Leigh Brackett should need no introduction–She was a powerhouse in the industry whose absence is still felt today. Sadly, the world lost her in 1978, but not before she managed to finish the first draft of The Empire Strikes Back, one of the best films of all-time. She was a behemoth on the short story/novelContinue reading “Leigh Brackett’s The Sword of Rhiannon: A Sword & Planet analysis”
Tag Archives: writer
Amateur Author vs. Shovelware: What I’d like to see most in a writer mentoring service
Recently, a professional author asked me what I’d like to see from a writer mentoring service, and it got me thinking about what I’d hoped to find in online writing circles in the first place. Maybe I shouldn’t have come into it with expectations. I’d hoped to find communities that love the craft of writingContinue reading “Amateur Author vs. Shovelware: What I’d like to see most in a writer mentoring service”
Auld Lang Syne: Taking Stock in the New Year
I’m writing from a strange position: I’m here in a new state in a new house sitting at a new desk from a new chair, about to start my new job. T-minus 3 days until I no longer work for the company that’s kept me and my family afloat financially for almost 15 years. It’sContinue reading “Auld Lang Syne: Taking Stock in the New Year”
Merry Christmas!
The last few months have been quite the journey: I moved my family to a whole new state, a state more free, more happy, more peaceful. The views here are breathtaking. I’m used to flat, boring, repetitive land. I’ve lived in the same state my entire life, so there’s culture shock. But it’s an adventure.Continue reading “Merry Christmas!”
Often Misunderstood Writing Advice: “Ideas are a Dime a Dozen”
You’ll hear fellow authors assure you there’s no need to safeguard your best ideas. They’ll say things like, “Ideas are cheap. Execution is key.” And to a certain extent, that’s true. But some of the biggest sellers out there were not written with perfect execution. Far from it. They were born of a great (orContinue reading “Often Misunderstood Writing Advice: “Ideas are a Dime a Dozen””
Why Is Writing So Damn Hard?: My Ongoing Battle With Writer’s Block
By far, the most frustrating thing I’ve ever had to deal with as a writer is figuring out why I’m not writing. When I think about how long some of my writing droughts have been, it makes me want to tear my hair out and cringe. Few people have dealt with writer’s block on theContinue reading “Why Is Writing So Damn Hard?: My Ongoing Battle With Writer’s Block”
What Projects Am I Working On?
We’ve established that I enjoy writing fantasy. So what are some of the projects I’m working on? Chio Pino: A Reverse Retelling of Pinocchio (Novelette/Dark Fairytale) This is a dark retelling of Pinocchio in reverse. Instead of being about a puppet that turns into a real boy, it’s about a girl who turns into aContinue reading “What Projects Am I Working On?”
Why Do We Need Fantasy?
In case it wasn’t clear, fantasy is special to me. I mentioned a few reasons why in the previous post, but there’s so much more to talk about. People, whether they admit it or not, have a deeply ingrained need to see stories that are meaningful, and fantasy is an excellent vehicle to deliver suchContinue reading “Why Do We Need Fantasy?”
Why is Fantasy Special?
Fiction has a burden that non-fiction doesn’t: It has to go the extra mile in order to sell itself. It has to seem real. Fantasy, doubly so. But if fantasy succeeds at this, it has the power to sweep you away to somewhere special. You’ll feel like you’ve visited a land far more fascinating thanContinue reading “Why is Fantasy Special?”
What Do I Write?
We’ve established that I want to write and publish a novel, and that I write fiction. But what kind of fiction? High fantasy. Dark fantasy. Fairytale fantasy as well. Fantasy is where my artistic passion leads me time and time again. I firmly believe there’s not a story out there that can’t be improved withContinue reading “What Do I Write?”
Nick Enlowe 