As a writer, I strive for the moment of awe. I know myself and my abilities, and I know at most, most of the time, I come closer to the moment of “aw” which can be achieved just as profitably by looking at a picture of a cute kitten hugging a teddy bear. But I... Continue Reading →
On Apple, royalties and glittery bits
After several weeks of not finding anything to really inspire a post, today there seems to be too many bits of inspiration. Some of them I've tossed to the side because, well, the blog would be bogged down in politics all too quickly. Those I'll save for my own blog. But others are continuation of... Continue Reading →
Scattered abroad, and dispersed among the people
I suppose I don't really write books that are just one thing. Maybe this is my problem... well, besides being a silly monkey with a penchant for lost causes and taking on hell with a fire-bucket, and living so far beyond the black stump you have to crawl three more days after the last camel... Continue Reading →
Elf Blood, Free Novel, chapter 12
*Another short chapter. Sorry. It's hard to ride two horses at once. I'll speed up after New Years.* *You guys know we talked about doing a shared world. We went with a whole continent so that Dave can have his jungle and I can have my big city with diners. We're working on a contract... Continue Reading →
There Will Be Elf Blood
Unfortunately the current white stuff all over the ground means that everything this family has to do outside the house becomes an expedition. I can't run to the store in fifteen minutes, and the kids can't go get gas, and... Instead, it's all "everyone get together in the most ice-worthy car in the family and... Continue Reading →
The Pen Is Mightier…
I said earlier this week I’m not naturally snarky. That doesn’t mean that things don’t rub me wrong and get me angry. And I am very angry right now. I have been watching a swelling tide of articles about people who are attempting to use language as a weapon. They have grasped the old saying... Continue Reading →
What’s in a Name?
Plotting a new novel recently I have come across a familiar phenomenon. I'm working away on the plot, then move on to fleshing out a particular character, or describing that particular character's backstory or role in the plot. Slam. Dead stop. I need the name. If I cannot get a name that works for me... Continue Reading →
Public Face
This is Cedar, posting for Kate. Kate staggered into the Mad Genius Club yesterday evening, looked around and asked for help - she'd had a rough day at work and her brain was fried. I looked around, Sarah and Amanda were busy elsewhere, Dave is incommunicado… so I volunteered. You know what they say about... Continue Reading →
Something Old, Something New
WRITING WITH FOUND OBJECTS - 6 Years ago at Southwest Writers’ Conference, as still unpublished authors, my friends and I attended a panel on “saleable fiction.” I have the name of the person who taught it under my tongue, but it just won’t come to the fore. Anyway, it was enlightening to me, partly as... Continue Reading →
I (Still) Ain’t Dead
We had house guests and it threw the morning schedule off. Give me two hours to catch up with normal routine and there will be posts here and at ATH
Mad Genius Club 