What’s My Core Story?
The central question for a panel at the C2E2 convention this year: what’s my core story? The core story within […]
Writing
Posts on the craft of writing
Ten-step Empire-builders’ Checklist
My ten-step empire-builders’ checklist is just the beginning for creating a credible fantasy empire. More than just the ruling class,
Five elements of Universal Story
There are five elements of Universal Story that are the foundation of every successful novel. So says writer and coach
What Made Me Write Fantasy?
What made me write fantasy? Here are some inspirations that pushed me to my chosen genre. There’s a much longer
How Long is my Story?
Fantasy authors need to know: how long is my story? The classification of a story will vary by genre, by
Favorite Similes in the New Novel
Here are some of my favorite similes in the new novel. I’m not a fancy, literary writer, but I do
Seven More Must-Have YA Tropes
I may have accidentally included seven more must-have YA tropes in my new novel. All genre fiction works through tropes,
Arrows versus Armor in Fantasy Fiction
Arrows versus armor in fantasy fiction: can a bow and arrow really beat armor in the real world and in
The Midpoint of Freytag’s Pyramid
I accidentally hit the midpoint of Freytag’s pyramid. It sounds like a plane crash, but it’s a story-telling device that
‘The Queen of Fortune’ Novel Extract
‘The Queen of Fortune’ novel extract. Yari visits a Roamer fortune teller who reveals much more than expected.