This month is supposed to be for writing, and trust me, I have been working on it. My word count is currently sitting at around 22,000. Not bad for day 11. But, I will admit that I have been doing more than just write. It’s been the season for crafts in my house (owing largely … More Inspiration In Many Forms
Last month was for prep and prewriting, especially over at NaNoPlotMo, but now November has officially arrived. In fact, I’d even go so far as to say it has come barreling down the hallway, tripped on its socks, fallen through the door, and landed face first on the living room rug. And with it, showing … More NaNoWriMo 2016 Update
Welcome to the first ever NaNoPlotMo live discussion. We invite C-A-Harland, illuminara, queenofeagles, and DamonWakes to discuss their views on the creation and development of characters. This month we talk about how visual artwork can play a part in character design; making your characters distinctive, especially in a large cast; characterization in flash fiction and … More Characterization Discussion Panel
1. Create something every day. If there’s one secret to productivity, this is it. It’s not sexy or exciting, but the bottom line is that creative masterpieces aren’t built overnight. They take time and dedication, and you will only make real progress if you work every day. If you haven’t formed a daily habit of … More 20 Ways to Boost Your Creativity
One of the most interesting, and also time consuming, parts of speculative fiction writing is the world building. There are numerous tools online to help you figure out what you need to think about, and also give you inspiration, but even then, the art of world building can take weeks, even years. Many writers are … More World Building – The Core Elements of Cultures
You’ve probably heard about tension and know it’s a big deal, maybe even the biggest deal in storytelling, but why? What is tension, and why is it so important to storytelling? The following was taken from How to Create Tension a great article that covers all the bases of this all-important narrative element. Why Is Tension … More Creating Tension
Have you ever made it halfway through a book, only to be distracted by something and walk away, never to pick that book up again? One of the key causes of this is a straight, flat, plotline. A narrative that continues at a fixed pace, in a predictable manner, and whilst it may be enjoyable … More Rollercoaster Plotting
Step 1: Want to write a novel. Step 2: Write a novel. Granted that, for each person, the specifics of step 2 will vary slightly. Some are planners, some are pantsers, some are compulsive researchers, some are inspiration hoarders; this we know. But all of it is irrelevant if you don’t really want to sit … More How to Write a Novel
My new serial project has officially kicked off. The Ninth Circle is a series about two sisters from Dublin who spend their spare time hunting the demonic network responsible for all organised crime in the city. Tala Morgenstern has always embraced her life as a demon hunter. Her sister, Aiva, can’t wait to get away from … More The Ninth Circle
Today, as I took my lunch break out in the sun, in the city square, a man came over and sat down beside me. He was an older gentleman, sporting white hair and a salt and pepper beard, and he carried a camera. The large kind, with a fancy lens. The kind you only carry … More The Hunt for Tragedy
C. A. Harland 