, or-- if you're like me-- you've pretended to not come up with resolutions so that you aren't disappointed by your inevitable failure. However, now… Continue reading Books, Writing, and Other Goals for 2020
While poetry isn't my favorite medium, it will always hold a special place in my heart. Edgar Allen Poe's Alone speaks to me in ways few other works ever have. The Battle Hymn of the Republic by Julia Ward Howe gets my heart pounding with its haunting lyricism and captivating imagery. Poetry in itself is… Continue reading Unpopular Opinion: The Current State of Poetry
After the colossal wash-rag that was season 8, people are growing steadily less patient with George R.R. Martin and his slow output. The newest installment of the series, The Winds of Winter, has been in the works for nearly a decade now and people are chomping at the bit for a return to normalcy. They want to go… Continue reading My Thoughts on the Long Wait for “The Winds of Winter”
Warning: The following contains butt-hurt and the overuse of commas. Viewer discretion is advised. I'm not afraid of putting my nose to the grindstone in the name of telling a good story. I can close my door, cancel plans, wake up early, stay up late, suffer blood-letting editing session after blood-letting editing session. I can be… Continue reading Adventures in Writerland: The Ugly Truth About Success in Publishing
The Crooked Pen 