The fiction writer is a creator of worlds and a purveyor of dreams. In his mind he sees things that no one has ever seen before, experiences events never before witnessed, for until he has dreamed them, they have not yet begun to exist. With her words she brings her visions into our world, into … Continue reading Creator of Worlds
Tag: Writing
I Suck as an Author
Yes, after much introspection, soul-searching, and a brief argument with a Magic 8-ball, I have come to a painfully obvious conclusion: I suck as an author. Oh, not as a writer. As a writer, I consider myself to be fairly decent, if a bit slow. I’m no Hemingway or Tolkien, of course, but my Jaben’s … Continue reading I Suck as an Author
Too Late to the Party?
You are never too old to set another goal or to dream a new dream. - C.S. Lewis I didn’t start writing my first book until I was 40 years old, working two jobs, with a wife and two kids. I finally published it seven years later. Now in my 50s (down to one job), … Continue reading Too Late to the Party?
He Interjected, She Exclaimed
Or He Said, She Said Let's take a look at dialogue. In particular, the use of the word “said” vs. other alternatives. Deciding which way to go can be confusing. Basically, there are two ends of the spectrum on this issue: School A says: Avoid overuse of the word “said.” Vary the text up using … Continue reading He Interjected, She Exclaimed
What’s a Razor?
Once, I was working on a scene in Soul of Power, and I was thinking of how to describe a certain creature’s claws. Although a bit clichéd, I briefly considered using the phrase “razor sharp.” Then it occurred to me: the Jaben’s Rift trilogy is set in a completely different world. Although certain words and … Continue reading What’s a Razor?
It’s Not a Competition. Is It?
One of the things I do throughout my day is try to figure out what I’m going to write about next. Not necessarily in my books, but in this blog. I don’t want this to just become another “how-to” blog on writing (especially when there are so many excellent blogs on writing already out there), … Continue reading It’s Not a Competition. Is It?
Sometimes a Pencil is Just a Pencil
I recently finished a science fiction book that made me feel like I was wading through a hip-deep swamp of adjectives and adverbs. It was really unfortunate, because the excessive (and repetitive) use of descriptive words and phrases completely overwhelmed what was actually a rather interesting premise. I forged through just to see where the … Continue reading Sometimes a Pencil is Just a Pencil
