The first time I saw her was in the spring when she tried to sell me a white tulip in front of the theater. “It will bring you love,” she said. The grime under her fingernails matched the brown edges of the tulip’s petals. “You dare to suggest I have no family to love?” MyContinueContinue reading “An Act of Kindness”
Tag Archives: writing
Standing on the Shoulders of Luck
A personal essay on loss, parenting, and finding beauty in the day-to-day My grandpa always said that he had a lucky gene. He was a molecular biologist, so I have a tendency to believe him. From his modest beginnings, he lived a life built on curiosity and tenacity, which earned him many recognitions in hisContinueContinue reading “Standing on the Shoulders of Luck”
What to Consider When Writing Your Fantasy Novel: Tropes
It’s probably impossible to avoid a trope of some kind—all stories fall into some kind of trope—and this is fine! What makes your story stand out is the writing, characters, setting, and the change your protagonist goes through.
What to Consider When Writing Your Fantasy Novel: Subgenres
This is part two in a four-part series on the elements of fantasy writing. As a refresher, the first part covered the basic elements of a fantasy novel. This second part focuses on subgenres. First, let’s talk about what I mean when I say fantasy fiction . . . What separates fantasy from science fictionContinueContinue reading “What to Consider When Writing Your Fantasy Novel: Subgenres”
What to Consider When Writing Your Fantasy Novel: Essential Elements
What are the essential elements of a fantasy novel? Do you have a killer magic system? Personal stakes? A character you love sharing with the world?
Recommended Books on How to Write Good Fiction
These three writing and editing books have helped me the most in my writing and editing journey.
Authorial Style, Tone, and Voice—What Are the Differences Anyway?
What do you think of when you hear someone say, “I really like that author’s style?” What about when they say, “they write with such a strong voice?” How are those two things different from the author’s tone? Is there any overlap between these three terms? The simple answer is yes, they are different, butContinueContinue reading “Authorial Style, Tone, and Voice—What Are the Differences Anyway?”
Leah Boyer 