The part where everything is explained

We all know the part. Whether it's movies, books or tv shows, often the story builds up all the intrigue and mystery until a breaking point, where all the answers burst forth. This can be satisfying, or overwhelming, or confusing, or boring. All depending on how well you do it. Hard-Boiled Wonderland and the End …

Clearing my mind

Before I get to work on cleaning up the novel I just finished, I think I'd do good to 'cleanse my palate' so to speak. So I'm aiming to write a couple short stories to take my mind off it. I am already halfway through one (I hope). There's nothing quite like the freedom of …

The power of good description

I'm still being awed by The Crimson Petal and the White. Even though there is not much going on as far as plot or intrigue goes, the characters are more than enough to keep me interested. It's not in the way they look, or the things they say or do--they are just so well described, …

THE END

I have finally typed a writer's two favorite words. First draft is complete, and my mind has entered a tug of war with itself, trying to decide between brainstorming the next novel, or a short story or three, or getting right to work on rewrites and edits--though, I should probably wait a few weeks for …

Fifth time’s a charm

As I near the end of a first draft on my first novel, I can't help but look back over all my other failed attempts. There was the vampire novel, which I started writing 12 or 13 years ago, in my early 20's. I got to about 30k words before Twilight gained popularity, and I …