I’ve been writing for nearly thirty years now, and I think that qualifies me to give out a little advice. Here are a few of the tips and tricks I’ve […]
On Writing
Posts about the craft of writing
Read Your Way to Good Writing
There are a lot of “You know you’re a writer when–” sayings out there. You’ve all seen them. There’s one more you might not have seen: You know you’re a […]
Naming Your Characters
Once you’ve created that perfect character, you have to name him or her. This can be a challenge to many writers, especially once you’ve gotten a few hundred characters on […]
Advice from the Tony Hillerman Conference
I’ve spent a lovely three days hob-nobbing with other authors and attending writing panels. Here are some gems from the classes. The day I stop learning about my characters is […]
5 Plot Tips
Having trouble thinking of plots? Twisted around when it comes to twists? Here are some tips and tricks to help you solve your problems. Brainstorm. This is the number one […]
4 Tips For Self-Editing
This is courtesy of Michael Stackpole’s lecture at Dragoncon. First, remember that you are not editing as you go along. As Stackpole says, “first, dig the hole” – get the […]
5 Dialogue Tips
For some writers, dialogue flows easily onto the page; for others, it’s an agonizing battle to find just the right words. Here are some tips for writing convincing dialogue. Know […]
What I Learned at Dragoncon
For those of you who don’t know, Dragoncon is the largest science fiction convention in the US (ComicCon specializes in comic-type stuff while Dragoncon covers anything science fiction). They have […]
How I Write
People ask how I write. I tell them with a pen in a journal. I really don’t have any set rituals for my writing. Sometimes I do write with pen […]
5 Ways to Keep Your Writing On a Roll
It’s easy to write when the words are flowing, when ideas just seem to leap from your mind into your fingers. It’s not so easy when you sit facing the […]