{THE WRITING LIFE }
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Do you have to write during the holidays? Do you still have to find time to write and hide away from all the celebrations and the ability to just lie on the couch and do nothing? (what I look forward.) Short answer: No. Slightly longer answer: No, you do not have to write during the … Continue reading Do You Have to Write on the Holidays?
Um....so....I WON???? I WON NANOWRIMO 2019!!!! Not even kidding, but it took me FOUR YEARS to win NaNoWriMo. I ended at 50,113 compared to the other three years ending at: 2018: 26k 2017: 38k 2016: 27k So how did I actually win this year and not fall miserably short like the other years? Honestly, not … Continue reading NaNoWriMo 2019 Wrap Up
I think we all need to step back and appreciate that "Ronald" is in Tolkien's name. (MY GOSH. Ok, so on a draft I was working on over the summer, I named a fast food place "Ronald John's". And later I thought, "wow, what a stupid, stupid name." But now I think I named it … Continue reading Thank You To John Ronald Ruel Tolkien
Thanksgiving is around the corner, with pies and cooked birds and weird, jelly-like cranberry sauce. Time to be thankful about things before Black Friday hits and we start being greedy for things and deals and Christmas presents and vacuum cleaners. Books are one of the things I'm thankful for, especially for all the "important" things … Continue reading Thank You to Books and All the “Important” Things They Taught Me
Ever feel like your story needs an extra punch? There's just not enough kick to it? It's just not jumping off the page and attacking you in the face enough? Well, I got - not a solution but a possible idea. There's this thing called character folding *raise your hand if you've heard of it*. … Continue reading Character Folding: take your story from good to crazy
First Rule of Having an Effective Writing Session: understanding that there is no way to make sure that every. single. writing session is effective. While there are tips and tricks (finding the right time of day, the pomodoro method, getting rid of distractions, calling up Gandalf) there never is a guarantee. There is no magic … Continue reading There is no Guarantee of a Good Writing Session
Yes, this blog is about writing and other literary stuff of that nature. But as a writer, a STORYTELLER, studying any type of storytelling, I think, is important. I am also one of those people who think movies are just as good as books. So there. My Mom and I went on a stint in … Continue reading Classic Movies that I Just – No Thank You
You're deep in the well of editing your novel, slogging through the mud of run-on sentences and plot holes. The only problem is, you've been slogging through the mud for a year, or maybe years, maybe even EONS. You've read the book inside and out. You know there are problems, but you just can't see … Continue reading Ways to See Your Novel with Fresh eyes
I read sooooooo many classic books as a kid/highschooler. Like honestly, half the time I feel like that's all I read. I loved then, despite how dense or difficult to read. Some I loved, some I hated, some I blew through in days others took MONTHS (like Les Mis). So here's a list of some of … Continue reading Favorite Classic Books
IT'S THE END OF OCTOBER. Actually, it's November now. Less than two months till Christmas. Santa's elves already have started showing up at my house, not that they're much help... October was - fall? Like it got chilly and brisk and rainy and windy and sunshine on green leaves (the leaves took a LONG time … Continue reading What was October? Nanowrimo?
