Category: Creative Writing
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What the graveyard scene in “Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire” taught me about high stakes action scenes
The graveyard scene at the end of the fourth Harry Potter book is one of my favorite scenes in the entire series. I cannot describe how gripped I was, reading it for the first time at the age of fifteen. I had never read or experienced anything quite like that in fiction. It was amazing.…
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Why is it so hard to “let go” of a WIP?
You never “finish” a work of art. There just comes a point when you stop working on it. There comes a point when your novel truly is ready for beta readers, and then truly ready for an editor. After that, there comes a moment when you DO need to send it to the proofreader, and…
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Changes to the second edition of “The Crimson League,” Part 2: reflections on revision
Today, I wanted to highlight (spoiler-free) the more subtle changes to my second edition, both as I have been asked by readers to explain how this edition differs, and because it’s always useful for writers to reflect on or read about the revision process.
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What Ryan George/ ScreenRant’s “Pitch Meeting” catchphrases can teach us about plot
If you’re not familiar with Ryan George’s “Pitch Meeting” YouTube channel, you can thank me later. Basically, George has a series of videos picking apart popular films. The concept is that George plays two characters, “Writer Guy” and “Producer Guy.” In each video, Writer Guy is pitching the film to Producer Guy, who has lots…
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The Crimson League shows everyone has something to contribute
Each leaguesman IS needed. Each one is beautifully necessary as the story of the League unfolds–the quiet ones and the brash ones, the thinkers and those who rush to act, the sensitive ones and the hardened ones. So it is in real life. Each one of us is unique and irreplaceable. We fight different flaws…
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My funny prof, first day of class antics, and what he taught me about narration
My last semester as a grad student at the University of Alabama, I took a narratology class. I was technically studying Spanish lit, but I had ONE elective outside the Spanish dept, I was writing my own fiction–I had always wanted to be a writer–and writing was my passion. I figured narratology would be a…
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Flaws versus faults, character development, and why it matters
One of my most popular posts ten years ago on my old blog was about the distinction I’ve always made between flaws and faults in fictional characters (and real people). You see, it’s important as an author to show that you respect your reader (as I recently discussed). One way we do that is by…
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What writing and blogging are really all about
Three years after leaving religious life, I no longer feel necessarily like I am in survival mode. (I will write about survival mode soon.) Still, somedays, with an upcoming release, a full-time day job I am super blessed to have, even if makes me uncomfortable and frustrated–I’m constantly reminding myself that life isn’t about comfort–limited…
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The danger of writing magic
I recently wrote about why writing and reading fantasy is so, well, magical. There are lots of opportunities and benefits that come with writing in the fantasy genre and adding magic to your story, but there is also a temptation to avoid. DON’T MAKE IT ALL ABOUT A MAGIC SHOW When we include sorcery or…
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Endurance and discipline: the virtues of writing
I don’t think it’s controversial to propose that for each one of us, certain virtues come easier than others. Temperament as well as personal history probably play a role in this, but the fact is, we all find some virtues easier to practice than others. Some people can be naturally cheerful, even when they feel…
Creative Writing with the Crimson League 