7 of the Best Books on Writing (And One Bonus)

by Lewis / July 6, 2018 / Other

Writing can seem impossible to learn…

It’s an instinct, right? Some fickle, creative muse we all have inside us. Or perhaps it is a skill reserved for a fortunate few, inaccessible to those who aren’t so lucky. Either way, it seems like writing is something you just have to sit and wait for, hoping it blesses you with it’s gifts

To some degree you aren’t wrong—yes, we all have a muse inside us, and yes, it can be hard to find. However, that doesn’t mean you don’t need to teach it a few tricks!

Why You Should Be a Plotter AND a Pantser

by Lewis / July 5, 2018 / Other, Outlining

Is it better to be a Plotter or a Pantser?

This question seems to have tormented writing forums since the internet was born, constantly occupying moderators whose duty it is to pacify the divided crowd. They make a post about how neither camp is in the wrong before promptly closing the thread—and they’re not wrong!

However, this whole argument misses a key point. Why choose one or the other, when there are benefits to being both a Plotter and a Pantser?

The Identity Crisis of the “Aspiring Writer”

by Lewis / July 3, 2018 / Inspiration

People go through many crises throughout their lives…

We’re fascinated by these struggles, from beginning puberty to entering adulthood, or the midlife crisis that has been the boon of comedy for ages. In such stories, our comedic hero looks in the mirror one morning and realizes his hair has gone grey, before going on a wild jaunt as he tries to reclaim his youth.

Writers aren’t that different from our protagonist above, except where he sees his softening belly and grey stubble as the cause for panic, a new writer sees the blank page, its cursor blink blinking in disapproval at them.

How to Outline Without Sacrificing Your Creativity

by Lewis / July 3, 2018 / Outlining

Outlining can get a bad rap in the writing world…

Yet, in my personal experience, nothing is more comforting than having a solid outline to guide you as you write your novel.

Unfortunately, many people remember outlines as the rigid bullet point lists from their school days. In reality though, outlines are simply a road map for your story—and they’re just as useful for Pantsers as they are for Plotters! That’s because your outline should mesh with your individual style of writing, becoming as in-depth or as sparse as you need.

What Goes into a Blog?

by Lewis / July 1, 2018 / News

To be honest, I’m not the blogging type.

Shocking, I know, but I’m afraid it’s true. I’m much too shy to bare my soul on the web. I’ve never gotten into Facebook and Twitter escapes me (I’m too long winded for the character limit anyhow). Those people who can sit down and in an hour write a riveting post about their life that week, complete with their inner thoughts, their goals and ramblings… I envy them, because that’s just not me.

I’m much more the academic, the nerd who likes the comfort of a structured essay; I find a well-written thesis homey and inviting. At my core I’m a historian, a student of politics, religion, and culture, and I’m drawn to thick, heavy books you could build a house with (Yet I still haven’t read Game of Thrones… The world works in weird ways sometimes). I watch Crash Course World History for fun.