The first time I thought about how characters interact with setting was when I was reading Donald Maass’ The Breakout Novel. He points out that setting is a character and that breakout novels use this to their maximum advantage. I already had intuited this, having a work background in science and engineering and a literary background in science fiction. Sometimes… Read More

When you think of “indie” or “self-published” novels (yes, I know some people don’t use those terms interchangeably, but I do), what image is conjured in your mind? I hope your answer is “high-quality, value-priced stories that break boundaries, crosses genres, and populate the bestseller lists in increasing numbers,” but there are many self-published works that do not meet that… Read More

Last week on Critique Wednesday, we talked about sweeping story analysis and how it provides some of the structure for your story. Today, I’m zooming in the microscope to look at micro-craft analysis, and how it’s the glue that holds your story together. “How you begin a sentence determines its clarity; how you end it determines its rhythm and grace.”… Read More

Today I’m chatting with Becca Campbell, author of Foreign Identity, a science fiction New Adult novel published earlier this month. New Adult is a classification of book just a step up in age from “young adult” and generally has characters in their early twenties. First a little about Becca’s book, and then we’ll dive into some writerly conversation. Check out… Read More

Stacey is one of my fellow Indelibles writers, and I’m excited to announce the publication of her sixth (!) book in the Day of Sacrifice series. Many indie authors are finding that longer series of shorter works (short novels or novellas), like Stacey’s, are the key to success in self-publishing, and I’m considering going that route myself for the next… Read More

Writers At Work picture credit Analyzing a novel is like being in the Blind Men and the Elephant story: not only are there different ways to view a novel, but in seeing it through only one perspective, we can lose sight of the whole experience of the novel as an integrated beast with a long rope-like tail, smooth ivory tusks, and thick leathery… Read More