For our second edition of Story Elements, part of the What I’ve Learned series, we’re going to look at Situation. It’s probably the easiest concept of the 5 Story Elements, so we won’t spend too much time on it. Situation is somewhat self explanatory: it is the external situation or state of affairs that your character must deal with. Ideally, you want to set up the big situation from the start of the book. Sally Protagonist visits home after pursuing her journalism career for a decade only... Read Full Story

I’m currently out of town, so this post is going to be short! I’ll have something more substantial to post tomorrow night though. I got to ride my new motorcycle this afternoon and that was awesome! We found out that the front tire was low, which was why it was so difficult to control. Once we put air in it, riding the bike was a dream! I still got a little freaked out turning corners and probably will for awhile, but for now, I’m happy! Read Full Story

So recently I found out that Neil Gaiman is going to be at the Clarion Workshop this year! I’m a wee bit of a fangirl, so I am really excited to hear about this! (Oh and if you’ve never read Neil’s journal, for shame on you! For shame!) I’m not sure if I’m going to be able to go to the workshop, though. The application deadline is March 1. That poses a bit of a chronology issue for me. Part of the application requirements are two short stories. I have several shorts laying around, but all... Read Full Story

This has to be the coolest home ever built! It’s got to be like living in Hobbitown. Low Impact Woodland Home Read Full Story

So, I’m currently on the first revision of my novel, Soul Cavern. I’m plodding through, really unsure of myself. Revisions are not something I do much of. That’s not to say my writing is so phenomenal that I don’t need revisions. I do need revisions. I’m just not used to doing them. My mentor, Mike Arnzen, tells me that I should take this time and really make my story shine. To show the world all the neat creativity I have. To surprise them, maybe scare them, impress them. Revisions are... Read Full Story

I’m going to do a 5 part blog series on story elements beginning today with Character. Please feel free to comment, add anything you think I may have missed and make any suggestions you think might be worthwhile for others to hear! Character In today’s modern novel, it’s not farfetched to say that character is king. Readers want to connect with characters, sympathize with them, especially your protagonist. To catch your reader and, more importantly, keep her, you must make her care about... Read Full Story

I’m going to do a 5 part blog series on story elements beginning today with Character. Please feel free to comment, add anything you think I may have missed and make any suggestions you think might be worthwhile for others to hear! Character In today’s modern novel, it’s not farfetched to say that character is king. Readers want to connect with characters, sympathize with them, especially your protagonist. To catch your reader and, more importantly, keep her, you must make her care about... Read Full Story

I’m cheap. There, I admitted it. In my little circle of friends, I’m know as the deal-finder. I like travelling cheap (though I don’t stay at cheap motels — my back’s too old for bad mattresses!). I like finding computer stuff cheap. I love finding great deals on gadgets. Better than cheap, though, is free. Loooove free! So in checking out the blogosphere recently, I ran across an offer for a free blogging course. The catch? I have to link to it in my blog. So, here it is: I’m evaluating a... Read Full Story

I’m cheap. There, I admitted it. In my little circle of friends, I’m know as the deal-finder. I like travelling cheap (though I don’t stay at cheap motels — my back’s too old for bad mattresses!). I like finding computer stuff cheap. I love finding great deals on gadgets. Better than cheap, though, is free. Loooove free! So in checking out the blogosphere recently, I ran across an offer for a free blogging course. The catch? I have to link to it in my blog. So, here it is: I’m evaluating a... Read Full Story

This isn’t a How-To post. Not yet anyway. Next term, as part of the graduation requirement at SHU I have to teach a short module on the topic of my choice. I’ve got a few kicking around in my noggin; one is How to Write Action Scenes. I’ve been told by more than one fellow writer/author that I write action scenes very well. I find that really flattering. So when the time came to brainstorm about what I might want to teach, action scenes popped into my head. Here’s my problem though: I have... Read Full Story