Tag Archives: how to write

Writing-Tip Wednesday: Creating Magic Systems

Posted on March 4, 2020 by dbjackson

I do everything in my power to keep magic from taking over my story, because ultimately, even in the most imaginative fantasy worlds, magic should remain secondary to character and plot. For today’s Writing Tip, I would like to offer … Continue reading →

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Writing-Tip Wednesday: Writers Read

Posted on February 26, 2020 by dbjackson

I’m tempted to leave the post at that and go open a beer. Writers have to be readers. Period. Full stop. But it’s morning, and I really shouldn’t be drinking beer this early, so allow me to elaborate… In last … Continue reading →

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Writing-Tip Wednesday: On Writing Every Day

Posted on February 19, 2020 by dbjackson

We’ve all heard it said — usually with authority and condescension and a certain righteous certainty. A real writer writes every day. If you want to be a professional writer, that’s what you have to do: Make it a habit, … Continue reading →

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Writing-Tip Wednesday: Self-Editing Techniques

Posted on February 12, 2020 by dbjackson

We know the shapes of our narratives, and we also know our own voice and style. So our stories are likely to make sense to us, regardless of whether they make sense to others. On Monday, I wrote about my … Continue reading →

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Writing-Tip Wednesday: Finding an Agent

Posted on February 5, 2020 by dbjackson

Agents – good ones – understand contracts. They are fluent in legalese, and not only can they spot troublesome clauses in a written agreement, they can also improve terms on less contentious but equally important clauses. It is worth finding … Continue reading →

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Monday Musings: Overcoming Distraction and Getting Started

Posted on January 27, 2020 by dbjackson

The problem isn’t one of desire – I want to work, I want to be productive. Rather, the problem is one of inertia. A body – or in this case a creative mind – at rest will remain at rest; … Continue reading →

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Writing Tip Wednesday: I Suck At Titles, So Let Me Offer Some Advice…

Posted on January 22, 2020 by dbjackson

I suck at titles. Or at least I think of myself as sucking at titles. It turns out, though, that many of my colleagues think that they suck at titles, too, and I’ve always kind of admired their titles. Which … Continue reading →

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Writing Tip Wednesday: The Nature of Conflict

Posted on January 15, 2020 by dbjackson

When I was in grade school (yes, grade school) we were taught about the rudiments of writing – not just grammar, mind you, but also the fundamentals of storytelling. We weren’t necessarily taught these things well, but they were, at … Continue reading →

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Quick-Tip Tuesday Post on Breaking Out of Routines

Posted on December 13, 2016 by dbjackson

I have a process that I tend to follow book after book. I’m stubborn, and a creature of habit. Having written all four Thieftaker and all three Fearsson books largely by following my regular creative routine, I fully expected that … Continue reading →

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Another Stop on the Blog Tour

Posted on December 1, 2016 by dbjackson

Overtelling, pointing out the already obvious, undermines our writing. In a sense, “Trust your reader” is another way of saying “Trust yourself.” Err on the side of telling too little. Let your story speak for itself. And if your Beta … Continue reading →

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