Like with most writers, I started out writing from the point of view of semi-Mary Sues–characters who were essentially somewhat blank, passive, and no more than tools that the reader can use to project themselves into the world. I think I’ve always known not to create outright Mary Sues, so I ended up with a …
At its core, writing is not an exhibition–not something you do to show people that you can, in fact, do it. I think that this is something a lot of people get wrong. I’ve seen writers who relish in their wordcraft, enjoying how they’ve, say, reduced a reader to tears. They throw out a cornucopia …
Read more “Raw Honesty, and Why Writers Who Want To Do This Right Have No Choice”
Epic fantasy formulas are usually thus: An ordinary young person, (usually a boy, but also sometimes a girl), discovers something unique about him or herself: a hidden talent or a prophesy, or maybe they can swallow swords while juggling cats, I don’t know. And it turns out that this secret is what saves the world. …
Read more “The Character-Driven Epic: The Hero’s Journey and the Drive to Succeed”
This is a scheduled blog post. I’m supposed to be out this weekend, exploring the Purcell mountains and the Okanagan with my family, so if a bear hasn’t eaten me or something yet, I should have turned 30 by now. 30 is a crazy number for me. I dealt with a lot of depression in …
In case you haven’t figured it out by now, my blog mixes my introverted, writer-lifestyle with my thirst for adventures and exploration. In my mind, these two interests do not meld as easily. Most days, I feel like Bilbo Baggins… “Sorry! I don’t want any adventures, thank you. Not Today. Good morning! But please come to …
