A. Howitt 
Where there are writers, there will be writing groups. They may take any number of forms and serve various functions: feedback, support, learning, or commiseration. Anne Lamott, in her book Bird by Bird, compares a writing group to “one of those weird little families that we fashion out of whatever’s around us.” It’s so true. … Read more
The clash of blades, sparks flying. The barbarian with his twenty-pound two-handed sword, swinging for your head. The epic showdown with acrobatics… now that’s fantasy. No, like, seriously a fantasy. And this article isn’t about any of those things. It’s about swordplay in a realistic situation, using familiar physics and historical inspiration. We write fantasy, … Read more
I recently reconnected with some old projects, and was a little upset when I read them. One of the mistakes I’d made was incorrectly anticipating story length, and now it feels like those old stories, that I thought were done and buried, have risen from their graves to haunt me. Not only did I take … Read more
Developing one’s confidence as a writer isn’t easy. I can’t speak for anyone else, but I know my own path has been an arduous one, and confidence waxed and waned along the way. I read a fair amount of articles written by a variety of authors and bloggers, and in doing so, it’s become apparent … Read more
Every reader has a certain character whose name, when mentioned, elicits a reaction. Those heroes we cheered on, those antagonists we hated with a passion—we know their worlds and their likes and dislikes. We understand and humanize them, and wish we could invite them over for pizza-and-poker night. Or we curse the gods that we … Read more
I heard about nano (National Novel Writing Month) after a decade as an isolated writer. I was already a member of a writers’ forum and had for a year been a dedicated, daily writer. But 50k words in a month? It still felt like a daunting task. As November approaches, I’d like to share my … Read more
Okay, so the story wasn’t an accident, but its length was. I searched for any way to pass lonely Wisconsin winter hours while my coworkers paced an empty showroom floor, waiting for clients who needed a vehicle badly enough to brave low temperatures and icy streets. I hated all of it. In fact, I never … Read more
By far, one of the most useful tools in a writer’s arsenal is the critique. But what is a critique? What makes a good critique? And how do I critique for a writer who wants to trade? When I began trading work, I wasn’t sure what to do or what to expect. After three years … Read more
As fantasy writers, we accept that certain elements are expected in our novels. For example, the fight scene. Whether it’s an epic battle or a street duel, there’s going to be a fight somewhere. But what about love? I recently talked with a few friends about writing romantic scenes. The general feeling that these writers … Read more
Whether you’ve just begun your novel or are in the midst of editing it, this exercise can help answer some important questions: How will readers like my characters? Have I done enough foreshadowing? Is there enough humor in the story? Does my conclusion do the novel justice? Of course, each writer will have many different … Read more