Many writers ask themselves the questions; what is my story concept? Do I have a strong premise? And, can I pitch this to a publisher with confidence? You must have a firm answer for the first question to answer yes in the next two. First, you must define what a story concept is and know the difference between the concept and the premise. The two terms are not as interchangeable as they seem on the surface. They are two entirely different things. For example, your premise can easily turn into your logline and/or elevator pitch. Yet, your story concept [...]

Some of the most memorable stories involve a well-written villain. Everyone was raving about Thanos when Marvel's Infinity War was first released. He was a well-rounded character that the audience related to and understood the reasoning behind his motivations. Viewers followed his line of thought and even agreed with him. Now, this article isn't going to be about praising infinity war and it's incredible writing; it's about crafting your villains and getting the readers to love them. Readers love a villain they can relate too and fear. It's crucial to create a sense of dread or suspense every time [...]

Magazine submissions are an aspiring writer's most ambitious goal. When starting, I had no idea where to begin. I wanted to get my short stories out there but had no way to go about it. While studying in my master's program, I stumbled on the idea of submitting my work to literary magazines. They even give the possibility of getting paid for your work. It's the first step to becoming an established author, and the good news is anyone can do it. All it takes is a little research, manuscript formatting, and a cover letter. Though the prep can [...]

A writing space is a temple for a writer. It's the place we go every day to type away on our work in progress (WIP) until we have a final draft. A ritual of sorts. Every writer's writing space is different, and it is supposed to make you comfortable and ready to write. By entering your temple, you immediately access your flow state and write for hours at a time. Writing becomes a meditation, giving your subconscious permission to communicate with you. When you are comfortable in your writing space, the words flow smoothly from your mind to the [...]

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 [...]

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 [...]

*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 [...]

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 [...]

*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 [...]

Writing is a passion of mine; it allows my creative juices to run freely through my veins. I create worlds and escape with characters to places I can only dream. It’s the same feeling I get when playing a role-playing game – sinking hours into worlds with the ability to explore freely. It’s a sandbox of freedom. Role-playing games are the creation of another’s hard work and dedication. They prepared all the worldbuilding for years before the game starts the production stage. Writing allows me to sink into my own process of creation. I started [...]