Category: Uncategorized
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Fighting Writing Procrastination
When I told Danny Atwood, my good friend and fellow Emerald Cove author, that I wanted to brainstorm ideas with him about ways to combat writing procrastination, he said, “We should schedule a time to talk about that later.” Despite that inauspicious opening, we did eventually discuss the topic. Here…
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Castles!
Castles are amazing, mythic places that always inspire the fantasy novelist in me. Towers, barbicans, winding staircases, crenellation — the very words evoke magic and wonder. Of all the “standard” elements of fantasy stories and games (things like dragons, unicorns, and elves), castles are among my favorites because they exist…
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Why is Self-Promoting a Book So Difficult?
On January 1, 2021, I made several New Year’s resolutions relating to writing. In one of them, I resolved to “develop a marketing strategy before the next book is released to help improve its visibility and to attract potential readers.” Since then, I’ve been taking KDP classes related to book…
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Meanwhile at Emerald Cove…
It’s been a while since I provided an update on the Emerald Cove writers’ critique group, so this seems like a good time. The big news is that we may actually be able to start meeting again. Meeting for real. In person. Around a table. At our favorite Denny’s. Yay!!!…
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Second Draft Anyone?
There comes a point in an author’s career when one must face the prospect of…shudder…rewriting. I tend to approach writing the second draft of a novel with all the enthusiasm of eating leftovers. It’s a lot easier to make dinner by throwing leftovers in the microwave than it is to…
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Blogging About Writing: What My First Year Taught Me
Woohoo! Tomorrow (May 1) is my one-year anniversary for writing this weekly blog. It seems like a good time to reflect on what I’ve learned from blogging for a year. 1. The most important lesson: Engaging in any kind of writing makes me want to write more. When I first…
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Is Fiction Writing Like Exercise?
Prior to the pandemic, did you ever run into this scenario? You pay for a monthly membership to the local fitness center. At first, you’re all excited about the prospect of getting into shape. The friendly trainers at the center give you an orientation to show you how to use…
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When You’re Bored…Write!
Are you looking for more time to write your novel during your crazy, hectic schedule? Here’s a suggestion: Use those times when you are forced to sit and wait for an appointment. Even during the pandemic, we still occasionally find ourselves in a waiting room (or waiting in the car…
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Back to the Drawing Board
In a recent blog post, I discussed the brainstorming process that John and I use to develop plot ideas for novels. Last night, John pointed out to me that I forgot to mention my favorite tool to assist in that process. No, it’s not a fancy software program designed to…
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Writing Sequels Responsibly
Ever since John and I published 60th Hour a year ago, I have been learning about the marketing and writing strategies employed by successful Indy authors. (Yes, I should have learned about those strategies before we published, but back then I didn’t even know what I needed to know. And…
Susan and John Ruff, Fantasy Authors 