I love writing to music. I carefully curate my playlists for each book, for each mood. For example, I’m working on a space opera right now, and so I’ve selected several bits of electronica for intense scenes, for ambient scenes and sad scenes. I keep it carefully compartmentalized for emotional content. There’s no point in getting super amped-up if I’m supposed to be writing a quiet confessional. Likewise, sad piano music wouldn’t get me through a laser-strewn dogfight.
Writing as a Hobby: Never Tell Me the Odds
tl;dr
Writers have enough difficulty without people calling them amateurs… and it’s just as bad to force a career discussion.
How I Write My Novels – Pt. 2 (Software to Finish)
tl;dr
I’ve got some sweet organizational software that works for me. It might work for you, too.
Continue reading How I Write My Novels – Pt. 2 (Software to Finish)
How I Write My Novels – Pt.1 (Pens, Paper, Planning)
Concepts of UX in Writing: Progressive Disclosure
tl;dr
Use the UX concept of progressive disclosure to keep your readers interested and alert when describing difficult settings. Use of this concept will give facts a more organic, natural revelation.
This is the first part in a series on User Experience (UX) Concepts in Writing. For more information on UX and other important software design ideas, check out the Wikipedia article.
Continue reading Concepts of UX in Writing: Progressive Disclosure
Best Music Videos of 2014: Take a Break from Your Writing
I know this isn’t a post about writing.
However, I feel like I’m allowed to inspire and shake you around, if only for a bit. Music videos are one of my favorite formats, and watching them can be like reading tarot cards; Sometimes, they create stories in you where there are none. Other times, I just wanted an excuse to share music with you.
Continue reading Best Music Videos of 2014: Take a Break from Your Writing
Indie Publishing Versus Traditional Publishing: It’s Not a Moral Decision
tl;dr
I have no idea why people get so nasty about publishing. We live in a magical era where you have choices. There is no good and evil.
Continue reading Indie Publishing Versus Traditional Publishing: It’s Not a Moral Decision
Quote: Flannery O’Connor
Writing a novel is a terrible experience, during which the hair often falls out and the teeth decay. I’m always irritated by people who imply that writing fiction is an escape from reality. It is a plunge into reality and it’s very shocking to the system.
― Flannery O’Connor, Mystery and Manners: Occasional Prose
Tropes and Cliches: Breaking the Rules of Writing
tl;dr
There’s a difference between tropes and cliches, and too many restrictions can harm creativity. Continue reading Tropes and Cliches: Breaking the Rules of Writing