About C. D. Baron

Here at Writing Tips and Sips, I aim to help aspiring fantasy writers – like yourself – become the best that you can be. Grab some coffee and sip while enjoying a plethora of writing advice as well as tips on world-building, for every level. Included within this site is my world-building, book bible for Symphonia, used as an example for advice that we offer. Looking forward to working with you! -C. D. Baron

How to Use World-Building Techniques to Bring Your Nations and Governments to Life!

By |2020-12-21T16:48:05-08:00August 15th, 2020|World-building|

I am in the process of writing a complex and deep high-fantasy series. Part of fantasy writing and stories with deep political upheaval involves writing governments that are not only believable but affect the world as a whole. Magic and races are important keys in determining the beliefs of your societies and how societal pressures shape the world. After developing your magic systems, races, and societies, you must figure out who governs them and how they rule. There are many different approaches to take when it comes to world-building governments. Still, in stories where your protagonist is trying to [...]

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How to Maintain Your Writing Routing During Vacation

By |2020-08-08T18:07:47-07:00August 8th, 2020|Writing Tips|

This weekend, my fiancée and I took a mini-vacation to Las Vegas. You know what they say, "what happens in Vegas…" We needed a getaway from the monotony of our day to day and wanted a change of pace. We went to all the different hotels and played in different casinos, and it was an absolute blast. However, I still had writing I needed to get done. I couldn't just forget about you – I have a blog to run. Walking down the strip, hand in hand with my fiancée, was a fantastic reward after spending a couple of [...]

How to Create Fantasy Races To Improve Your Themes!

By |2020-12-08T14:46:15-08:00August 1st, 2020|World-building|

Creating fantasy and alien races is one of the most exciting aspects of developing a new project. Perhaps, even more exciting than creating a magic system! The abilities are fun, but who is going to use these powers? When I am about to create a new world, I want to know who inhabits it. What are their issues? How did they get there? The possibilities are endless. Though, the most essential thing; is the reader going to believe this species belongs in this world? In my upcoming series: The Legend of the Elvines: Stone of Dragon’s Heart, I [...]

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How to World-build Your Magic System to Enhance Your Novel!

By |2020-12-08T12:16:05-08:00July 26th, 2020|World-building|

"An author's ability to solve conflict with magic is directly proportional to how well the reader understands said magic." (Brandon Sanderson) Magic and the mythical are the elements that drive me to fantasy. They turn mundane situations into something fantastical – allowing the reader to escape into a whole other world. They experience things that here on earth, are impossible (as far as we know). Fantasy allows us to explore the constructs of our society and ask ourselves what-if questions. We can explore the philosophical issues in ways that the answer only lies within fantasy. Fantasy allows us to [...]

The Journal: A Writer’s #1 Most Helpful Tool

By |2020-07-26T11:37:04-07:00July 11th, 2020|Writing Tips|

As writers, we are an endless pool of ideas and concepts. We take our happiness, pain, past, and see stories in all we witness. We are observers of reality, and we take what we observe and create meaning through the stories we tell. Writing brings ourselves closer to answering the fundamental question: What is the meaning of life? Most people would assume that the writer's #1 most helpful tool is the pen. Yes, that is true; however, I would argue that a Journal in tandem with a pen is the most crucial tool any writer can use. It has [...]

Is Grammarly Premium Worth the Upgrade?

By |2020-07-26T11:37:52-07:00July 4th, 2020|Writing Tips|

*This post contains affiliate links meaning that if a link is clicked, I may be compensated at no extra cost to yourself* The Importance of Grammar I was walking through the village in Big Bear last weekend with my fiancée. We wanted a little vacation, so we drove up to the mountains and enjoyed the quiet away from the hustle and bustle of Southern Californian suburban life. One day, we chilled on a boat enjoying some diet coke and rum; another day, we were hiking up this humongous mountain headed for a fantastic vista point. It was stunning! On [...]

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Writing Exercise: Vibing With Music

By |2020-07-26T11:38:49-07:00June 14th, 2020|Writing Exercise|

Have you ever started a writing session staring at a blank page with no idea what to write? I know I have. The blank page is a writer’s worst enemy. It’s taunting you with endless possibilities, and all you must do is start. But that is the problem. Where do you start? Enter: Writing Exercises. What are writing exercises? I hear you ask. Well, they are short bursts of improvisational writing designed to kickstart your creative juices. There are thousands of different activities you can use to start your writing session. I generally use them to [...]

Writing as a Tool for Fighting Oppression

By |2020-07-26T11:39:38-07:00June 7th, 2020|Essays on writing|

I am a white cis-gendered male and have a privilege that many people of color do not. I can safely run down a street and not get shot (Ahmaud Arbery). I can sleep in my apartment and not get shot (Breonna Taylor). I can wear a hoody and not get shot (Trayvon Martin). Yet, that is not the case for many Americans. It is an issue that needs to be brought to light. Racism runs rampant, and there has been little change since the civil rights movement in the 1960s. A group of people is screaming [...]

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How Writing Can Help You Cope With Depression!

By |2020-12-09T16:32:31-08:00May 31st, 2020|Writing Tips|

Writing with Depression is hard! Depression is something I have been struggling with as long as I can remember. It is continually grabbing hold of me, getting in the way of the most mundane tasks. How can I write with this shadow looming over me, yelling, “I am not good enough!” “I am not a real writer.” “I cannot succeed in my dreams.” Day after day, I fight off these voices and push forward, moving toward the goals I know I am capable of doing. Still, an overwhelming emotional burn sears my chest as I struggle [...]

Grammarly and How it Helps You!

By |2020-07-26T11:41:35-07:00May 22nd, 2020|Writing Tips|

*This post contains affiliate links, by following the links I may be compensated at no extra cost to yourself* Let me take you to a time before I started this blog. I’m not going far back into the depths of history, only two years ago. I have my B.A. in cinematic arts with a focus on screenwriting, and I have no idea how to pursue a career with my degree. I’m stuck working for the Disneyland Resort, cleaning restrooms (UCK!). I have an idea for an amazing story rattling in my head – been shaping it [...]

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