Category: inspiration

Thursday Reviews

Complete honesty here…. I never have an easy time with doing reviews. I have read so many books that choosing one to review is a herculean task. Then I feel awkward with tech reviews because most of my writing apps are simple. I use word, evernote, and notebooks for writing (two of which I have already reviewed). I use Canva, and photo studio for cover design (I will review photo studio next week.) And artrage for digital art. Though I have many apps that I use those are the ones I use in creating. I always wonder why anyone would pay any mind to my random game addiction for the week (this week it’s a little game called Slidey and it is adorable), and talk myself out of doing reviews for them. I may try to break myself of that.

There is a story behind the book that I chose for today. I bought it at the school book fair when my daughter was in second grade. It was just barely at her reading level. It was something for us to read together. We alterated reading chapters. The characters were so good that we searched out the rest of the series. The dragon in the sock drawer by Kate Klimo. It is worth the read even for an adult. It is middle grade reading level.

Wednesday Faeries

So, a little while back my sister and I were doing a separate blog. It was Faeries doing a newsletter sort of thing. Well the blog was not where the faeries felt comfortable. It was just not working for us.

We enjoyed our time with the birchwood grove fae. Here lately we have been getting more from the fae. So we started them a newsletter. It goes out every other Tuesday. If you are interested then pop over to my sister’s blog as she has a pop up link to the newsletter.

Week two of the 52 week photo challenge

#52weekchallenge #52weekphotochallenge #dogwood52 #dogwoodphotographychallenge2019 #sorryforrunninglate

Teaser Tuesday

So I was given permission from some of the authors in this anthology to give you a sneak peek into it. I will only be listing the ones who gave me permission.

Of course I am a part of it. (I did the cover and am helping to organize it.)

Author – website – title of story – and teaser blurb if they had it ready.

Keep it in mind that they are mostly still writing it. We are expecting a summer release. This is not in any order other than the order of my personal notes.

1.) Jess Reece – Author – Scrydan Woods –

An ancient forest.
A cursed object.
A ghastly offering.

Do you dare to enter the Scrydan Woods?

2.) Serena Mossgraves – Author – Rowan –

Can a tree really end the world? Faeries fighting for the world against the darkness and themselves.

3.)Cyn A Snow – Author

4.) Tish Macwebber – Author (under construction) – Sweet Nothings – Clara spent her days working in a bakery, as a cashier. One day, she decided to go to her local craft store to buy some supplies for a new project. It was soon apparent that she was dabbling in something that was turning out to be a little more than she expected.The next time you try a new craft or hobby, Clara recommends for you to do all the proper research to make sure there are no strings attached…

5.) Micheal Walters – Author – Fey Food Fight

6.) D. Gabrielle Jensen – Author

7.) Deedra Nicole – Author & Editing – Mermaid Pearls

8.) Herschel Pilcher III

9.) Finn O’Malley – Author – Hidden Shadows – No one belonged in the Realm of Hidden Shadows, least of all the King of Air Faeries. Aeolus must retrieve the Air element to fulfill a magical destiny 100 years in the future, but at what cost? The King faces a daunting task of destroying a friendship and crossing murky lines of Dark magic to save what might be lost forever.

We may be considering new stories for it, I am not sure.

So far the stories look like they are going to be an amazing read. Please show these amazing artists some love and visit their pages. I will definitely be keeping you updated as we get closer to release.

Character development

All right, we have done the world development. Next we touch on characters. All writing revolves around the characters and how they interact with their world.

Most writers end up focusing some on each of their characters. This is to give you ideas and maybe help you get the details to further your story.

Today I will ask questions that you want to know first about all of the main characters, including the villains. Though during this discussion will include a specific post later on villains. Today is the basics.

Let’s get to it then.

1. What is the character’s name?

That seems like a duh question… But it is a detail where you can enjoy the secret knowledge… Why that name? Does it have meaning? Is there more to their name? Do they like or hate their name?

2. Description?

This is the physical details. Eye and hair color. Height and weight. Hair style, facial hair? Fat or skinny, tall or short? If it applies, what race is the character? Here’s where you can do all of the description you want to do. Whether it makes it into the story or not. Sometimes you need to see the character better, this helps with that.

