Story Settings Influence Characters

I’m still working on my next book and allowing myself to take some time to fully develop it. In my previous books, I had good settings, but I’m starting to see ways that I could make them even better. In this next book, I’m trying to take a little more time to fully develop myContinue reading “Story Settings Influence Characters”

Plugging Plot Holes

As I work on my next book, which is coming along slower due to the time constraints of my day job, I find myself noticing more about my story. Rather than writing it at a fast pace, in those moments when all I can do is think about it, I have noticed a few holes.Continue reading “Plugging Plot Holes”

It’s All in the Character’s Approach

In stories there are examples of all kinds of approaches taken by the protagonists and even supporting characters. Sometimes, the challenges or problems that confront the main characters seem too much for the characters. They may fall into a depression, or feel overwhelmed at first. We all do that sometimes in our lives. So, howContinue reading “It’s All in the Character’s Approach”

Consequences Make Our Life Story

Have you ever thought about all the choices made in a day, or even an hour? All the time, we make choices that build pieces of our life story. The choices and their consequences may not be as clear as they are in a novel, but good or bad, they’re always there. I’ve been thinkingContinue reading “Consequences Make Our Life Story”

Hope is a Good Thing

This last week I’ve worked hard to get my writing time back. Now, instead of only one to two hours each day, I’ve been consistently hitting three or more. I hope to find more success with my writing, but until then, I work to make each book better than the last, even if my currentContinue reading “Hope is a Good Thing”

Handling Characters’ Opposing Viewpoints

This week, as I continue to work on my next fantasy novel, I’ve been thinking a lot about my characters. My protagonist is haunted by a decision he made a few years earlier, and that decision set him up against a few of the other characters. While writing, I’ve enjoyed working through this character’s issuesContinue reading “Handling Characters’ Opposing Viewpoints”

Can Antagonists Have a Change of Heart?

I’m still working on my current work in progress, one page at a time. It’s going slower as I continue working to reorganize my writing time throughout each day. The story is progressing and I’m enjoying it, but it has me thinking about how people change. I have an antagonist, or at least I outlinedContinue reading “Can Antagonists Have a Change of Heart?”

Life Without the Boring Bits

As I write my current work in progress this time, I’ve found myself deviating more and more from the outline I had. One of the supporting characters turned out to be more important to the story than I first thought. With my new workload in my day job, I’ve slowed down how quickly I write,Continue reading “Life Without the Boring Bits”

We’re All Protagonists of Our Own Story

This last month I feel like a protagonist of a great story when their routine changes. In my day job, I‘ve taken on more responsibilities, and that has added to the time I spend at work each day. I’ve had to make some adjustments to my writing habit, to find the time to work onContinue reading “We’re All Protagonists of Our Own Story”

Learning Through Experience

Much like any good story or novel, life comes with choices. Those choices lead to experiences. Thinking about some of my favorite books, which is a list that changes with my mood, I’ve often wondered how the stories would have ended if the protagonist had reacted differently to the choices they had. I’m sure theyContinue reading “Learning Through Experience”