Thanks to the fickle magic of Twitter, I came across a quote that seemed especially meaningful to me right now. It's from my favorite literary badass, Junot Díaz. Díaz spent ten years writing the book that would eventually win him the Pulitzer Prize. This quote makes me wonder if there was a moment, or many … Continue reading When there is no hope, you write anyway
There comes a moment in the creative process when one set of eyes isn’t enough, and you need to find someone to critique your work. At the same time, you’ll probably need to do some critiquing of your own, either to reciprocate or just to improve your own skills. Here are some tips on how … Continue reading How to critique a story (and get some eyes on yours)
Psychopaths can be tricky to write, because it’s not always easy (I hope!) to get into the head of someone who lacks remorse, empathy, and a sense of morality. Psychopathy is often a misunderstood concept, even among psychologists. So here’s a little guide to help you come up with the perfect psychopath, evil laughter included. … Continue reading How to Write a Psychopath
Welcome to the second in a series of author interviews. Today romance author Amelia Bishop shares some insights about character development, her experiences with traditional and self-publishing, and gives us a glimpse into her recent novel Night Vision. Sarah: So many of your stories have a touch of the supernatural, whether it’s witchcraft or a … Continue reading Author Interview: Amelia Bishop
I love to hear authors talk about their work and their craft. It's a good reminder that everyone has a different process and a different technique, and it's fascinating to see the work and thought that went into some brilliant, beautiful books. Here are seven podcasts where you can hear authors answer interview questions and … Continue reading 7 Podcasts where you can meet the author
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
Sarah Kay Moll 