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This article is by Jane Chirgwin. You might already use libraries for books, movies and internet, but have you considered how your local librarian can help you as an author? I’m a Library Director, so let me give you the inside scoop. (Side note: not everyone who works at a library is a librarian, just … Read more
This article is by K.S. Crooks. I began my life-long journey with martial arts at the age of eight, when my mother enrolled me in my first judo class. Being a very small boy, she thought that it would give me strength and confidence. It gave me those, plus much more. In high school I … Read more
This article is by Sydney A. Kneller. Once you’ve agonized your way through a story or novel, you breathe a sigh of relief that your task is finally done. But the truth is, the hard word is just beginning. Before you can send your work out to be seen by the world, you need to … Read more
This article is by Terrie Quincey. Naming your characters is often step one in the writing process. Don’t let it hold you back. Create names using these quick tips so you can move on with your story. 1. Consider Ancestry This is a useful tool to get the ball rolling. Does your character have an … Read more
This article is by Duncan McGeary. I’ve never subscribed to the notion that one must “write about what you know.” I mean, what do I know about a wild pig apocalypses? Or vampires who evolve? Or Donner Party werewolves? Or Bigfoot and gold miners? This stuff is spun out of my imagination, and even when … Read more
This article is by Jacob Gralnick. How do you convey an entire idea, feeling, or characteristic without saying a word? The same way you can foreshadow a future event in subtle passing, and you can do that with a little nifty thing called symbolism. Used correctly, and at the right time, symbolism can add meaning … Read more
This article is by A.L.S. Vossler. Recently, I took up the hobby of soaping, which, as you might guess, is making soap. There are three ways of making soap: hand-milled, cold process, and hot process. Hand-milled, which is also known as melt-and-pour, basically involves taking a soap base which someone else has already prepared, and … Read more
This article is by Julian Saheed. There is a reason we all leave space for acknowledgments in the first few pages of our books. Though our names appear on the front covers as the architects of the story, there are those who check to make sure the final product is what people want. Those whose … Read more
This article is by Anne Marie Gazzolo. There would be no Lord of the Rings without the title character and the galaxy far, far away would certainly be less dramatic without Darth Sidious. But the most interesting villains are those who are more than just plain evil. Darth Vader in Return of the Jedi is … Read more
This article is by Melissa Cornwell. As a beginning writer who hasn’t written fiction in years, I ran into several problems as I began writing fantasy. I began one story (sort a memoir turned fantasy) and wrote 14,000 words….only to eventually get stuck. Why did I get stuck? I realized that my writing skills were … Read more