Grappling with the Story – Journey vs. Destination
Writing is a strange beast. It doesn’t have any certain form, deriving its shape from the author and the nature of the specific story. I’m not talking about grammar or…
Characters and Description
Last time I began a discussion of description by talking about setting. I made the observation that the approach I think works best can be summed up as ‘less is…
On Description and Story
This is the first of two articles prompted by related ideas on description: setting and character. For both, I believe the best general approach is somewhere along the lines of…
Reigliff, Isi, and Independence
On this, the eve of our own country’s day of independence, it seemed appropriate for me to discuss freedom in “Tears from Iron” as well. But I’m going to take…
Keep a Journal
For this week I’m going to veer off my usual topics and make a more general appeal to everyone, whether you consider yourself a writer or not. If there is…
The Author’s Dilemma: Who lives and who Dies
The fantasy genre tends to be violent. By its very nature, there are usually swords, sorcery, monsters, and dragons… or at least some variety thereof (although to be fair, fantasy…
Words that have Inspired Me
After writing last week’s article about the quotes that head each of my chapters, I got to thinking about the real world quotes that have been meaningful to me. I’ve…
Concerning Chapter Quotes
“And on that final day, Cydion, the Lord of Life and Death stood upon the Hill of Kensethir, triumphant over the broken bodies of the last of the Etyni. Yet…
What makes a writer?
I can sum this article up in six words: “A writer is someone who writes.”I’m not talking about the various measurements of success or popularity, but simply the idea of…
Don’t Edit to Music
When I write, I enjoy listening to music. It is a great aid to transitioning from the toils and distractions of modern day life to the mystical land of Isfalinis…