One of the most common questions asked of a writer is: What do you use to write with? And then the floor is opened for discussion. I’ve seen the conversation get quite heated at times amongst people who have strong opinions on what program(s) they prefer. I’m pretty simple though. I either use pencil and paper, or I use Scrivener. Years upon years ago before Scrivener existed I used to fill five subject notebooks with writing, and then type them…
I was asked a question recently that made me smile. It hit all those little things that I work on when creating characters and writing stories, and made me want to gush about the hidden details, the tiny aspects I don’t know if anyone will notice because it might be based on something real that I witnessed. The question asked was: What inspired your supporting characters? How did you come up with their names and personalities? I’m pretty sure I…
When I begin to write a story, sometimes I have an idea of what my characters will look like, and sometimes I don’t. Sometimes, the vision that I have is only partial. Perhaps a key feature of the person I’ll be writing about, because it will matter a great deal to the plot. Other times, characters pop up. Sometimes they help move the plot along, the clerk at the shop, the barista in the cafe. Other times they appear on…
Do you ever write about the places you’ve been? Or, you know, real places? It’s a common question I hear, and the simple answer is yes— and no. It can be difficult to write about the places we know and not find ourselves overwhelmed and wrapped up in the most minute of details. One of the projects I’m currently in revision mode with takes place between two made up countries, and a real one. The real country just so happens…