Another Fresh Start

The beginning of a new year is sometimes exciting. It’s like grabbing a new book and reading it. I have some ideas what I want from the year, or from the experience of reading a new book. Like the characters in the beginning of a book, I have what I think is a decent ideaContinue reading “Another Fresh Start”

I Finished It

I finished the book I’ve been working on for this year. For All the Stones is available on Kindle and Amazon as a paperback. It is a story that takes place in a world that has just started to connect with electricity. Magic still exists in people’s collective memories but, electricity and industrialization fill theContinue reading “I Finished It”

Like a Story’s Rising Conflict

It’s nice to have surprises, especially during this time of year. With Christmas only days away and the new year just a week after it, things can get stressful. In some ways it can feel like the rising conflict of a story. At that point where the reader gets a general idea of the dangerContinue reading “Like a Story’s Rising Conflict”

The Little Things Make All the Difference

It’s that time of year when I find myself noticing the small things that happen all around. Whether it is a stranger smiling or wishing happy holidays, or a small accomplishment in my day job, they’re always there if I look. This time of year I look more for them because of the holiday season.Continue reading “The Little Things Make All the Difference”

Working to Revise My Book

This week, I’ve been revising and editing my book. I generally work through it chapter by chapter, finding and fixing the errors and straightening up the story. It’s a fun process, but it takes time. When I could probably read the book cover to cover in a week, this may take me a couple weeks.Continue reading “Working to Revise My Book”

Just One Chapter Away

These last two weeks have been busy. I’m almost done with my draft of my current book. I’m just one chapter away from the ending I wrote a few weeks ago. The story is shaping up nicely, but once I finish this draft, I’ll spend some time going back through it to perfect it. IContinue reading “Just One Chapter Away”

Loyalty Versus the Easy Way

This week as I’ve written more of my book, I’ve ended up with one character who is desperately looking for the easy way out. Things have gotten too hard for him. He’s torn between what little loyalty he has to a friend and his personal safety. The risks seem too high if he stays withContinue reading “Loyalty Versus the Easy Way”

Even Characters Want to Give Up

This week has been extremely busy for me, but I’ve managed to write every day. Even if it is just a little bit each day, I have kept my book in progress moving along. This draft is close to the end, and the characters are struggling. They’ve had a few chances to make things work,Continue reading “Even Characters Want to Give Up”

Writing the End Before the Beginning

It’s been another productive week. I’ve been writing my book every day, nearing its end for this draft. This book is going to be longer than a lot of the others I’ve written, but I plan to trim the fat away as I edit and work through it. I’m excited about where the story isContinue reading “Writing the End Before the Beginning”

Enjoying My Characters’ Failures, Almost

The nice thing about stories and books is that the characters struggle with all kinds of problems, but usually by the end, they figure out most of them. I’ve been thinking about that resolution that comes at the end of a good book, where things settle out. In my next book, I’m still building toContinue reading “Enjoying My Characters’ Failures, Almost”