Who We Were
I was recently looking through some of my old materials for inspiration and found one that might be interesting to share. I’ve mentioned in previous articles that my original plan…
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Who We Were
Talikae – The Breath upon the Blade
In the previous article, we looked at how Talikae, though she began as a fleeting character upon the page, rose to play a significant part in the arcs of the…
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Talikae – The Breath upon the Blade
The Unexpected Talikae
I’ve heard about TV shows hiring an actor for a two-bit role that becomes more. Perhaps it is just a line at first, maybe two, but in their brief moment…
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The Unexpected Talikae
Tyranny of the One and the Many
As the last act of “Tears from Iron” gains momentum into the climax, the Empress Kayrstana worries about the undercurrents of the Syraestari imperial court. From these concerns, she makes…
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Tyranny of the One and the Many
Stick Figures from Iron
As Christmas fast approaches, this article will take on a lighter tone than recent ones.In one of my first articles, I commented on how I’ve always wished I could draw. …
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Stick Figures from Iron
The Ritual of Writing
Every fiction author works in a different way, even if the final output (at the broadest level) is the same… words on a page formed structurally into a story. I…
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The Ritual of Writing
Blooms from Iron II
Last article, we looked at the role of smelting in “Tears from Iron.” This time, we’re taking a step back to ask not only what smelting is, but why it…
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Blooms from Iron II
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…
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A Tome by Any Other Name
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,…
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Blocking a Novel
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…
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The Birth of “Tears from Iron”