Tag Archives: tips

7 Tips to Writing Father and Son Relationships

Being a single father, I think about the father/son relationship a lot.  Mostly because I’m always hoping I’m doing right by my own son.  This gets tougher when I see fiction maintaining the ‘stoic father’ ignoring the son’s issues until … Continue reading

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 13 Comments

7 Tips to Making a Reboot

The temptation to use an existing concept for yourself can be big.  At least, it seems to be these days.  Even retellings and adaptations of public domain things might fall under this umbrella.  So, what are some things you can … Continue reading

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , , , | 11 Comments

7 Tips to Designing Fictional Plants

I’m probably being fairly ambitious thinking I can come up with 7 decent tips.  I mean, we’re talking about plants here.  So, let’s just dive into it with the most obvious thing: RESEARCH!  I say this a lot and people … Continue reading

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , , , | 14 Comments

Best of 2023 #1: 7 Tips to Writing Teenage Protagonists

(Originally posted on January 6, 2023. So, more than half the year, my posts were essentially duds.) This is going to be tougher than I expected.  After all, I haven’t been a teenager in decades, so I’m kind of out … Continue reading

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , , | 6 Comments

Best of 2023 #3: 7 Tips to Writing About Blunt Weapons

(This was originally posted on March 8th, 2023.  Seems I started 2023 strong.) Since these kinds of weapons differ from swords and spears, you can’t always use the same tactics.  Swinging a club will not have the same effect as … Continue reading

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | 11 Comments

7 Tips to Having Enemies Become Allies

The temptation to turn a popular villain into a hero can be pretty strong.  To do this, you need to make the two enemies stop wanting to kill each other.  Might not be an easy task because just saying ‘they … Continue reading

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , | 9 Comments

7 Tips to Having Characters Speak to the Dead

It really does seem like an easy power to throw into a story and solve a problem.  That might be the issue though.  Speaking with the dead or any spirits should have some kind of challenge.  Otherwise, the characters with … Continue reading

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 8 Comments

7 Tips Playing the Long Game in Fiction

One of the hardest things to do with a series is to have a message.  This is because you need to play the long game.  I mean, you can’t just have it be revealed in the first volume and then … Continue reading

Posted in Thoughts | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | 14 Comments

7 Tips to Writing Survival Stories

I might start leaning more towards Survival Horror here.  Still, most of the advice should be able to work for non-horror survival stories.  I was wondering if Swiss Family Robinson would count too.  I mean, things seemed a bit too … Continue reading

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | 12 Comments

7 Tips to Sleeping . . . As If I Should Talk

Contrary to what some people think, sleep is very important.  It also isn’t the same for everyone.  Some people need the suggested 8 hours.  Others need more and others can function on less.  It’s about finding what works for you.  … Continue reading

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , | 10 Comments