What separates one culture from another. It's more than clothes and language, though those are important for making them look and feel distinct from one another. No, what makes two cultures unique are cultural values. These are the traits that,…
One question that an aspiring worldbuilder is going to ask is when to start. Can you build a world without knowing anything about the story you're going to tell in it? Do you need any characters before you build a…
Writing a scene with one character is simple. Two isn't much harder, and introduces the possibility of conversation. Even three characters in a single scene leaves room for everyone to breathe. But what do you do when the number gets…
Looking to write but can't think what to write about? Here are five more writing prompts to give you an idea to build around. 1 - Aliens have made contact, but they need to form a symbiotic bond to communicate.…
November 1 kicks off the annual writing extravaganza known as National Novel Writing Month (or more commonly, NaNoWriMo). With a goal of 50,000 words toward a new novel and 30 days to get it done, many writers are clearing their…
You hear the advice everywhere. It gets pronounced from high upon soap boxes, repeated as gospel, and heeded often without thinking. It makes for a pithy reply to the question "how do I...?" and absolves the responder from delving into…
There are two common problems I hear when people are having trouble with their worldbuilding. One camp is overwhelmed by the task, the other unable to tear themselves free to begin writing. How can you overcome these crippling writing roadblocks?…
Fiction writers are crazy. The non-fiction sorts can get away with having a normal outlook, describing things that exist and events that happened. They can inform and communicate. We fiction writers talk about places that don't exist, things that never…
I've written a series of long books. I've written one of more "standard" length books. But my current series is comprised of long novellas. I did this because I had in mind a particular pacing, a certain vibe, and a…
One of the biggest mistakes a writer can make is a break in continuity. Immersion grinds to a halt, the reader does a double-take, and if you're lucky, they might keep reading (if your book is reviewed by Immerse or Die,…
Write one book, and you can feel confident in calling yourself an author. Write three, and you might make a career out of it yet. Write a dozen, interconnected and following a common thread of over-arching plot, and you just…
"I'm working on a story, but I'm stuck on the worldbuilding." I've heard some variant of this enough times that I felt the need to do something. Worldbuilding doesn't come first. It's like being unable to decide on the house you…
When you write, you're bound to end up with a protagonist or two along the way (it would be a good trick not to!). Understanding your plot and how that protagonist fits into it can shape your story. Some genres…
I have written characters that speak like kings and professors. Perfect diction. Perfect use of vocabulary. Perfect grammar. This is fine for characters who are kings, professors, or anyone else whose education, breeding, and social status demand such technically correct speech. But…
'Never let the audience see your lips move.' To a ventriloquist, this seems like obvious advice. But to an author, it can be equally valuable. Part of the conceit of a ventriloquist's act is the belief that the dummy is…
I use commas the way the B29 dropped bombs: let them loose to fall where they may, and hope they land where you want them. I can't spell names I invented. I string together sentences longer than some short stories.…
Not every hero has a villain. A hero can battle faceless foes, the environment, or even his own inner demons, but if you want to write about heroic deeds you may find yourself looking for a villain to pit against…
It's common for stories to be told from multiple points of view. It allows you, as a writer, to explore and show different sides to a conflict. It can be as simple as the back and forth between detective and…
This week I'm introducing a guest feature from my publisher / wife. Since she handles the majority of the business, it's an opportunity for you to get an in-depth perspective on some of operational and entrepreneurial aspects of being a self-published…
Most people like surprises. For this discussion, we're going to ignore the ones who don't. We're also going to skip discussing unpleasant surprises, like finding the last page of a book missing, or a sudden abandonment of the main plot.…
Without a setting, your story takes place on a blank stage, with characters and actions without a backdrop. But how to go about presenting your setting is a balancing act. What's the right mix? Appropriate to the Story Your description…
A while back a gave a list of tips for authors who wanted to edit their own work before sending it out to an editor. Well, here are 5 more tips for those of you who want to make your…
Have you ever read a book where every character sounds the same? How about one where the main character has a set of beliefs that they work into every conversation? You might be noticing signs of an unfortunate foible of…
More people want careers in writing than actually have them. Many are trying to bridge the gap between wanting and having. There is no magic formula (though if you can manage to catch lightning in a bottle, it couldn't hurt),…
November is the 11th month of the Julian and Gregorian calendars (or the ninth if you want to use the Roman one). It is the home of Election Day, Veterans Day, and Thanksgiving if you live in the US. In…
