Clik here to view.
How long does it take to write a book?
Answer: I have no idea—even after writing nine of them. Maybe some authors have a formula that produces consistent results, but for me, the question is too nuanced to allow for a simple solution....
View ArticleClik here to view.
The secret beauty of bad ideas
Writers never kill their darlings. We just lock them away…in a dungeon…indefinitely… Even when we expunge plots points from the pages, old drafts linger long after their expiration date, haunting hard...
View ArticleClik here to view.
A day of drama
One of the most exciting things a writer can do is push a character outside of his comfort zone. It turns out the same is true for writers themselves. I suppose I stepped away from the proverbial...
View ArticleClik here to view.
Meet Annette Young of If Dreams Can Die
Some of my favorite villains are those who see themselves as heroes, and Annette Young falls wholeheartedly in that flock. I tend to create character profiles for my point-of-view characters because I...
View ArticleClik here to view.
A paragraph evolves into a page
Step 4 of the Snowflake Method Welcome back to my mad experiment, where I attempt to create a novel using a ten-step approach to plotting, character development, and more. In case you missed the...
View ArticleClik here to view.
Surviving a novel synopsis
Step 6 of the Snowflake Method In case you missed it: Step 0: Come up with an idea worth writing about Step 1: Write a one-sentence summary of your novel Step 2: Expand the single sentence into a full...
View ArticleClik here to view.
Make sure your main characters cast a shadow
Step 7 of the Snowflake Method In case you missed it: Step 0: Come up with an idea worth writing about Step 1: Write a one-sentence summary of your novel Step 2: Expand the single sentence into a full...
View ArticleClik here to view.
Roll up your sleeves and write that rough draft
It all comes down to this. After months of following a methodical approach to planning my novel, it’s finally time to put fingertips to keyboard and actually write The Lost Tale of Sir Larpsalot....
View ArticleClik here to view.
The stories behind the stories
So many darlings. So many deaths. In all seriousness, I finally whittled down my stack of short stories to be included in my upcoming collection, and I couldn’t have done it without the help of my...
View ArticleClik here to view.
Storytelling comes full circle
Being an author isn’t all fun and games—but it sure has its moments. Last month I had the privilege of presenting in front of a few 7th- and 8th-grade classes at St. Mary’s Springs Academy. While...
View Article