I’ve learned something since I started this writing adventure: there are two very distinct types of fiction, and readers and writers are divided into one of these groups, whether they know it or not. Maybe they’re not 100% camped out on one side, but they definitely lean one way or the other. I kind of…
About a month ago, I joined an online critique group called Critique Circle. Here’s how it works: I earn credits by critiquing the work that others submit, and I use those credits to submit my own work for others to critique. Sounds pretty simple, huh? It is. Mostly. The process is simple. Receiving critiques, well……
I find myself in an awkward stage of life. I have a book under contract, and another is going through the ruthless hands of an online critique group while I try to figure out its fate. I’m working on another new book that will be finished in a few months, with any luck. So, I…
When I was in sixth grade, my classmates and I learned all about melodramas, those stories where an obvious hero saves an obvious damsel in distress from an obvious cackling, mustache-twisting villain. I remember having to create melodramas, which is funny to ponder now as an adult, knowing twelve-year-olds don’t need help creating drama. Maybe…
I never went to school to be a writer. I went to school to be a teacher, and only a small fraction of that time was devoted to being a writing teacher. Since I lack formal instruction, I’ve done my own research on the topics of what makes a good writer and what makes a…
In an effort to avoid using cliches in my writing, I’ve been researching common ones. As a result, I thought it would be fun to try to write a story using as many cliches as possible. How many can you find? PS – this story sucks and I hate it, but I hope it will…
It might seem strange for a blogger to contemplate whether or not she’s a writer, but bear with me here. I’m talking book and story writing for today’s purposes, and anyway, I’m reminded of a quote from the movie Contagion: “Blogging is graffiti with punctuation.” I believe that was the best part of the movie. Ha. Moving on……
Two nights ago, I finished writing the third book in a series that took me six months in total to write. I don’t freaking know what to do with myself after spending basically every free moment during that time writing. Sure, there’s still the whole revising/editing/getting feedback from beta readers going on, but aside from…
Allison Maruska 