More Than a Feeling

More Than a Feeling

I’ve written about my writing process before, usually in the context of what physically happens at each stage. I haven’t been as honest with you about the emotional stages of writing a book. Sometimes it’s not pretty. Sometimes it’s not...
How I Write: Brainstorming

How I Write: Brainstorming

I think there’s still a myth floating around out there that authors open up a Word document, place their hands on the keyboard, and peck away until a perfect, fully formed story comes out. In this fantasy, writing a novel is a linear process that starts at page...
Reader Questions: Writing Time

Reader Questions: Writing Time

I had a lovely weekend, the kind where you forget all about everything that happened in the previous week…including where you’re at in your novel. I spent the day getting reacquainted with Leads & Lynxes and then outlining the last scene before the...
Outline Simplification

Outline Simplification

I’ve been running the outline for Leads & Lynxes through its paces today. What does this mean? For starters, I make sure it has all the acts, all the beats, and all the stages of a hero’s journey. Which it does. Then I tried something I’ve done...