3. Where is the character from? This includes family… And place? Here is where you work on history. Was the character rich or poor? Was their childhood good or bad? What about their environment, did it affect your story?

4. What do they do for a living? Are they employed? A student? Do they have a side hustle? This also can be affected by something that I think needs answered here… What is their age? Now that may make a difference on their activities. And their race may make a difference in how the age is read, as races that are long lived would see a character who is in the twenties as less than an adult.

5. Sexuality. Now don’t sneer… This is not just do they prefer same or opposite genders. It is are they male or female or even a hermaphodite? How does this affect them? Yes it helps to know who, if anyone, that they are attracted to.

6. What are their strengths? Are they skilled at something?

7. What are their weaknesses? Their fears?

8. What is their pet peeves? What really gets under their skin? Why?

9. What do they love? What brings them joy?

10. Who are the people who mater the most to them? Who is a thorn in their side?

Ok. These are the most basic details that every writer needs about every character they write. There is so much more, but I will touch on them next time. What do you think, are you seeing interesting questions here to help you?

Thursday truths

Ok. I was too lazy yesterday to do a review. So I think that I will discuss my art studio… The store is Here. I plan today to put some of my paintings in there for sale.

A friend and fellow writer was showcasing my studio for her newsletter. She asked me to please update my logo as it was not what she felt fit me. There is so much history in my logo. The first was designed by someone who I loved dearly. She was not a good thing for me. So I needed to cut the ties. My friend Kelly, editor at Xterraweb, helped me design a new one. I always thought logos were supposed to be sorta bland, professional symbols. So that was what we made. She gave me exactly what I asked for.

Well we come back to today… My friend who is doing the newsletter Jess Reece comes to me and says… You deserve a logo that expresses the colorful creativity of your soul!

Do you have any idea how that felt? Incredibly freeing. I found myself wondering why I had not designed it already? I love designing graphics.

So I did it. And I love it. Maybe I had to be prodded into it…But I really do love the new logo.

Have you ever been in that position? Tell me about your truth.

Teasing Tuesday

So I am helping organize an anthology with some amazing writers. Serena is writing for it. I don’t want to give too many details yet. We are approaching the deadline for the first drafts. I will be telling you more about this project as we get closer to release day. For now, I will tell you it is titled Under the Mists. It is an anthology of dark faery stories.

Also the sign up for the first issue of the Creative Rising E-zine is supposed to be released anytime now. Keep your fingers crossed as I plan to apply to be included.

Keep your eyes here and I will let you know when I have more information.

Monday Poetry

The first two were published in my first poetry volume Pocketful of Poetry. The last was my answer to an Instagram challenge. (Living Coral)

Saturday surprise

I think that this challenge is so interesting. I am by no means pro at taking pictures. I think that I can have fun with the prompts in this challenge. Check back every Saturday for my weekly response.

Week one: Storytelling – Self-portrait – Take a picture that tells us who you are without actually showing your face.

#amateurphotographer
#dogwood52 #dogwoodphotographychallenge

Friday World Building

Language — Does your world have different languages? How did they evolve? Does each race have a different language or is it regional? Is there laws that are broken by speaking the wrong language?

Origin Tales — How did the world came to be? Is there a myths about the world’s origin that is disputed between societies? Is it seen as a religion?

Jobs/professions — What kind do people have? Do men and women divide work, share it? What kind of training do your characters receive, if any? How are they trained and by whom?

Gender roles – What are people’s attitudes about gender roles? And does it differ between species? How?

Clothing/Costumes — How do people dress? What do your characters wear and why? Where does fabric come from? Who makes it?

Weather — Does your place have four seasons? How is this expressed and does it affect your story?

Food — How it’s planted/harvested/hunted/gathered? What do people eat and when? How it’s cooked? Who cooks? What’s poisonous? And does it differ from species to species?

Animals – Are there any special or magical animals in your world? Are there any who are unique to your world? Any race hold an animal sacred? Is there animal sacrifice in your world?

Politics/Power – Who is in power and why? How is power transferred to the next generation? What people do or don’t do to get close to powerful people?

I really hope that this series has been helpful. Please feel free to comment your answers and discuss your world with me.