Tag: writing

On Making Clichés Feel Fresh (When You Can’t Avoid Them)

I haven't conducted any scientifically-valid surveys or research, but I'm nonetheless willing to bet that, at some point in their careers, every budding writer has been taught to avoid clichés like the plague. When a phrase has been used so often that it's lost all impact, well, it no longer has impact, and the writing comes across as lazy and unoriginal. Those are not great selling points and they don't engage readers. So let’s grab the bull by the horns and think outside the box so we can figure out how to avoid clichés, which I honestly think has been a problem since the dawn of time.

Okay, So, I’m a Wee Bit Behind on the ’ol Book Updates

One of the reasons I started this blog in the first place was to keep all y'all updated on my various projects, and to keep myself accountable. The good news is, I've made tremendous progress on the writing projects. The bad news is, I was so focused that the blog slipped a bit.

On Creating a Main Character . . . When you can’t give the reader any obvious information about that character

I firmly believe that character is the most important part of a novel. That's the hill I'll die on. Plot keeps us turning the pages, setting immerses us, but character makes us care. If you're racking your brain for story idea, character is a terrific place to start. Of course, developing a compelling character is easier said than done. There are, however, some tricks that can help you. So what happens if you can't use some of the obvious tools?

New Book!

I just added a new book to my author site! This one is called Incandescent: A Winter Tale of Blackthorne Faire, and it's the next in my series of winter tales—short, sort of holiday-adjacent books meant to be read in just a sitting or two, ideally under a blanket by the fire, with a mug of something warm. This book will be available wherever fine books are sold in early November.

Book Updates: One Out, One (Slightly) Delayed, Two Polished, and Two Underway

So, it's been a pretty momentous month—it always is when one launches a new book out into the world. It never, ever gets old and I am way beyond thrilled. And I have many more projects in the hopper!

I’m Not Making Progress: In which I offer an update on the projects I’m NOT (yet!) working on

In my last blog article, I updated all y'all on all the many writing projects I'm working on currently. What I didn't talk about was all the projects I'm not working on. Well, I guess technically that list would be infinite, but I mean specifically the ideas that are stirring around rather urgently in my head, that I haven't been able to let go of, but for which I haven't written more than the occasional note.

I’m Making Progress! In Which I Offer Another Book Update

One of the reasons I started this blog was to chronicle my journey as a writer and, I like to hope, to pass along some of the things I've learned. I also intended to hold myself accountable and present updates on all my works in progress. I haven't been too great about that last part, … Continue reading I’m Making Progress! In Which I Offer Another Book Update →

Ideas are easy; stories are hard

I didn't learn a lot from meeting the late, great Wylly Folk St. John, but I sure did from reading her books. When I was in the third or fourth grade, I met a professional author for the first time. It happened to be one of my very favorites, Wylly Folk St. John, who was … Continue reading Ideas are easy; stories are hard →

If you want to write, read!

I've wanted to write since (at least) the third grade. My urges to become an astronaut or a dinosaur-seeking paleontologist faded (although my love for astronauts, space exploration, and dinosaurs remains undimmed), but my longing to create stories never did. In fact, I can still remember the exact books that made me want to make … Continue reading If you want to write, read! →

On Using Someone Else’s Characters in a Story

Spoiler Alert: William Shakespeare's Juliet is probably going to turn up in one of my novels—the Winter Tale that I'm starting to work on now. As a rule, I am not a huge fan of using someone else's characters in a story. That said, rules are meant to be broken and all that. So (spoiler … Continue reading On Using Someone Else’s Characters in a Story →

On Writers in Community

Professors Tolkien and Lewis, writers in community If you've read this blog before, you know I talk a lot about my book grandparents—the writers who shaped and influenced me so deeply, and at so young an age, that I'm scarcely even aware of it. It's like thinking about who taught you to breathe. Two of … Continue reading On Writers in Community →

The Best Advice I Can Give to Aspiring Novelists and Screenwriters: It’s Okay to Suck

As I mentioned in my previous post, I have a talk I give at universities, writers conferences, and even fantasy conventions. It's called The Storyteller's Toolbox, and it covers things that are, with all appropriate modesty, pretty much essential for storytellers to know. It's aimed primarily at novelists and screenwriters, although I think the tools … Continue reading The Best Advice I Can Give to Aspiring Novelists and Screenwriters: It’s Okay to Suck →

Novelists: Where Do You Begin a Story?

I have a talk I give on writing called The Storyteller's Toolbox. I've given versions of it at Georgia Tech, Georgia State University, the CONjuration fantasy fan convention, the Broadleaf Writers Conference, and a few other places like that. There's a video version online. One of the questions that just about always comes up is … Continue reading Novelists: Where Do You Begin a Story? →

Thinking About Music, Stories, and Author’s Voice

I've been thinking a lot about music, and how it influences emotion in movies. How do we as book authors do this same in our fiction? How do we capture music in the written word?

