Susan and John Ruff, Fantasy Authors

  • 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:… Read more

  • 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… Read more

  • 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… Read more

  • 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… Read more

  • 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… Read more

  • Brainstorming Plot Ideas

    So you’ve finished your fantasy book. Now what about a sequel? If you’re an Indy author, people expect you to write sequels. If you’ve done your world building well, your readers are already invested in… Read more

  • Second Draft Writing Critiques?

    Imagine this scenario: You invite a small group of friends over for dinner. You prepare an elaborate meal for them, and you all have a great time eating, laughing, and talking together. Your friends are… Read more

  • Lessons Learned from Writing 500 Words of Fiction Per Day

    On January 1, 2021, I took a chance and publicly posted a set of New Year’s resolutions. Among other things, I resolved to continue writing 500 words of original fiction per day until I finished… Read more

  • A Few Thoughts About the Word “Wizard”

    Merlin, Gandalf, Harry Potter…wizards are staple characters in fantasy novels. Wizards are also common in fantasy-based rpgs, in video games, in anime, in movies, and pretty much everywhere you look these days. As a fantasy… Read more

  • Book Titles by Committee

    With normality finally on the horizon and a small possibility that there might actually be a live Comicon in San Diego this coming summer, the authors of Emerald Cove are once again turning attention to… Read more

Welcome to Susan’s Monthly Blog!

On the first Friday of every month, Susan writes a short post about our books, the craft of writing, upcoming projects, travel, writing inspiration, and similar topics that strike her fancy. We hope you enjoy reading them.

Feel free to leave a comment. Susan loves hearing from readers!