A traditional dish: clabbered oatmeal with cinnamon Taking a break from writing affairs, I've explored some ancestral recipes that return me to my Celtic roots. One of them is clabbered milk. Clabber is raw milk left to sit at room temperature. What is Clabber? Many may balk at the idea, but cultures have drank clabber …
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Blog Update 7/22/22
It's hard to believe that we're at the end of July. As we turn towards August, I've some news to share. My New Job The writing craft isn't great for making money—unless you're the next Stephen King or Brandon Sanderson. But after six years in retail, I've finally achieved full-time! This comes with excellent benefits, …
Niche Study: Elven Fantasy
Within each genre, e.g. fantasy, there are sub-genres called niches. Today's topic is Elven Fantasy! It's one of my favorite fantasy niches, as it is for a fellow blogger who follows this blog. Elven Mythology Growing up, I was enthralled with the lore from books like LoTR and games like the Elder Scrolls. Elves, in …
Query Letters
When it comes to querying, some writers dread the process. Unlike a manuscript, query letters are business. Similar to writing a cover letter for a job interview, this is a first impression to an agent or editor. Below are my notes from a recent RealmMakers webinar and some past research. Thanks to Alice Fugat for …
Book Blurbs!
After listening to a detailed webinar on blurbing, it's had me reexamine my own blurb. Book blurbs may seem like a nuisance for some writers, but they're essential to marketing a book. There's a structure to it. It hits the SEO hard and attracts readers. Below are my notes from the webinar. Credit goes to …
Loglines for Fiction
I recently listened to a podcast with authors from Realm Makers. They're a close-knit group of professionals, mainly Christians, who have a great community to help writers. Anyway, in the podcast, loglines were mentioned. I had briefly researched the topic, but never in-depth. My logline was underdeveloped, especially with new revisions on the way. But …
Bookworm Tag & A Short Manuscript Update.
Many thanks to Thomas Grizzly for inspiring another game of blogging tag! In this survey, I'll follow the questions he gave in his post. Let's begin! Do you have any “reading ritual”, such as a specific time, beverage, place? A tall glass of water is nice. I also like to read on my phone while …
What is Love in Fiction?
Love, lust, desire, passion. As the selling point of romance fics, subplots, and fanbases, romance has been a strong theme in any tale. With the advent of LBGTQ+, more varieties have emerged. Readers enjoy romance for various reasons, whether they be psychological, physiological, or spiritual. Romantic Payoffs As with most stories, a romance promises a …
Mythic Artifacts & Ancestral Objects
With a mythic artifact, shiny blades, fireworks, and forbidden knowledge may come to mind. Our history is rife with artifacts, from Poseidon's trident to King Arthur's Excalibur. These relics have earned a place in history, as they do in the world of fiction. Mythic Artifacts In stories, artifacts are a trope used to further the …
What is Ancestral Storytelling?
"Since time immemorial, we as human beings have communicated what’s essential in our lives through stories."—Cheryl Hunter Storytelling has been part of human existence since the Stone Age. Sitting around a fire, or painting in a cave, birthed a tradition inherent to the human genome. One every human carries. It's little wonder we're so fascinated …
Ethereal Seals 
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