I hate relying on others. Let me get that out there, and say it firmly. I hate relying on others. Especially for writing. Why? Oh, I could exhaust you with a list of reasons, and I will in a moment, but it all boils down to inconvenience. See, here are some of the many reasons that other … Continue reading My Personal Petty Problem

#WIPjoy is a hashtag that Bethany A. Jennings, aka @simmeringmind, has created on twitter. It is a simple, month-long tag that allows authors to post about their Works in Progress. That is all it is. Sure it provides guidelines about what to post each day, and some of the questions aren't questions I'd normally ask … Continue reading Finding My Joy In Writing

"Honey, where's the pencil sharpener?" "It's in the left cabinet, on one of the shelves." "Are you sure?" "Unless you moved it!" "No, I didn't move it, but I don't see it, and sometimes-" "Oh, move out of the way. Look, here it is. "Why are you so bad at seeing things?" I wish I … Continue reading Close Your Eyes – What Do You See?

I haven't had much time to write lately, though I've come up with lots of ideas. I've also been dealing with criticism when I can, and I mean that in the best way. So let's talk about criticism. As usual with my blog writing, I'm going to make an analogy to something else. There is … Continue reading Critical Hit! Response?

I've always loved explaining things. It started when I was a child, even. I would analyze everything I saw, felt, heard, or read, and then I would fully explain it to people. I could take a show that I've watched and talk for hours explaining how the pieces of the plot fit together, where the … Continue reading How Much Do We Need To Know?

I went to the beach last week, so I didn't make a blog post. I'm making up for that now. My trip last week was the first time I'd been to the beach in fifteen years or so. I had never forgotten the breeze, the salty smell of sand and ocean spray. It was wonderful … Continue reading Write/Know What You Know/Write

Last week, while blogging about what we as writers can offer, I said, "I overcame (my doubts), and now write because of my love for writing, to the exclusion of all else." I think this could use more clarification. In that sentence are two separate thoughts. Yes, I used to feel like I had nothing to offer the world in my … Continue reading Inner Motivation

I began writing while in college. There was a reason that I did not start writing before that. I did not feel like I had anything to offer the world in my writing. Let me show you my train of thought. J. K. Rowling George R. R. Martin Stephen King Poe. Tolkien. Patterson. Grisham. What could I offer that these other … Continue reading Writing: What Can I Offer?

Fight scenes. They're the coolest. Stakes, character, action, it all comes together when we break out the fists (and magic, and guns, and swords). But how can we fit this all on paper? I'd like to preface this post with the fact that I have not studied a 'correct' way of writing. I just write … Continue reading Writing Fighting

I suppose that my story might be of interest. It began on a stormy night in March, year of 1994. Tornadoes whirled through the city of Birmingham, Alabama, and in the middle of that destruction, I entered the world. I was born to a Christian family, under normal circumstances. As I grew older, an older sibling … Continue reading My Beginning