Archive

  • The Moment I Knew I Had Grown Up Whether I Wanted to or Not

    When was the first time you really felt like a grown-up? Growing up is a tough thing. We don’t leave childhood behind. It simply skips away, leaving us behind. And we find ourselves in the world of grown-ups. We certainly do gain quite a few things as adults, though: Responsibilities, duties, jobs, bills … But Read more

  • What Matters Most: Establishing A Story’s Stakes

    In every story, there are stakes. Something may be lost, something may be gained. The story’s conflict means something. Without stakes, without the risk of failure, a story isn’t very interesting. Who cares if the One Ring is destroyed in the fires of Mount Doom if Sauron isn’t a threat? Who cares about the Galactic Read more

  • Would I Dare Ride a Horse?

    What’s something you would attempt if you were guaranteed not to fail. Horse racing. If I was guaranteed not to fail spectacularly, I would try horse racing. I’m not worried much about losing. I don’t care if I don’t come in first place. But I would love to try it with the absolute certainty that Read more

  • Out of Place, Out of Whack

    Tell about a time when you felt out of place. When I hear the phrase “out of place,” it makes me think that I have somehow misplaced myself or stumbled into something that is not meant for me. It implies being in the wrong place, not merely an awkward or unfitting one. And without a Read more

  • Regarding the Writer and His Readers

    A couple years ago, I wrote a blog post titled “No Author is an Island.” I stand by what I wrote in that article. Now, with more experience, I can also add to it. An author is dependent on his beta readers, editors, and cover artists to make his book the best it can be. Read more

  • “Now” is Not “Forever”

    What is the best piece of advice you’ve ever received? “This too shall pass.” Whenever you are feeling down, whenever you feel discouraged, whenever you’re stuck taking out the trash or behind a desk at work, or otherwise feel that time has shrunk to a single point that is infinite and eternal and will never, Read more