Assorted blog posts covering early concepts, nonfiction articles, and more
I’ve completed a draft of the first part of the first episode of the Salvage project. May not seem much, but it took a great deal of honing my writing craft to get here.
If you’re interested in being a beta reader, let me know. I will — hopefully — cruise to the novel’s midpoint by early next year. The time I’ve taken to hone the plot and supporting scenes should really help.
From Jeff Goins’ article, “Trying to Be a Good Writer is a Complete Waste of Time“:
Don’t be good, be effective
Here’s the solution: Don’t be good. Be effective. Stop trying to be a good writer, and start trying to be effective.Why? Because “good” is subjective. It’s meaningless. “Good” is an artifact from long ago when writers needed gatekeepers to determine the value of their work. In today’s creative landscape, the goal of writing is connection. Not lukewarm approval. “Effective,” on the other hand, defines a clear relationship between you and the reader. The goal is to be heard, to communicate a clear message to a particular audience.
A busy month, this October. Here’s few that I liked:
I keep looking through the library and online for a good sf read, but so far I haven’t really liked anything. Let me know by one of the thousand ways to contact me if you have a good read in any genre.
Well, no, not horror, I don’t read that. Well, no, not erotica. I don’t go there. No, not that dark gruesome mystery or violent-filled thriller, either… I’m not a picky person, really.
“So, Kili, want a treat?” The doctor held out a jar of lollipops.
It’s “Kaylah.” She shook her head. Does he think I’m three?
A flicker of a frown crossed his face. “Suit yourself.”
They were not alone in the cramped medical bay. Beyond the doctor the medical assistant checked supplies with deft, efficient movements. The younger man had short hair that spiked up in the oddest directions. His lip curled up in an odd way on one side, yet, when he had glanced her way…
He seems friendly. More than the doctor, anyway. I wonder what—
“How are you enjoying your trip so far?” The doctor offered a false smile.
“It’s okay,” she said softly. I wish Mom had stayed with me. She shifted uneasily.
“It can be scary leaving home for some people.” He leaned forward and pressed his hands together at the fingertips.
Who does that steepling thing?
“It’s no big deal,” she said aloud.
“Do you miss Earth?”
Well, duh, it was my home, all I ever knew. She shrugged.
Behind the doctor the assistant medic looked over his shoulder at her and rolled his eyes. Her mouth twitched a little, and the burning sensation in her stomach eased.
The doctor continued, “Space is really big. Does it bother you?”
“No.” What, he can’t use big words? Wait– didn’t he even check my file? My space stuff is all over it.
“How about ship life? Others onboard?” He asked, now scrutinizing the tablet in front of him.
The lights overhead seemed really bright, almost harsh. Why is he asking about that stuff?
I like books that cross genre lines in subtle ways. Do you?
In that light, two recent reads I liked were The Cafe by the Sea by Jenny Colgan, and I’ll Be Your Blue Sky by Marisa de los Santos.
Should an aspiring writer blog? Like so many other questions in life… It depends.
On what?
Do you want to…
Continue reading
My father was a fan of Agatha Christie. Lying around my childhood home were almost every one of her mystery novels.
I devoured those books. In turn, those books set my expectations to a rather high standard, so much that for years I could barely read a page or two into any other mystery.
Now, a personal renaissance has led me back to the genre. Here are a few favorites:
Come on, you know you know some introverts or shy folks. Maybe you are even one yourself, like me.
The core of writing is a solitary pursuit, but most of us want financial return. Part of treating writing as a business is networking with other writers.
How do you go about this? What are some first steps? What options will work for you?
Many options exist. Here are a few:
