When I was a kid, shopping for books was exciting. I loved to browse the shelves (mostly in Science Fiction and Fantasy, but sometimes in Mystery and sometimes in the confusing tangle that was Fiction and rarely, very rarely, in … Continue reading
Mindy Klasky
Once upon a time (because that’s the way all the best stories begin…) I published my first novels, six traditional fantasy stories. When it came time to write my next book, my agent suggested that I write the entire thing (rather than a mere synopsis), so that I could “level up” — obtain a contract for substantially more money.
Continue readingOnce upon a time (as the story goes), I had an idea for a novel. I sketched out the concept, and I sent an email to my agent with a two paragraph summary that began, “Jane Madison has a problem. … Continue reading
The Library, the Witch, and the Warder Washington Warders 1 by Mindy Klasky Former warder David Montrose has a problem. Or two. Or three. He’s been fired from his job protecting the witches of Washington DC. Now, he’s stuck working … Continue reading
One of the wonderful things about working with Book View Cafe is that the co-op gives each of us a chance to explore new aspects of our creative lives as authors. With the support of our fellow members, we can … Continue reading
In the age old discussion of how writers write, people often make a distinction between plotters (people who create an outline prior to writing, also called “architects” by George R. R. Martin, of Game of Thrones fame, because they develop blueprints for … Continue reading
Z is for Zephyr. Zephyr is the west wind, a light wind, one that has traditionally been considered the most mild and favorable. Your writing career is beset with winds of change. … Continue reading
Y is for You. You’ve now had a chance to read twenty-four essays about writing. You’ve had the opportunity to answer questions about every topic, organizing your personal thoughts. … Continue reading
X is for (E)xposure. (Yeah, so sue me. Or give me an idea of another “X” word to write about.) Before an author publishes a book, they revise it, edit it, copyedit it, proofread it, and format it. Through each … Continue reading
W is for Workspace. Every author has a preferred workspace. Lucky authors get to work under those conditions on a regular basis. Everyone else figure out ways to make do. … Continue reading