Corona, Or the Future of Fantasy
With a perniciousness matched only by the disease itself, it seems that Corona has infected all of our communications as well. Fortunately, this particular variety of the contagion is far…
Is Combat Boring? Tolkien’s Pelennor Fields
Last article I revived the claim that combat in literature is boring. I talked about the tainting effect of movie special effects which have prompted authors to futilely chase after…
Combat is Boring – Revisited
In one of my first articles on this blog, I proclaimed that combat (in literature) is boring! Combat, in and of itself, often adds less value to a novel than…
The Cartography of a Novel
In the last article, I mentioned that I do a lot of visual work when I prepare to write a novel, particularly maps. Ever since I was a child, I’ve…
Through the Eyes of the Syraestari
As I mentioned in one of my early articles, part of the reason I became an author is that I can’t draw. I see imagery in my head and, rather…
A Tome by Any Other Name
As I was doing research for my recent two articles on the creation of “Tears from Iron”, I also stumbled across some brainstorms regarding the book title. I thought I’d…
Blocking a Novel
I’ve mentioned several times that I’m a discovery writer, but that doesn’t mean I write blindly. I have a basic plan before I begin. This gives me the basic plot,…
The Birth of “Tears from Iron”
As we begin a new year and look forward, I thought I’d look back instead. How is a story born? What are the moments that see its first formation in…
Writing is an Act of Faith
It has occurred to me this past week that writing fiction is an act of faith. Not being a detailed pre-plotter, I can’t say with absolute certainty that this is…
Quotes: The Birth of Empire
This is my third article on the quotes that begin each chapter of “Tears from Iron.” You can find the other two articles here: Concerning Chapter Quotes Quotes: Memories of…