The end of a book is, in many ways, quite like the end of a relationship. In this case, an amicable end. One with a sense of, “While I still love you, there’s nothing left for us to do here. No place for us to go. It’s time to move on.” My current project, Shadow … More Nearing the End
Are you a planner or a pants-er? This is a question writers often get asked, but there is no ‘right’ answer. So in general, I am a pants-er – mostly. I don’t have a full outline, chapter by chapter, of my novels. But, I write fantasy, so I tend to know a lot about my … More The Unexpected
“Read what you write.” I’ve heard this from so many sources it’s almost gospel. Okay, maybe that’s an exaggeration, but I do hear variations of “read what you write,” a lot. The intention behind it is great – learn about the genre you’re writing in, from rules, rhythms, word count, tropes, and audience. All of … More A Writer’s Voice
I hate them. Straight out, just hate queries and submissions. It has nothing to do with the almost inevitable rejection – I’ve never really taken the rejections too personally. No, it has more to do with the work and the effort involved. For one thing, there are often hours and hours involved in searching for … More Queries & Submissions
Less than an hour ago I deleted approximately 130 pages from a work in progress. It felt really good. It doesn’t always. Sometimes words need to die to make the whole stronger. I essentially deleted the last half of my novel because it had become dead weight. The beginning had evolved beyond what the ending … More Delete = Death
Get a group of writers together and at one point someone is going to talk about writer’s block. It’s one of the most frustrating aspects of the job and one of the least understood by the outside world. For most people, they’re jobs are full of routine, with predictable problems and logical solutions. I haven’t heard … More Writer’s Block
Many writers often describe the act of writing as a sort of compulsion. Often I’ve felt that way myself. Even when I’m sitting on the couch, watching a movie, reading a book, or just talking with someone, my mind will be half on what I’m doing, and half in another world. Sparked by an image, … More Resistance isn’t futile?
What can you say when someone like Robin Williams crosses to the Summerland? Whenever someone dies words are always the most difficult to find, even for a writer. But it is different when a family member or a friend dies. You have memories of them, you have anecdotes, you have portions of your life that … More Robin Williams, O Captain! My Captain!
One of my favorite sonnet’s by John Keats is “When I have fears that I may cease to be,” because it speaks to the writer in me. Keats addresses what I consider to be the greatest struggle undertaken by writers, the battle against Time. Writer’s struggle to find enough time to write, to get … More Struggle Against Time
Farley Mowat died yesterday, May 6th, 2014 at 92 years old. From all accounts he’d lived a long and extremely accomplished life. He is, of course, a Canadian Literary legend, and was a force to be reckoned with in terms of the environment. Those who knew him and loved him best are sure to miss … More Farley Mowat, Words For Change
Sheena Lyn 