

- Aug 19, 2019
- 2 min
Glass of Water
One of my all-time favourite writers, Kurt Vonnegut Jr., claimed that every character should want something, even if it's just a glass of...
- Aug 7, 2019
- 3 min
Getting a Bit Drafty
A few words to live by, and to write by: The vast majority of people who say they want to write a novel never complete their first draft....
- Aug 1, 2019
- 3 min
Denial, Dejection, Determination
Ah, the edit. E.D.I.T.: Every Detail Is Threatened. I'm looking forward to finishing the second draft of my novel, The Time Chamber, and...
- Jul 27, 2019
- 2 min
The Character in the Capsule
In James Michener's NASA-era epic novel "Space", a rocket scientist argues with a project manager that they already have the know-how and...
- Jul 26, 2019
- 1 min
Instant Empathy
I'm a big fan of lists. Quick-hit summaries that I can refer to when seeking to spark my imagination, add variety or mix things up, or...
- Jul 23, 2019
- 2 min
Aisle Altar Hymn
Always good for a chuckle is the one about the bride preparing for her wedding day. She'll walk down the aisle, join the groom at the...
- Jul 21, 2019
- 2 min
Three Levels of Conflict
Like the body needs blood flowing through its veins, so too does a story need conflict pulsing through its narrative. A body without...
- Jul 20, 2019
- 3 min
Reveille + Regimen
Starting out, I used to ask myself the wrong question: "What do I want to do today?" Answers included going to the movies, dining out...
- Jul 19, 2019
- 1 min
Back To The Suture
Was curious this morning about a nasty wound a character suffers, what it would look like, what it would feel like. Short of injuring...