"At dawn, the sun either shines itself or hides behind clouds, promising what the day will bring. So it is with introductions in stories." —anonymous Most agents and editors would balk at the suggestion of a false start intro. On its own, there's nothing wrong with an exciting beginning, so long as it's done well. …
Continue reading False Starts and Introductions to Novels: Too Cliché or A Forgotten Skill?
Short post. It's November again, and that means NaNo. As a creative writer, I've participated in NaNo before. Carving out a whole month to dedicate to the craft can seem daunting. As with any NaNoWriMo event, the goal is to write 50,000 words. In a month. This can be done however a writer chooses. NaNoWriMo …
Continue reading NaNoWriMo 2021 Thoughts, Plans, Reflections
Years ago, I read a fantastic book named The Hero with a Thousand Faces by Joseph Campbell. In it, the author details the Hero's Journey. This is a powerful story element that every writer, artist, or spiritual seeker should understand. It illustrates a protagonist's adventures, from a safe haven to the darkest dungeon—be they literal or figurative. The …
When we think of the word sound, the last thing we may associate it with are words and phrases. However, sound and writing go hand-in-hand. Recently, I learned from a writing class how important sounds can be for strengthening prose—what a shocker! In this article, I'll discuss the various definitions and techniques that are often …
Points of View POV (point of view) in prose is a vital storytelling element, likened to the camera of the reader. Imagine looking through the eyes of one person for the entire story. In that camera, there's a degree of trust, faith that the reader holds in the storyteller. Maybe it switches to another character …
“Creative people are curious, flexible, persistent, and independent, with a tremendous spirit of adventure and a love of play.” —Henri Matisse Throughout time, we humans have expressed creativity with a passion. Whether through art, writing, music, or other media, creativity is what drives us to live. To aspire to new heights. But what exactly is …
Music has a powerful influence on the human brain, particularly with creativity. The mileage varies from person to person, as some prefer silence—which is its own type of music. I've found that my creative process increases when I play certain tunes. In this post, I'll share with you some of the genres and bands that …
It's time for #fantasymonth again, and I'd like to thank @A. M. Reynwood for reminding me. This year's theme is fandoms. Being such a broad category, I decided to do a survey of questions. 1. What Are Your Favorite Types of Fantasy-ish Genres? When it comes to fantasy worlds, I enjoy straight-up fantasy, science-fiction, adventure, …
In fantasy, you have a plethora of tropes that are reused; most of them never lose their charm. Everything from elves, dwarves, dragons, and halflings! In science fantasy, the scope expands to robots, cyborgs, aliens—the sky's the limit. These formulas represent time-tested values that readers adore. Personally, I have my own set of fantasy tropes …
Hello, my readers. How are you doing during the lockdown? Okay, I hope?Today, I'll discuss the dreaded Blank Page that haunts every writer at one point in his or her career. I'll also mention the tricks and tips I've used in overcoming writer's block. A new story always begins with a blank page or screen. …
Ethereal Seals 
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