10 Reasons to Workshop
Aaron Miles
People learn to write in many different ways, some by reading masterpieces, some by going to classes, some just pick up a pen and get on with it. You can…
writing advice
Arsenic and Old Leaves: The Art of Poisoning Your Fantasy Characters – Part 1
Faith M. Boughan
So, you’re contemplating murder. Er, that is, your character is contemplating murder. Effective modes of death and all that. Bloodless versus bloodbath, public duel versus private confrontation, “accident” versus spontaneous…
Attending Your First Convention As An Unpublished Writer
Adrian Faulkner
So there comes a time early in every writer’s career when you make a very serious decision. You’ve been writing as a hobby for years, you enjoy it and your…
Writing Fight Scenes
Marc Davies
Writing fight scenes is often an important task for a fantasy author. Some writers find they come naturally. Others find them daunting, and can’t think of anything worse. Whichever category…
Rhythm and Time – Part 1: Give Your Writing a Beat of Its Own
Amy Rose Davis
I took seven years of piano lessons growing up. I have a terrible ear, and I never practiced enough to become technically adept, but I was always pretty good at…
So What’s The Fuss About Dropbox?
Being a writer is about facing fear daily. Whether it be trying to tackle scenes that seem a little challenging or dealing with the daily worries of trying to forge…
Reading Like A Writer: Why to do It, How to do It, and Why I Often Fail at It
Eric Christensen
In podcasts and interviews, I often hear authors lamenting the fact that due to deadlines and publicity efforts, they don’t get to read as much as they used to. Even…
Shadows Beneath: The Writing Excuses Anthology by Brandon Sanderson, Mary Robinette Kowal, Dan Wells and Howard Taylor
Victoria Hooper
Shadows Beneath is both an anthology of short stories and a glimpse into the writing process, created by the Writing Excuses podcast team: Brandon Sanderson, Mary Robinette Kowal, Dan Wells…
If It’s ‘Self-Promotion,’ You’re Doing It Wrong
Richard Bray
I recently wrote a letter to my grandfather in advance of his 90th birthday, and told him a bit about some of the books I’ve been reading lately. He’s never…
Story Openings
The blank page faces you, whether it’s the page in your hand or the one on the screen, the question is always the same – how do you begin? Do…
Magically Systematic
Thomas A. Knight
One of the keystones of the fantasy genre is magic. Whether it be dark and mysterious, lost and forgotten, or as common as forks and spoons, it is an ever-present…
So What’s The Fuss About Evernote?
Writers are always being reminded that inspiration can strike at any time. It could be during the bustle of a busy work day or in the middle of night. And…