I haven't been consistent with blogging over the past year, but I am quite proud that I've been consistent with my projects. At the end of February, a short story collection is due to my editor ("Tea & Pelicans, and Other Short Stories"). My brother and I love discovering new short story collections, therefore it … Continue reading Self-publishing 2020
This year I'll be participating in National Novel Writing Month for the first time, and I'll be using a story idea that I have not yet thoroughly developed (I'm totally using this as an excuse to play with unknowns, which is always a blast). The Phantoms' Interpreter Author: "Tea and Ideas" (my NaNoWriMo name) Genre: … Continue reading The Phantoms’ Interpreter
I talk to myself. A lot. All day, about everything. Heck, when I'm in class or in public and can't, I feel like I'm holding my breath (crazy??). How I Collect Quotes Most of the quotes I keep are my reactions to everyday stuff or T.V. shows (e.g. Supernatural, TWD - I get very involved … Continue reading Where Disembodied Quotes Come From
I've found a nerdier repository for name ideas than sites like www.behindthename.com. Character Naming Resource For Nerds Peer-reviewed research articles. Real people have the coolest, most unpredictable last names that I may never discover while searching name websites. How I Find Names I might be writing at my little table (which is perpetually covered in articles from … Continue reading Character Name Harvest
3rd-person is my bread and butter but 1st-person is tons of fun. How 1st-Person is Like Theatre I know the script, I'm aware of other characters' intentions, I can recite my lines in my sleep but when the curtain goes up I must react organically to the other players in that moment despite how I may have rehearsed. In doing so the scene flows naturally … Continue reading 1st-Person Theatre
I don't get "story inspiration." I get "character inspiration." And then those characters grow up, run off, have adventures, screw up, tell bad jokes, mature, make friends, tell more bad jokes, make enemies, figure out what they stand for, and come home to tell me all about it. And that's where stories comes from. Fluffy Bunnies … Continue reading Bunnies Can Be Heroes
Projects Villainy goes in to see the editor in 1.5-ish weeks (sounds like a doctor's visit....) Villainy is looking at an October release date. The Imaginary Night Zoo is looking at a November release date. New Semester The start of a fall semester at university always ends up feeling more like a "Happy New Year!" moment … Continue reading Project Updates & Evil Comrades
Villainy (the story) began in January 2014 when my best friend, Megan, sent me a writing prompt: "What does your villain do on Tuesday nights?" Immediately a nameless villain with ridiculously normal Tuesday nights was born. And he became a part of an outrageous clash of cliché vs anti-cliché forces, one of two nameless characters I referred to only as "Hero" and … Continue reading How I Embraced Villainy
One of my top reasons to be in a bookstore (not the library) is to analyze current fiction. One of my favorite topics of study: story beginnings. The Art of Storytelling I base how and what I write on what moves me. If I adore a certain character in a show, I figure out why. If I want … Continue reading Bookstore Recon
Mr. Les Brown, an incredible motivational speaker, is a master. His theme: achieving dreams. I like to listen to him when my feet get stuck in school or projects (but it's also cool to listen when I'm already motivated, then I feel vaguely superhuman.) Here's part of one of my favorite talks: "When you want something out of life, you've got to … Continue reading Willing to be Unreasonable
Duri Rolvsson 