Tag: fiction
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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 […]
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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 […]
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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 […]
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Fantasy Maps: A Gateway to Adventure
The other day I stumbled upon the map you see above. It had me thinking how maps play into stories, and how vital they are to the worldbuilding process. Not only do they offer a reference for author and reader, maps add depth, immersion to that universe. I’ve written on making maps in GIMP and […]
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What is Good and Evil in Fiction?
Humans have always struggled with the question: what is good, what is evil? A primordial dilemma, evil paints the picture of villains, antagonists, darkness, violence, and oppression. No one likes evilness, but what is being evil in fiction? Is wickedness a subjective phenomenon of the ego? A Story of Black and White With the Hero’s […]
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My Brush with Death
This isn’t a post on my usual topics, mainly a rant about something that happened to me recently. I’ve included reflections and some change of plans for the future. December was heating up for me as an aspiring writer. I had promotions planned for my cover reveal and several ideas to help me publish my […]
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Hard Magic, Soft Magic: How to Use Them in Creative Fiction
Magic—a word tossed around by authors and wordsmiths for decades. Magic is an abstract phenomenon with incredible potential, and such power usually comes with a cost. As a widespread tool in worldbuilding, when misused, it can wreck havoc on a story, figuratively and literally. Magic in Creative Fiction Your ability to solve problems with magic […]
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Cover Art and History of Ethereal Seals
That’s right! My cover art for the upcoming novel, Blade of Dragons, is almost finished! Months in the making, it was a pleasure working with the cover artist. She had a keen sense for design, excellent communication, and patience with the numerous requirements I had for the project. I’ll certainly consider her again for future […]
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On Naming Fictional Characters
Good names help both writers and readers move through a story smoothly.” — Dan Schmidt Naming characters in a fictional universe may seem like a simple task, but it can stump some authors. How do we approach this issue? Is there a method to naming characters? In this post, I’ll describe how I go about it, […]
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The Hero’s Journey in Fiction
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 […]
Ethereal Seals 