Yet Another Book Update

Okay. So. This post is an update to this one, which was in turn an update to this one. Y'all all caught up? Alright then. It turns out the draft of Makeup Test that I submitted was week was not, in fact, the final. In the words of my editor/publisher, "it's 99.9% there." Bringing a … Continue reading Yet Another Book Update →

On (finally!) Delivering an Overdue Manuscript and Thinking About What’s Funny

This post is mostly an update to this one from earlier in the week. At that point, I was close to delivering the revised draft of Makeup Test: A Rom-Com Winter Tale. At this point, I have done so. What I think is probably the last major draft is now in the hands of my … Continue reading On (finally!) Delivering an Overdue Manuscript and Thinking About What’s Funny →

Book Updates

So, y'all. This blog was meant to talk about my journey as an author (hence the title), which to be frank I haven't done a lot of. So every month or so, I'll let you all know where I am with everything that's in the works. The Winter Tales As most of you know, I've … Continue reading Book Updates →

On Writing Prompts, and one of the very best responses I have ever seen

The Norse God Odin welcomes warriors who fell in battle to Valhalla I'm not a huge fan of writing prompts. The truth is, I already have more ideas than I have years left to live (that means I have a lot of ideas, not that I am in any immediate mortal danger) and I'm not … Continue reading On Writing Prompts, and one of the very best responses I have ever seen →

Who are your book grandparents?

Professors Tolkien and Lewis So, fellow authors. My publisher, business partner, friend, and fellow author Lou Aronica and I have been talking about a theory I have. See, we all carry our ancestors with us in the attics of our brains as surely as we do in the spiraling chains of knowledge that make up … Continue reading Who are your book grandparents? →

Can Fantasy be Myth? Mythopoeia and “The Lord of the Rings”

Speaking for myself, it’s not too much of an exaggeration to call reading The Lord of the Rings for the first time way back in the fifth grade a life-changing experience. Tolkien’s trilogy led directly to my own life-long love of stories and mythology. I can’t help wondering if, without that experience in my childhood, I would have written a novel of my own. I may well have, but I don’t think it would be as myth-infused as Raven Wakes the World. In short, my experience of reading The Lord of the Rings, like that of so very many other readers through the decades, was the kind that changes a person for all time, or at least inspires a life direction — and for me at least, even a sort of pilgrimage. That’s the type of response that one usually has only to the most significant, the most sacred stories — the cultural heritage of truth disguised as narrative that serves as a guide through the dark forests of life. In short, myth.

From an Author to Readers: Thank You.

I am stunned and in awe. As most of you know, my novel Raven Wakes the World was published this week. Amazon sold out almost immediately, and the entire first distribution sold out soon after. A few friends who tried to order from their favorite local bookshops told me that it was either backordered, or … Continue reading From an Author to Readers: Thank You. →

Food for thought … can the old pulp heroes of yesterday work in a contemporary setting?

My love for the old pulp heroes — characters like Tarzan, Doc Savage, Professor Challenger, and the Shadow — came early, and when it took hold, it never let go. First loves are like that. It started, like so many of my early loves, on Saturday morning. I was watching TV with my dad — … Continue reading Food for thought … can the old pulp heroes of yesterday work in a contemporary setting? →

In which I am interviewed on writing and marketing, I write about Renaissance fairs and setting as a “character” in a story, and prepare to write about the old pulp heroes of yesteryear

In which I am interviewed on writing and marketing, I write about Renaissance fairs and setting as a “character” in a story, and prepare to write about the pulps

Did y’all know I have another blog, too?

Hey, did y'all know I have another blog, too? It's about stories, writing, fantasy, mythology, and Renaissance festivals.

You can find it here: http://blackthornefaire.net

The most recent post is about Renaissance fairs, and the feeling of falling into a story. I hope those of you who follow this blog will take a look at that one, too. I'd be grateful.

Reinventing this blog … just a little. (Or … A New Mission)

As many of you already now, I've recently signed with a new agent, Mr. Peter Miller of Global Lion Intellectual Property Management. Peter's a great guy, and to be blunt, he gets things done and deals made. I'm just all kinds of lucky to be working with him.

As as my books and scripts get closer to finding their way to bookstores and screens, I'm going to be sharing a little bit of that journey here.

6 Blogs For Writers And Those Who Lead The Creative Lifestyle

There's something kind of meta about a blog that reviews blogs. But the title says "John reviews pretty much anything," right? As I see it, my blog, my rules, yes? Uh, anyway. There are dozens blogs out there that I've found enormously helpful, and dozens more that I find fascinating or even challenging, and still more that are just downright entertaining. I'm starting with a few favorites that deal with writing or creativity in general. Some are about writing, some are about living the creative lifestyle, and some are just about turning your passions into a career. In any case, they all deserve to be shared.