I know most of you following me are already writers, but some of you only dabble, and a few of you have only entertained the thought from time-to-time. And while it is a lot of work, dedication, and persistence to write a manuscript, there are things you can do to make it...

All writers try to get meaning out of form rejections. Sometimes there is personalized advice, but usually? They're just not that in to you. =============================== If you find my content of value, please share it with your friends! I'm putting out content most days! Mondays: New podcast episodes here at "Writing Tips & Writerly Musings" Tuesdays: Author Spotlight interviews on my blog Thursdays: New YT videos sharing more "Writing Tips & Writerly Musings" Saturday-ish:...

Laws are influenced by the people and societies in which they exist. In what ways does your world-building affect your criminals and your crime fighters? All The Book Recommendations! The Caves of Steel and The Naked Sun (The Robot Series) – Isaac Asimov Long Arm of Gil Hamilton – Larry Niven Six Wakes – Mur Lafferty Retrieval Artist Series – Kristine Kathryn Rusch All Systems Red (Murderbot) – Martha Wells A Pale White In The Black – K. B. Wagers A Memory Called Empire – Arkady...

Does writing for young adults differ from other writing? If so, how do writers approach it? =============================== If you find my content of value, please share it with your friends! I'm putting out content most days! Mondays: New podcast episodes here at "Writing Tips & Writerly Musings" Tuesdays: Author Spotlight interviews on my blog Thursdays: New YT videos sharing more "Writing Tips & Writerly Musings" Saturday-ish: Weekly Roundups Sundays: Productivity Sprints on...

How do marginalised aspects of identity — gender, sexuality, culture, race, health, ability and more — shape our creative work? How can we empower, express, and explore through writing fantasy and SF? =============================== If you find my content of value, please share it with your friends! I'm putting out content most days! Mondays: New podcast episodes here at "Writing Tips & Writerly Musings" Tuesdays: Author Spotlight interviews on my blog Thursdays: New YT videos...

Fanfiction’s popularity continues to grow, tapping into the special creative connection between authors and fans. What is it about this literary nexus that is so fascinating and stimulating for fans? And what might authors have to learn from fans who write it? =============================== If you find my content of value, please share it with your friends! I'm putting out content most days! Mondays: New podcast episodes here at "Writing Tips & Writerly Musings" Tuesdays: Author...

From Elvish to Esperanto to Dothraki to Belter -- creating a language for your story isn't just world-building, it's realistic. =============================== If you find my content of value, please share it with your friends! I'm putting out content most days! Mondays: New podcast episodes here at "Writing Tips & Writerly Musings" Tuesdays: Author Spotlight interviews on my blog Thursdays: New YT videos sharing more "Writing Tips & Writerly Musings" Saturday-ish: Weekly...

Fairy tale contract laws are like a force of nature... except there's usually a loophole. What are your favorite fairy tales? What are your favorite loopholes? =============================== If you find my content of value, please share it with your friends! I'm putting out content most days! Mondays: New podcast episodes here at "Writing Tips & Writerly Musings" Tuesdays: Author Spotlight interviews on my blog Thursdays: New YT videos sharing more "Writing Tips & Writerly...

A reminder that Western views on spirits are not universal and an exploration of how myths vary between cultures. =============================== I'm putting out content most days! Mondays: New podcast episodes here at "Writing Tips & Writerly Musings" Tuesdays: Author Spotlight interviews on my blog Thursdays: New YT videos sharing more "Writing Tips & Writerly Musings" Saturday-ish: Weekly Roundups Sundays: Productivity Sprints on YT/Twitch Find me ALL over the internet at:...

Economics is usually seen as a dry topic, full of game theory and calculated systems, but economic systems do not exist in a vacuum. Here are 5 Things To Consider When Designing Future (or Fantastical) Economic Systems =============================== Thanks for listening! I'll be back next Monday with more rambling ideas about writing. If you enjoyed this episode, share it with your friends and subscribe! You can find most of these posts over on my Blog / Youtube If you want to connect?...

In a lot of fantasy and science-fiction, they wave their hands and make magic or tech the “solution” to all disabilities. Let’s explore ways to use magic for accessibility and ways people with different abilities could be better integrated into these stories. Note: the term 'differently abled' was used in the discussion, originally recorded back in 2020. I know that term is no longer recommended, for obvious reasons. "Disabled" is not a bad word. Thanks for listening! I'll be back next...

