Candle and Quill Issue 01 Ready to Ship
Issue 01 of the Candle and Quill is now complete and ready to ship. While it’s not too late to become a patron and nab yourself a copy of issue 01, time is running out!
Announcing the Monthly Patreon Project
Starting in October, I am embarking on a new project intended to expand both my writing, and my visibility. This project will be posted on Patreon, and takes the form of a small, monthly, writing collection.
Give Your Character a Meaningful Name
While a Rose by any other name would smell as sweet, the same rarely holds true for a poorly named character. A name is not just an identifier. A meaningful name can give insight into not only the character’s role and personality, but also the culture of their world and their origins.
From a New Author’s Perspective
My wife and I recently paid a visit to a new bookstore in Russellville called Dog Ear Books. It is a nice place with a great atmosphere and a good selection. After only a few minutes inside however, I found myself looking at the countless books around me from a new author’s perspective. The experience… Continue reading
Better Editing With Three Simple Tips
Editing a book is a difficult job, especially if you’re doing it yourself. No matter how closely you pay attention, and how sharply you focus, as the hundreds of pages go by, things slip through. Below are three tips for better editing that have been working well for me.
Marketing a Book as a new Author
Marketing a book is far harder than writing it, especially as a new author. Since the release of A Boy Named Zephyr, I have tried several different approaches to marketing. Below are a couple methods that are cheap and easy to get started with, and have worked decently for me as a new author.
Creative Writing Workshop – Autumn Leaves
Continuing with the theme of last week’s post, I have been embracing my inopportune inspiration and playing with some old ideas. One idea in particular that I felt had a lot of promise was a story titled “Autumn Leaves”. Below is an excerpt, taken from my 140 character-limited practice sessions from several years ago. I… Continue reading
Embrace Inopportune Inspiration
When I work on a project, my preference is to stay locked onto it until it’s done. It’s when I’m already working on a project however, that I tend to have my best moments of inspiration. Unfortunately, they are rarely related to the what I’m working on. With a minimum of two more books left… Continue reading
Gemsong Saga Volume 2 preview
To celebrate the great progress I have been making, I would like to offer a sneak preview of the upcoming Gemsong Saga Volume 2: A Man Named Zephyr. The second volume of the series introduces the major players within the Lutian Nobility, and several new factions. Expect a release before the end of the year.
Add Personal Memories for a More Authentic Story
Of all the things that make a person unique, their personal memories are among the most important. Memories change the way a person sees and experiences the world. Memories can influence a person’s beliefs, and also the choices they make. Adding those personal memories to your stories then, can flavor them in a way that… Continue reading
Details in your book should be like breadcrumbs
The details in your book help to pull the reader into your world and make it more authentic and believable. Inundate the reader with too many details though, and they can quickly stop caring. With space and reader attention span at a premium, the quality and impact of the details you choose becomes vitally important.
Write Better with Twitter’s 140 Character Limit
Space has always been the bane of my writing. With novels, it’s a struggle to fill a chapter with enough pages. Everywhere else, it’s a challenge to keep things concise. While I’m still trying to nail down the former, the latter has been helped by using Twitter’s 140 character limit to help guide me to… Continue reading