Welcome to my blog, where I talk about life, writing, and all things nerdy. Click on an article below to get started.
- Writing in a FunkI often extol the many virtues of writing. One such virtue is that it helps with processing emotions and experiences. Therefore, I tend to write… Read more: Writing in a Funk
- Writing What You KnowOne of the most common pieces of writing advice you’ll receive is, “Write what you know.” This quote is most frequently attributed to Mark Twain,… Read more: Writing What You Know
- Progress Update 4/23: A Boy From Ostora #2About a month after starting the first draft of A BOY FROM OSTORA, I am 23k words into the manuscript. Not bad at all! The… Read more: Progress Update 4/23: A Boy From Ostora #2
- Remove Resistances to WritingIn recent days, I’ve found difficulty in sitting down and opening my manuscript. Really and truly, that has been the hardest part of writing my… Read more: Remove Resistances to Writing
- Reasons to Join A Writing GroupIf you have friends who are fellow writers, you should suggest to them that you meet regularly to discuss the craft. You can meet weekly,… Read more: Reasons to Join A Writing Group
- Reasons to Keep A BlogEvery week, I write and publish an article to this website. These posts usually cover topics related to writing, but I’ve written several about other… Read more: Reasons to Keep A Blog
- Progress Update 3/26: A Boy From Ostora #1After I got a bit of distance on A BOY FROM NORRU, I brought the manuscript to fresh eyes. I received incredibly valuable feedback that… Read more: Progress Update 3/26: A Boy From Ostora #1
- Communicate Character Through POVStories are about people first and foremost. When your reader understands the motivations of your characters, they can begin to grow invested in your narrative.… Read more: Communicate Character Through POV
- Hook Your Readers Through ApprehensionLast week, I wrote an article about the “Ice Monster” prologue, which is one tactic that you might employ in order to hook your readers.… Read more: Hook Your Readers Through Apprehension
- Hook Your Readers With the “Ice Monster” PrologueAt the beginning of your story, you need to set up all of the cool stuff that’s going to happen in a hundred pages. You… Read more: Hook Your Readers With the “Ice Monster” Prologue
- Progress Update 2/26: A Boy From Norru #5A BOY FROM NORRU is finished and clean. I’ve completed several drafts, and I’ve gone through rounds of beta readers. Revisions upon revisions have been… Read more: Progress Update 2/26: A Boy From Norru #5
- Ideas Come From Sound and SilenceAny one story is made up of many ideas. I keep track of all of my setting, character, and plot ideas, and I allow them… Read more: Ideas Come From Sound and Silence
- My Own Blend of Outlining and Discovery WritingOutliners, otherwise known as architects or plotters, plan the entirety of their story ahead of time. Discovery writers, otherwise known as gardeners or pantsers, find… Read more: My Own Blend of Outlining and Discovery Writing
- 3 Necessary Tips for Querying Literary AgentsAs I polish the final draft of my current manuscript, I am assembling query material. Thus, when I feel the book is completely finished, clean,… Read more: 3 Necessary Tips for Querying Literary Agents
- Progress Update 1/29: In-betweens and Other ThingsAnd so, we come to the close of the first month of the year. To you, dear reader, I give my hopes that January has… Read more: Progress Update 1/29: In-betweens and Other Things
- Reading “Debt”You could read 50,000 words every day for the next ten years, and you’d only scratch the surface of the literary world. You’d be well-read… Read more: Reading “Debt”
- One Day at a Time“Put out the closest fire first.” That’s what my mom tells me when I’m feeling overwhelmed. I don’t know if it’s good practice for firefighters,… Read more: One Day at a Time
- Where Does A Writer Begin?Two weeks ago, I wrote about the ideas that coalesce to make a story. In that article, I contend that a single story must be… Read more: Where Does A Writer Begin?
