Eliam Alterian peered into the cave’s mouth, his flashlight beam catching a glint in the darkness. “Check this out, Ela,” he called over his shoulder as his twin hauled herself up onto the rock shelf. Avid rock climbers and spelunkers, Eliam and Elayna loved testing their skill in the Rocky Mountains near the family compound … Continue reading Adventures of the Alterian Family: Prologue
When I read a mystery novel, I expect to find some aspects during the story. A valuable item will go missing, some puzzle must be solved, or a body will turn up. The same holds true when I read a drama, romance, or fantasy novel. Each form has its own structure, and readers of those … Continue reading DIY MFA: What Makes a Plot?
“Honest people don't hide their deeds.”~Emily Brontë English novelist and poet Emily Brontë was born on this day in 1818.
“There is no winning or losing, but rather the value is in the experience of imagining yourself as a character in whatever genre you're involved in, whether it's a fantasy game, the Wild West, secret agents or whatever else. You get to sort of vicariously experience those things.”~Gary Gygax American game designer Gary Gygax was … Continue reading Random Quote for July 27, 2020
(C) 2020, JJ Shaun Looking back on my blog, I realize that my Sunday posts frequently regurgitate what I wrote earlier in the week. First Reader has pointed this out to me on more than one occasion. This observation has given me plenty of food for thought. As I ruminated on the issue, I made … Continue reading Watch This Space
(C) 2020, JJ Shaun I started writing my fiction right after I returned from a deployment filled with underway watch rotations and Dungeons & Dragons when not on duty. If you have ever played tabletop (pen-and-paper) D&D, you know that progress can be glacial. Six months of playing doesn’t always amount to much character development. … Continue reading DIY MFA: Plotting for the Pantser
“People do not decide to become extraordinary. They decide to accomplish extraordinary things.”~Edmund Hillary New Zealand mountaineer, explorer, and philanthropist Sir Edmund Hillary was born on this day in 1919.
(C) 2020, JJ Shaun As writers, we all want to write the next Great American Novel. But why? What made you realize that you wanted to be a writer? I can only answer for myself. I’m a life-long reader, even though I haven’t been as much of a reader lately as in the past. When … Continue reading Why Do You Write?
“There is nothing more difficult to measure than the value of visible emotion.”~Gertrude Bell English writer, traveler, political officer, administrator, and archaeologist Gertrude Bell was born on this day in 1868.
If you’ve been reading these pages, you know I’ve been watching the videos to Brandon Sanderson’s BYU course on writing science fiction and fantasy. As I listen, I’ve been brainstorming on what I call my New Concept and decided to make changes to my stories to fit with what I’m learning. If you’ve poked around … Continue reading Finding the Story
There is comedic gold behind every painful experience. Here are mine.
Tabletop roleplaying thoughts by a London geek
Tavern Tales
Tavern Tales
Putting ideas into words.
