Lessons to Practice #22: The Art of Pacing

Hey everyone! Here's to wishing you a restful, spontaneous, and memorable week, even with work and our countless other personal obligations. This go around, I was looking to share some of my thoughts concerning the pacing of our creative writing. Amidst themes, character development, and opening and closing lines, there is the ever-present tether of … Continue reading Lessons to Practice #22: The Art of Pacing

Lessons to Practice #19: Organizing Principles and the Deepest of Themes

Hello and good evening! How is everyone doing tonight? I myself am feeling pretty phenomenal. Work, triathlon, Acro Yoga, and creative writing have all kept me sharp and cheerful this past week. I hope that all of you also have many accomplishments and experiences to revel in! Thematic elements of fiction can feel very subjective … Continue reading Lessons to Practice #19: Organizing Principles and the Deepest of Themes

Lessons to Practice #14: Nailing True-to-Life Dialogue

Hello! Did you know that I recently became a member of the Denton Writers' Critique Group? I was fortunate enough to stumble across the group's website in late January, and I attended my first meeting that very same night. My writing craft has never been stronger or more fully supported than now, and I graciously … Continue reading Lessons to Practice #14: Nailing True-to-Life Dialogue

Lessons to Practice #11: Plotting a Hero’s Journey (Part 2 of 2)

I have a super awesome announcement tonight: this past Monday, at around 11:41 AM, I completed my first draft of book 1 in my trilogy, The Virility Project! This is by far my largest and most thematically complex work of fiction to date, and one whose idea I first conceived waaay back in early 2009. After a couple … Continue reading Lessons to Practice #11: Plotting a Hero’s Journey (Part 2 of 2)

Lessons to Practice #10: Plotting a Hero’s Journey (Part 1 of 2)

Hello! I hope this blog post finds you well. I'd like to thank Akaluv, The Eye-Dancers, Meher, and thesarahdoughty for stopping by and liking one or several of my Lessons to Practice posts over the past few weeks. You all help me keep my motivation alive 🙂 Last week, I briefly explored the archetypal three-act … Continue reading Lessons to Practice #10: Plotting a Hero’s Journey (Part 1 of 2)

Lessons to Practice #5: Mapping Out Subplots

Subplots. Themes. The amalgam of every side story and secondary character can become a beautiful and multilayered work of art that carries readers through a story with ease - or it can devolve into a nasty mess of confusing or ill-developed themes and forgettable characters. Yikes! Last week I wrote about the topic of theme, which I'm expounding … Continue reading Lessons to Practice #5: Mapping Out Subplots