Writing in Your Own Tongue
Some very successful fantasy novels have flirted with inventing their own language or languages – among them the Lord of the Rings (JRR Tolkien was a professional philologist and Old … Read more
Discussion
Writing on the Run
I find these days that my writing time isn’t very regular – instead, I end up snatching bits and pieces of time here and there to be able to wrap … Read more
The Business of Writing
Just starting out (again) in this whole writing thing, it occurs to me to wonder if it’s still possible, in these days of Amazon.com, free copies, and internet theft, is … Read more
Fantasy and the Modern World
Some of my favorite fantasy series – Lord of the Rings, the Shannara Series, the Wheel of Time – take place all or mostly separated from current day. Although I … Read more
Which Genre Is Best Suited to the LGBT Experience?
I’ve been doing some promo work for the anthology The Bear at the Bar (shameless plug there) about bear romance, and it’s gotten me thinking about all the shades of … Read more
Writing Transgender Characters
I’m getting ready to start another story, my first with a transgender character. The character’s gender identity as a man will be central to the storyline. I am excited to … Read more
Writing The Perfect First Scene
Let’s face it. The first scene of your story is like the front door of your house. If it’s dingy, dusty, falling off the hinges, and covered with bric-a-brac and … Read more
Writing Short vs. Writing Long
So I was thrilled to have a couple more sales this week (details to be announced at a later date) for two of my short stories. But it made me … Read more
Writing in the Zone
Every now and then, the stars align. I’ve got a concept, a chunk of time and my writing brain is charged and ready to go, and I enter the zone … Read more