Category: my life
-
Friday’s Findings: Doing Whatever It Takes
The title of today’s blog entry refers to an update on my writing progress. I’ve been stuck for several weeks. I’ve been having trouble finishing even one scene. I decided to take action. In my science fiction novel, my characters spend about twenty scenes on a planet called Zonvillon. I had already written a couple…
-
Friday’s Findings: Storyboarding Is for Those Who Think Visually
Storyboarding is a way to outline your novel. I love this idea! The storyboard concept is borrowed from the animation industry. It’s a way to plan out your novel or short story using panels of illustrations. Here are some tips: It doesn’t have to be complicated. You can draw stick figures if it helps. If…
-
I’m Putting a Little Variety in My Reading List
I am always trying to expand what genres I read. This next year requires an experiment in my reading. I am reading a book from each of the sub-lists that follow. I plan to go down the list and start over when I complete a circuit. I hope to get through each category twice. There will…
-
Friday’s Findings: Keep It Simple
The best principle to keep in mind when it comes to making writing goals for the new year is this: keep it simple. I’ve broken my writing goals down in three ways: There. It’s that simple. I’ll come back here at the end of 2024 to see how I’m doing. Here are some links about…
-
Some Advice for Writing a Series
As a member of The Writing Mastery Academy, I get to listen to a couple of webinars each month. These webinars feature guest authors, editors and others in the publishing field. This past weekend, I tuned into webinar with science fiction and fantasy author Scott Reintgen as guest. He spent an hour answering questions members…
-
Friday’s Findings: What I Read This Year
This has been a record breaking year for my reading. So far, I’ve read 62 books and will probably finish a couple more before the end of the year. In case you’re curious, you can peruse my list of the books I read (in the order I read them). Sorry I don’t have more critique…
-
Friday’s Findings: An Experiment in Screenplay Writing
Warning: possible spoilers for the novel The Amazing Adventures of Kavalier and Clay follow. Let me start off by saying I do not intend to become a screenplay writer. What I did yesterday was for fun. It started when I began re-reading The Amazing Adventures of Kavalier and Clay by Michael Chabon. I had forgotten…
-
NaNoWriMo 23: The Verdict
I’ll go ahead and say it: I didn’t win NaNoWriMo 23. Am I sad about it? Nope. During my first NaNoWriMo in 2008, I wanted to win so badly I could taste it. And I did win. I gained a lot of confidence in myself as a writer that year. And, to be honest, if…
-
New Things I Did Over Thanksgiving Week
For Thanksgiving, family got together in Arizona last week. As a result, I did these things for the first time ever: take an Uber; stay in an Airbnb; taste In-N-Out Burger; All good. I know, I’m sheltered. Photo by Pixabay: https://www.pexels.com/photo/adventure-arid-arizona-barren-414136/
Andrew M. Friday 