I love historical fiction, reading it and writing it. (See my bookstore page for two novels set in the 20th century.) Historicals can safely be fat books; I mean the grounding necessary in any novel where the world needs to … Continue reading
Category Archives: creativity
From small things do bigger things grow — cubs into lions, acorns into oaks, ideas into stories and then collections of stories and then worlds. Some time ago a friend tossed me an idea “challenge” — a story about a … Continue reading
I just finished this dandy volume by Lisa Zunshine, Why We Read Fiction: Theory of Mind and the Novel. It’s readable, makes a lot of sense, and in Kindle ebook format it is FREE. Writers, go get it.
Continue readingElsewhere on the net, a talented new writer made a comment about the damaging effects of another person’s careless behavior. We can encounter destructive relationships in every area of our lives, but when it comes to our creativity, they can … Continue reading
I’m a little tired. This is the Australian art of understatement. Right now, we’re using that a lot. If an Australian tells you that they were affected by the fires, check (don’t ask them – find out in a more … Continue reading
“Burn! Burn! BURN!” “Wait! Stop!” Gaia reached out to gather a gasping koala into her arms, looked up into a sky which was an improbable shade of dark red and empty of birds. “What are you doing? Who are … Continue reading
All of my writing life—38 books, 2 non fiction releases and almost 100 published short stories, plus a few never to see the light of day again projects—I have always had to know the ending before I start writing. I … Continue reading
The big pitfall of planless writing is that the story will go nowhere.The questing party will wander around the mines of Moria in the dark and never get out. The hobbits forget about the One Ring and become involved in … Continue reading
For years, when people described pantsing vs plotting, I listened carefully to everyone. I was trying to work out what I was doing wrong. I was doing nothing wrong. I was flying by the seat of my pants… my way. … Continue reading
Since a pantser has no plan and no outline, you have to have a clear vision. Not necessarily of where the work is going to go. But you have to feel, clearly, what the work has to be like. You … Continue reading