- Progress Update 1/1: My Favorite Middle Grade NovelI finished the second draft of A BOY FROM NORRU on December 17, 2022. Shortly thereafter, I distributed copies of the manuscript to a handful… Read more: Progress Update 1/1: My Favorite Middle Grade Novel
- A Single Novel Is Many IdeasA great idea does not make a great novel. In fact, it takes several ideas to make a single novel. I may come up with… Read more: A Single Novel Is Many Ideas
- Originality as a HindranceIn my first attempts to write a novel, I felt that I needed to create something entirely original. If my voice didn’t add something to… Read more: Originality as a Hindrance
- Brevity in StorytellingBrevity. Briefness. Pithiness. Conciseness. Succinctness. The ability to say something effectively without repeating oneself needlessly and without saying it more than once. Without going on… Read more: Brevity in Storytelling
- Progress Update 12/4: A Boy From Norru #4Four months ago, I began plotting A BOY FROM NORRU. And three months ago, I moved to Austin. An eternity seems to have passed in… Read more: Progress Update 12/4: A Boy From Norru #4
- The Power of Middle Grade Novels“They’re very good readers,” Ursula K. Le Guin once said of adolescents. “Sometimes, they’re the best readers of all.” When I tell people I write… Read more: The Power of Middle Grade Novels
- In Defense of Christmas Decorations in NovemberAt what time of year does it become acceptable to put up your Christmas decorations? “After Thanksgiving,” say some. “On December 1st,” say others. But… Read more: In Defense of Christmas Decorations in November
- 4 Key Strategies For Revising Your StoryYou’ve finished the first draft of a story. Congratulations! Whether it’s 2.5k or 250k words long, you’ve achieved something beautiful. Take the time to recognize… Read more: 4 Key Strategies For Revising Your Story
- Progress Update 11/6: A Boy From Norru #3Election day is on Tuesday, November 8th. Don’t forget to vote! I voted early last week. Last month, I set a 24k-word goal for A… Read more: Progress Update 11/6: A Boy From Norru #3
- 4 Spooky Writing Prompts to Warm You Up for NaNoWriMo 2022Tomorrow is Halloween. Hear nerds around the world rejoice, for cosplaying will be socially encouraged for the next 24 hours. Hooray! Shortly thereafter, hear writers… Read more: 4 Spooky Writing Prompts to Warm You Up for NaNoWriMo 2022
- Write, and Write OftenYou should write. I don’t care what you write, as long as you write. You should write a grocery list, a letter to your parents,… Read more: Write, and Write Often
- Finding the Time and Willpower to WriteHow many people have you met who’ve said that they intend on writing a book in their lifetime? Storytelling is innate in our human nature;… Read more: Finding the Time and Willpower to Write
- Progress Update 10/9: A Boy From Norru #2Oh, man. The last month has felt like a lifetime. As I predicted, I started a new job shortly after posting my last progress update.… Read more: Progress Update 10/9: A Boy From Norru #2
- Are You An Architect Or A Gardener? (Outlining vs. Discovery Writing)George R.R. Martin famously said, “I think there are two types of writers, the architects and the gardeners.” One type of writer plans everything about… Read more: Are You An Architect Or A Gardener? (Outlining vs. Discovery Writing)
- Transforming Intrusive Thoughts With Negative VisualizationNowadays, our definition of a stoic is largely divorced from the actual ideology of Stoicism. When we describe someone as stoic, we mean that they… Read more: Transforming Intrusive Thoughts With Negative Visualization
- 6 Simple Tips for Making A Better Pot of TeaThere are plenty of reasons to drink tea. When used as an alternative to coffee, tea can provide caffeine without keeping you awake all night… Read more: 6 Simple Tips for Making A Better Pot of Tea
- Progress Update 9/12: A Boy From Norru #1What I’ve Done A month ago, I posted my first ever progress update, and I’m happy to say that I’ve kept pace with the goals… Read more: Progress Update 9/12: A Boy From Norru #1
- 4 Crucial Tips for Fledgling NovelistsThroughout grade school, I made several attempts to write novels. My most successful attempt was in high school; I managed to write the first 25,000… Read more: 4 Crucial Tips for Fledgling Novelists
- Playing Symphony of the Night 25 Years LaterThe video game sub-genres “Metroidvania” and “Soulslike” are inextricably intertwined. The term Metroidvania, named for Nintendo’s Metroid series and Konami’s Castlevania series, implies a 2-D… Read more: Playing Symphony of the Night 25 Years Later
- 4 Invaluable Tips for DMs Running Their First SessionSo you want to run Dungeons & Dragons for your friends. Maybe you’re starting a long-running campaign, or maybe you’re just giving your forever-DM a… Read more: 4 Invaluable Tips for DMs Running Their First Session
- Progress Update 8/14: Website LaunchWhat I’ve Done Yesterday, I launched my author website. Woohoo! And now, back to the grindstone. Much of the past month I spent applying to… Read more: Progress Update 8/14: Website Launch