Endings come in many sizes, shapes, and forms in fiction, nonfiction, and reality. Every story has a beginning, middle, and end. This is true of every fiction and nonfiction book that you could read or write, as well as reality. We, in these meat suits we occupy for a century or so, begin and end….
Tag: fiction
How Does Character Perspective (Point of View) Impact Your Storytelling?
Character perspective/point of view can make or break a story. The first professional editor I hired changed my writing dramatically. From her, I learned so many different lessons, techniques, and more, which helped me become a competent editor. She showed me how to improve numerous aspects not just of my writing but storytelling. One of…
Am I Learning as Much from Reading Fiction as from Reading Nonfiction?
Yes. I’m learning things that make me rethink my approach to my own work. More than a year ago, I began a new habit. My morning routine changed from spending an hour or two online playing games on Facebook to reading. I get out of bed, feed the cats, start the coffee – then sit…
How Might You Let Your Art Flow Through You This New Year?
With the new year, what new art are you doing? Welcome to 2022. Happy New Year! For many people, a new year represents some sort of fresh start, choices to do something new, or something else of that nature. Some people make resolutions with an eye to some sort of change – but as they…
The Best Fictional Characters Seem Utterly Real to Me
That is why the characters that writers create matter. In 1998, I was sitting at my desk at work. And I was bored. At the time, I was the sales manager for an itty-bitty audiophile record label. Though I was good at my job, it came with long periods where I had nothing to do….
The Excitement of One Book Series Ending + Another Nearly Ending
This is exciting because reaching the ending of a series is new for me. Back in 1997 or so, I was sitting at my desk at my job with nothing to do. What work I had was done, and I had created as much other work as I could come up with. (At the time,…
I’m Not Sure I Believe in Writer’s Block
I get stuck sometimes – but that’s not writer’s block. Lots of people have heard of writer’s block. It’s an unfortunate occurrence when a writer can’t write. No ideas are coming, the story isn’t working, or they just have lost passion for their art. I’m not entirely sure I believe in writer’s block. While I’ve…
Learning from Fiction
Just because it’s fiction doesn’t mean we can’t learn from it. Despite primarily reading and writing sci-fi and fantasy, my all-time favorite work of fiction is Paulo Coelho’s The Alchemist. If you are not familiar with this book, I cannot recommend it enough. It’s a great story, well-written, and has an impactful and positive life…
Even as a Creative – I am Not My Job
There is more to me than being a creative. Sometimes I need to remind myself. I love being a writer. This is the thing I have always believed I was meant to do in this world. But being a writer – like any other job – is not the whole picture. There is far more…
A Little Knowledge Goes a Long Way
Even in fiction, a little knowledge helps make connections. Have you ever read a book, watched a TV show or movie, and come across something so implausible that it ruined the story? Lots of fantasy and sci-fi are built on largely impossible things. Superheroes aren’t real, faster-than-light travel violates current physics, most people can’t do…