My thoughts on writing
‘Oh, if only I had the discipline to keep writing.’ ‘My lack of discipline stops me from being successful.’ ‘I’ve got the best intentions and great ideas, but can’t muster the discipline.’ Yes, discipline gets all the credit. But discipline is overrated. What finishes novels isn’t discipline. What gets the job done is a handful…
Here’s a thought experiment for you. Create a hero. One who can fly, lift mountain ranges with his little finger, recover instantly from any wound, and teleport himself without raising a sweat. Now write a scene where he’s in terrible danger. Hard, isn’t it? Power without cost means a story without tension Tension can keep…
You might think a short story needs to conclude. And you’d be right. Conclusion is necessary. But it’s not sufficient. Having a clear ending can help a story, but suppose you want your readers to hunt out the rest of your writing? How do you make them hungry for your work? The key here is…
Your character is furious. Bile rises in his throat and half chokes him. And you write: ‘How dare you,’ he said angrily. He stamped his feet. His heart pounded. Your reader gets the idea, but they feel nothing. You’ve told them there’s an emotion, but you haven’t let them experience one. There’s a massive difference….
Your first line has one job. Persuade the reader to read the second. There’s no need to be clever. No need to introduce your magic system. No need to set up the plot. That first sentence just needs to start the reader’s eye moving. One word of caution: writing speculative fiction makes that one job…
Writing is a journey. And my journey with Lightmaker began when I reacted to a modern myth. What was that myth? Simple: the idea that ‘natural means better’. Before you accuse me of a ‘Pave the Amazon’ lunacy, I’m really seeking to challenge sloppy thinking. If someone says natural stuff is better, I’ll ask why….