Category: writing tips

  • Friday’s Findings 03.02.18

    Friday’s Findings 03.02.18

    Here are some articles on writing I’ve read lately: Problems: Great Dramatic Writing Draws Blood & Opens Psychic Wounds Why Multitasking is Killing Your Writing J.R.R. Tolkien’s Writing Process On Creating Good Work View my Consortium SF Series at Amazon. My science fiction book OMNIORB is available through Amazon and Barnes & Noble. Find my…

  • Say it: I Am A Writer

    Say it: I Am A Writer

    “What do you do?” Say “I am a writer.” Even if you aren’t published yet, say it. Don’t say you are an “aspiring” writer. Just “writer.” Even if you work a job not related to writing, say it. Because it’s true. Don’t let anyone, including yourself, tell you otherwise. View my Consortium SF Series at…

  • 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…