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Writing Process
The only way I can get anything done is to break it into as small pieces as I possibly can. Thinking about all that goes into novel writing is overwhelming, even as I round up on finishing the first draft of my current novel. It’s so easy to get paralyzed when I consider everything, I…
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Tropes Versus Clichés
A lot of people have heard of tropes, and think they’re like cliches, but that’s not quite the same thing. Tropes can be clichés but only when they don’t vary at all. But let’s start with the definition of a cliché versus a trope. A cliché is defined as a trite, stereotyped expression by dictionary.com.…
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Discovery Writing and Other Tidbits
I’ve had to admit I’m a discovery writer. I admire those that can write outlines and stick to them because it’s a superpower I’ve never been able to achieve. My first book took eight years, give or take six months, to get to where I am in Savior of the Damned. Part of it was…
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Restless Thinking
I haven’t beaten Tales of Vesperia yet. I have about fifteen or so hours left (depending on grinding should I get stuck and need more levels) but it’s not holding my attention anymore. It’s not that I don’t like it; it’s actually one of my favorite games I’ve ever played at this point in the…
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Announcement
I am excited. Why, you ask? Because I’m about to show you something incredibly cool. The idea for the book I’ve been working on is about fifteen years old. Last year I finished the rough draft of the first Guardians of Gaia book, this year I polished it up, and I’m here to show you why you should…
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Life Updates
Everything has been pulled from Royal Road. Thank you to those that read my work on there, but it wasn’t panning out the way I had hoped, and I’d like to get paid for my efforts. Other Worlds wasn’t finished, so I’m working on finishing up the rest of the stories before posting them to…
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Correcting Grammar is Rude (and I’m Here to Tell You Why)
There is an interesting divide between the folks who correct spelling and grammar online and those that don’t, and those that correct grammar online are almost always those who don’t get paid to do it. You’d think it would be the other way around until you consider that’s a paid service. People don’t tend to…
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Stress
It’s funny how brains work. You can want to do something so bad but sometimes the motivation just isn’t there. Sometimes it’s something we might not want to do but should, like exercise. Sometimes it’s something we need to do but keep putting off, like the dishes. Sometimes it’s avoiding that book you just purchased…
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Is realism necessary?
I’ve been seeing some complaints that realism is necessary for storytelling. But is it? Well, that all depends. If you’re writing something where realism is integral to the plot or setting, like urban fantasy or any sort of police procedural, then it’s definitely needed. But in at least some cases, not only do you not need…
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LGBTQIA+ characters and me
As someone both bisexual and nonbinary there is a decided lack of representation for people like me. Obviously, things are shifting away from that, and it’s a good thing. But within fantasy and science fiction itself there is still a lack of representation. That is changing, especially with things like self-publishing becoming increasingly popular. I…