Andrew M. Friday

Category: writing tips

  • Five tips for new writers

    Five tips for new writers

    I still consider myself a new writer, but I was first published at twelve years old. I won’t tell you how long ago that was, but it was before Ronald Reagan sat in the White House. Here’s the thing: you’re constantly learning as a writer. You’re learning your craft. You’re learning how to use grammar…

  • Temptations to avoid when writing characters

    I’ve had a great time getting to know the characters in my SF novel. A plethora of minor characters run around in my story, but I have three main ones: Bandonn FarPacer-Technology genius; while growing up, forced to fight a war on his home planet; escaped the war, and wants to be an agent for the…

  • Harmon’s Plot Embryo: A Writer’s Tool for both Outlining and Evaluating

    Harmon’s Plot Embryo: A Writer’s Tool for both Outlining and Evaluating

    I admit it: I just started watching Community. Yes, I know. Better late than never. I kept hearing how great the show was, but never got around to following it. Well, now, thanks to Hulu, I can binge watch while I’m cleaning house or laundry or whatever. Lately, though, I’ve been hearing about this “Plot…

  • Reading Roundup for 2016

    Here are most of the books I’ve read during 2016: Classics Bridge to Terabithia by Katherine Paterson The Island of Dr. Moreau by H. G. Wells Metamorphosis by Franz Kafka Peter Pan by J. M. Barrie The Picture of Dorian Gray by Oscar Wilde The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde by Robert…

  • I just discovered this neat website for fantasy writers

    I came across this online community for writers of fantasy called Mythic Scribes. Here’s how they describe themselves: “Mythic Scribes is a community of fantasy writers who are passionate about storytelling.  We provide a platform for new and aspiring authors, as well as a meeting place for writers and fans of the genre. By sharing…

  • What are the most important scenes in a novel?

    What are the most important scenes in a novel?

    To overcome feeling overwhelmed by finishing your novel, a writer might want to keep these writing principles in mind: She doesn’t have to write chronologically. She can write her most important scenes first and then fill in the blanks. Now, if she has planned your novel with some kind of outline, then these principles become even easier.…

  • Checklist for writing a scene

    Checklist for writing a scene

    When it came to my novel, I honestly didn’t think I’d have to do that. But, here I am, the stage of my novel where I am going over each scene, and I am “killing my darlings.” I want to keep most of the scenes, but I have a criteria I go over that may…

  • Four quick reads on writing

    When I was on vacation earlier this month, I read some e-books on writing. Even though these gems were inexpensive and quick, they provided me with some valuable lessons to apply to my writing craft. Here they are: Self-publishing a Book By Hank Quense Quense has a great series on self-publishing and this is the…

  • How I Use My Bullet Journal

    How I Use My Bullet Journal

      My closest friends know my deepest secret: I use a bullet journal. I rave about it. I’m a little obsessed with it. I’ve been talking about it so much, I suspect they are planning a bullet journal intervention. However, if they saw how a bullet journal could change their lives, they would turn the…