Category: stories

  • Resting

    Part of the creative process is knowing both when to rest and how. Resting recharges our batteries, and much like sleep helps refresh us so we can continue to do the creative things we do. The problem is, how do you do that?  When I was growing up resting was when you just did nothing.…

  • 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.…

  • Rough Drafts

    I’m on the last leg of the drafting process that will take me from a rough draft to a first draft. I’ve seen arguments against using the term “rough draft” as it’s still a first, but the reality is that, at least for me, the rough draft is in fact a rough draft.   To…

  • 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…

  • 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…

  • Audiobooks Count as Reading (and Saying Otherwise is Ableist)

    I see this all the time on social media, that audiobooks don’t count as reading. It’s listening. Aside from how heavily pedantic that argument is (seriously, does it really matter that much?) it’s ableist. Let’s unpack this, shall we?  First of all, how do you think blind people read? Not all blind people read braille,…

  • 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…

  • Breaks

    Breaks are a necessary part of life, something you can’t get around needing at least on occasion. But breaks when it comes to writing are hard, at least for me. When I’m at the height of my writing I can easily do more than 5000 words a day (though the usual number is between 2000-3000.)…

  • 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…

  • 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…