What is the basis of myths? And what are some examples of myths that different cultures share -- and those we don't share. Do you have any favorite myths? =============================== Thanks for listening! I'll be back next Monday with more rambling ideas about writing. If you enjoyed this episode, share it with your friends and subscribe! You can find most of these posts over on my Blog / Youtube If you want to connect? Check out my Linktree Support Writing Tips and Writerly Musings

What is Imposter Syndrome and how do we fight it? If you’ve fought with impostor syndrome, share how you’ve overcome it. Or at least fought it back. =============================== Thanks for listening! I'll be back next Monday with more rambling ideas about writing. If you enjoyed this episode, share it with your friends and subscribe! You can find most of these posts over on my Blog / Youtube If you want to connect? Check out my Linktree Support Writing Tips and Writerly Musings

If you're trying to get an agent or publisher, you've probably heard these terms. While even many industry professionals can be found using the terms interchangeably, they do actually have different meanings! =============================== Thanks for listening! I'll be back next Monday with more rambling ideas about writing. If you enjoyed this episode, share it with your friends and subscribe! You can find most of these posts over on my Blog / Youtube If you want to connect? Check...

The size of a story is often dictated by the scope of the idea that spawned it. While some experienced writers can tell from the shape of the concept how long their story will be, it’s often a case of trial and error and years. =============================== Thanks for listening! I'll be back next Monday with more rambling ideas about writing. If you enjoyed this episode, share it with your friends and subscribe! You can find most of these posts over on my Blog / Youtube If you want to...

All writers have a voice and all stories have point-of-view characters -- it's how you bring them together that makes or breaks your story. =============================== Thanks for listening! I'll be back next Monday with more rambling ideas about writing. If you enjoyed this episode, share it with your friends and subscribe! You can find most of these posts over on my Blog / Youtube If you want to connect? Check out my Linktree Support Writing Tips and Writerly Musings

All first drafts are lousy. It's part of the process. Here's that panel description in its original painful written format: "Panelists will discuss they’re favorite techniques four editing when they don’t have outside reader, or editor too help." It's how you fix that first draft that establishes you as a quality writer. Here are writing tips for fixing that first draft, tools for structural work, editor's pet peeves, beta advice, and when to bring in that...

This season, I'm talking a lot about world-building, fairytales, and, of course, the querying process. =============================== Thanks for listening! I'll be back next Monday with more rambling ideas about writing. If you enjoyed this episode, share it with your friends and subscribe! You can find most of these posts over on my Blog / Youtube If you want to connect? Check out my Linktree Support Writing Tips and Writerly Musings

I think I’m about four naps shy of recovering from Balticon 57, but I’m home and back at work. Despite my multitude of hats, I managed to do it all! =============================== Thanks for listening! I'll be back next Monday with more rambling ideas about writing. If you enjoyed this episode, share it with your friends and subscribe! You can find most of these posts over on my Blog / Youtube If you want to connect? Check out my Linktree Support Writing Tips and Writerly Musings

Experienced writers who have been on the roller coaster for a while know the big secret: you never really “make it.” Just because you’ve sold one book doesn’t mean you’ll sell the next one, and just because you didn’t sell the last one doesn’t mean the next one won’t hit big. Our panel offers tips and strategies for maintaining the will to keep creating. =============================== Thanks for listening! I'll be back next Monday with more rambling ideas about writing. If you enjoyed...

So you have a story and you want to publish it yourself? Let’s talk about how to get started, how to get noticed, and when you should pay a professional. =============================== Thanks for listening! I'll be back next Monday with more rambling ideas about writing. If you enjoyed this episode, share it with your friends and subscribe! You can find most of these posts over on my Blog / Vlog/Youtube If you want to connect? Check out my Linktree Support Writing Tips and Writerly...

It’s hard to cut out scenes or characters that you love, but your story may be better off without them. How do you learn to recognize when something has to go, and how do you reconnect any threads that run through the parts you’re removing? =============================== Thanks for listening! I'll be back next Monday with more rambling ideas about writing. If you enjoyed this episode, share it with your friends and subscribe! You can find most of these posts over on my Blog /...

Throughout the history of science fiction and fantasy, creators have used the opportunity for imaginative storytelling to explore issues of their day. From the Twilight Zone to Alien Nation to Mass Effect, what are ways that genre stories have explored the concerns of the world in which they were made? =============================== Thanks for listening! I'll be back next Monday with more rambling ideas about writing. If you enjoyed this episode, share it with your friends and...

Even veterans and long-time practitioners can have problems writing fights that are both compelling and realistic; how is someone new supposed to keep up? We’ll discuss getting experience with the weapons you’re writing about, how to handle pacing in brawls, skirmishes, and battles, and how to keep the tension high when your protagonists have to survive. =============================== Thanks for listening! I'll be back next Monday with more rambling ideas about writing. If you enjoyed...

In your fantasy setting, everything the characters own or interact with has to come from somewhere, from food and drink to durable goods. Let’s talk about how to build a believable material culture for your world. =============================== Thanks for listening! I'll be back next Monday with more rambling ideas about writing. If you enjoyed this episode, share it with your friends and subscribe! You can find most of these posts over on my Blog / Vlog/Youtube If you want to...