NaNoWriMo 2013 Kickoff
Well, it's that time of year again: National Novel Writing Month, affectionately known at NaNoWriMo. It's a time for writers and would-be writers to put 50k words of a novel down on paper between November 1 and November 30. This year (like last year), I'm in the...
7 Deadly Sins of Fantasy Writing
Writers make mistakes. They're human after all, and that's why there are editors. Some transgressions go beyond mere mistake, however, and reach the point of Sin. These offenses can occur either within a work of fiction or in the writer's career, but they are deadly....
20 World Building Questions for Authors to Ask Themselves
World building is the art of convincing a reader that a fictitious place exists. What do you do if you don't know where to start creating that illusion? Well, to get you going, here's a list of 20 world building questions you can ask yourself to get started. What is...
Sourcethief Map Reveal
As the November release of Sourcethief approaches, I've been finishing up the bonus materials. All through the Twinborn Trilogy, there have been mentions that the two worlds are essentially identical. Now you can see them side by side for the first time: Tellurak and...
Rules of the Twinborn
The twinborn are those who see another world instead of dreaming. Their lives are fraught with peril, but with that peril comes advantages as well. By understanding both the pitfalls and privileges of being twinborn, you can gain power and influence in two worlds....
GraniteCon 2013 Roundup
I spent the weekend signing books at table 823 at Granite Con. My table was over by the Delorian from Back to the Future III, which was a huge draw and brought over nearly everyone who attended. My perspective on the con is limited by the fact that I didn't wander...
50 Types of Minor Characters (Part 5, 10-1)
You've got your heroes and your villains. You've even got a sidekick. But who inhabits the rest of the world? World-building is as much about people and cultures as it is about geography and magic. Minor characters are like mannequins that you can dress up in your...
5 Stages of Self-Publication
Doubt, Excitement, Confusion, Frustration, Success, these are the stages you'll go through if you stick with the path of self-publication. You may experience them differently from the writer who comes before you or after you, but you'll see all of these in some...
50 Types of Minor Characters (Part 4, 20-11)
You've got your heroes and your villains. You've even got a sidekick. But who inhabits the rest of the world? World-building is as much about people and cultures as it is about geography and magic. Minor characters are like mannequins that you can dress up in your...
50 Types of Minor Characters (Part 3, 30-21)
You've got your heroes and your villains. You've even got a sidekick. But who inhabits the rest of the world? World-building is as much about people and cultures as it is about geography and magic. Minor characters are like mannequins that you can dress up in your...