I mentioned this idea a little while ago, but I wanted to explore it further, so apologies if this gets repetitive. Drafts and books are different things, right? A book is published, and a draft is unpublished. Books tend to be physical objects more often than drafts. Drafts aren't meant for everyone, they're meant for … Continue reading When Does a Draft Become a Book?
How do You Track Your Writing?
Discussion time! The creative process looks different for everyone, and keeping track of the volume of your writing can play an important part in directing your process. You need to bulk your book here, trim down there, and keep at it because you're only halfway to your daily quota. At least, that's what popular advice … Continue reading How do You Track Your Writing?
Writing Theory 101: Why
Why must the inciting incident happen at the such-and-such percent mark? Why must there be an inciting incident at all? "Because otherwise your reader looses interest. By consciously choosing to have an inciting incident in your book, you open the possibility of continued interest past the first few pages. Further, it ignites what's going to … Continue reading Writing Theory 101: Why
Good Art is Subjective
When creating art, be it written, musical, digital, or physical, and even more so when talking about creating art, it's easy to slip into the mindset that Good Art is an objective thing. Tips and techniques become rules. When our opinions clash, we pretend someone must be in the wrong. Our art making relies on … Continue reading Good Art is Subjective
A Rambling Consideration of the Moose
We have four neighborhood moose. Mooses? Moosi? Moosen? However you'd like to conjugate it, it doesn't change the fact that every now and again you'll walk out the front door to what amounts to a big furry dinosaur eating a bush across the street. This hasn't been much of a problem for me due to … Continue reading A Rambling Consideration of the Moose
To Rewrite or Rework?
Alas, poor Yorick, this is total shit,what lies here 'pon my first draft's heavy page.Tho shitty draft does often lead to wit,I wonder—whether it I should have made. The question: wouldn't Mama be so proud? To see me with two finished drafts in tow.But rest is needed for that recent work,the first is naught but … Continue reading To Rewrite or Rework?
Waffling On Book Covers (again)
Is the cover a part of the actual book? I mean sure, with an audiobook or an e-book, the answer is probably no, or at most a very small part. You aren't forced to stare at it every time you pick it up, and depending on the layout or reading device of your choice, the … Continue reading Waffling On Book Covers (again)
Does The Audience Matter When We’re Writing?
No really, does the audience matter one lick? Should we even think about the beta readers we've chosen if we're still on draft one? Hell, should we think of the beta readers when we're making the draft we'll send off to them? When should we think about potential readers, critics, and fans? Now? Never? Writing … Continue reading Does The Audience Matter When We’re Writing?
Some Madness on Publishing Methods
Aside from a short story I wrote some time ago, I haven't really lived up to having the word "conspiracy" in my blog's name. Until, maybe, now, because it's time to jump into some fairly unfounded mental gymnastics that may or may not make sense, especially in regards to publishing methods and (if you believe … Continue reading Some Madness on Publishing Methods
On Depth, Pretension, and Age-Based Genres
Ramble ahoy! Does labelling something as "deep" have meaning? I mean, obviously it's subjective, just as any other label—sad, inspiring, disgusting, too salty—is, but the subjectiveness of those labels don't do away with their meanings.
