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
Writing
Posts on the craft of writing
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
Reveal Character through Objects
More than descriptions of how they look, or what they say, stories can also reveal character through objects.
Fantasy Plot Cliché Bingo
Pick up any random YA novel and you can play Fantasy Plot Cliché Bingo. It’s a fun game where you
When sidekicks and bit-players take over
What happens to a book plan when sidekicks and bit-players take over from the main characters? My fantasy series started
Learning to Embrace Imperfection
I’m immersed in the edit of the next novel and learning to embrace imperfection.
Ask Questions in the Edit
No draft of creative writing comes out perfect, you have to ask questions in the edit. I go through several
Worst Tropes of YA Heroines
The tricky part of writing a YA fantasy is dealing with the worst tropes of YA heroines. We’re talking all
Pride and Prejudice as a YA novel
Consider Pride and Prejudice as a YA novel. Not only the archetypal romance, but the mother of Young Adult fiction,
Nesting Sub-Plots in Parentheses
Nesting sub-plots in parentheses: it’s a way to ensure all the plot threads are tied off in the course of