From the very beginning, I knew that I wanted my novel Dark City to have a very strong sense of place. I wanted the city to be alive, like Camorr or The Shire or Sin City in the graphic novel series. I wanted my book to have a noir aesthetic, a kind of Gotham vibe. … Continue reading How to make a setting come alive
Recently, I started studying Spanish again for the first time in six or so years. Maybe it's that I want to reclaim my Latina heritage, or maybe volunteering for a Latino serving non-profit organization has inspired me. Or likely, a little bit of both. Whatever it is, I've felt very drawn to studying the language. … Continue reading Why learning a second language is good for writers
I’m rapidly approaching the editing stage for my own novel, and honestly, I’m dreading it. I love editing other people’s work, but self-editing is a different beast entirely. Usually by the time a novel is finished, I’ve become so familiar with every word they start to blur together, and it’s hard for me to see … Continue reading 4 Tips for Self Editing
As I go about my days, I come across a plethora of helpful articles on writing and the publishing industry. I use a handy app called Pocket to save them all for when I get a chance to sit down and read them. Every so often I like to share the resources I’ve found. Here … Continue reading What’s in my pocket? Resources for writers!
What’s in my pocket? Hint: It’s not the one ring. It’s actually a collection of writing resources I’ve found all over the internet and kept in my handy Pocket app. Pocket is a great app that saves online articles to read later, and you can get it for Chrome, iOS, and Android. Among the many … Continue reading What’s in my pocket?
The beautiful thing about writing a sci-fi or fantasy novel is that you get to create a whole world unlike any other for your novel. The terrifying thing about writing a sci-fi or fantasy novel is that you have to create a whole world unlike any other for your novel. If you’re about to take … Continue reading World building resources
When I’m staring at a blank page, eyes unfocused, fingers drooping over the keyboard, sometimes I realize I’m just not going to get any drafting done today. That’s when I procrastinate turn to other exercises that help me develop my novel. One technique I like is to do a character sheet, where I examine different … Continue reading Creative procrastination: 11 questions to ask your characters
There came a point in the creation of my novel when Microsoft Word and Google Docs just weren't cutting it. The document I was creating was too long and too complex. So, in addition to the apps I use for note taking and brainstorming, I picked up two alternative word processing programs, Scrivener and Storyist. … Continue reading Writing software spotlight: Scrivener
What better way to settle into a writing ritual than with a snack inspired by a great book? Here are ten snacks that can add some mood and flavor to your writing session. 1. Cowboy coffee Annie Proulx’s unflinching portrayal of the hard ranching life in Wyoming in Bad Dirt is a bracing way to start … Continue reading 10 Best Literary Snacks For Writers
Have you ever wondered if your main character might be a narcissist? Is your villain a psychopath, or just misunderstood? I had a lot of fun giving these personality tests to my characters. Seeing their traits highlighted gave me a little perspective and some ideas. But I've got a warning, before we get started. None of … Continue reading Personality tests for fictional characters
Sarah Kay Moll 