Traditionally, a werewolf in a story earned a book a spot on the shelf of the horror section of a bookstore. However, today there are many genres that include supernatural, potentially monstrous creatures that are not inherently cursed or evil. Categorizing a werewolf story is depends on the plot, not the supernatural creature. For example,[…]
Tag: writer
Writer Talk: Multiple Projects
Currently I have three documents open: Eastside Faerie, Warrior Tithe, and a new short story called Galactic Emporium of Delight. I’m working my way through, writing a chapter at a time on each. I have no prescheduled time dedicated to any of them. I do, however, have a time I sit down to write every[…]
Struggling with Imposter Syndrome? You’re Not Alone
After dickering around writing and doing nothing with it for years, about five years ago, I decided to take writing seriously. I started attending classes and workshops to improve. I had the audacity to assume that I could put out better work than what was out there. I thought I could be like Toni Morrison[…]
Opening Lines
When I was new to writing, I’d read that an author should make the first line the best. It’s your hook, so make it memorable. Another book said an author should sum up the entirety of their book in the first line. I thought that the second was absurd and you couldn’t possibly do both….then[…]
Reflection Sunday
In my Facebook writers’ group Speculative Twist, I ask my fellow fantasy, science fiction, and horror writers to share with me their writerly wins, setbacks, and plans for the following week. I like to do this because as writers, unless we’re working for a magazine, or on a publisher’s deadline, we don’t get the same[…]
Writer Reads Book Review: The Kinsmen Universe
I was introduced to Ilona Andrews books by a fellow writer. I trust her taste because she’s an excellent author and we like a lot of the same authors, shows, movies, etc. She recommended Iron and Magic by Ilona Andrews because I like beauty and the beast retellings. I then devoured all of Ilona Andrews[…]
Speed Writing/One Draft and Done: Why It’s Not for Beginners (Or, Anyone Really)
I attended a conference a year ago where I learned a lot about the indie publishing industry. I loved it because women (and not just cis, heterosexual, white women) were on panels for science fiction and fantasy writing. The speakers were accessible and I did a lot of networking there. I even had a chance[…]
The Last Day of NaNoWriMo
Yes, I know I quit. Yes. I know tomorrow is the last day of NaNoWriMo. However, the day I quit the contest, I started writing Eastside Faerie again. I have my writing rhythm down and don’t need a contest to push me to create. But, I’m grateful the contest exists. NaNoWriMo inspires a lot of[…]
Writing Stories with Multiple Points of View: 4 Quick Tips
If you read this blog, I wrote an article about POV a few weeks back. If you don’t know what POV is start here: https://tammydeschamps.com/2020/10/29/point-of-view-pov-an-important-choice-in-story-craft/ For those who do, let’s move on to the 4 tips: Don’t “head hop” flitting like a butterfly from one character’s perspective to the next. Head hopping, or an omniscient[…]
NaNoWriMo Day 22: Woefully Behind/Brightly Optimistic
Every year I do NaNoWriMo, I am either on point or ahead, some years I get a little behind, but I almost always win the contest. But, what is winning? Getting 50k words in a document? Honestly, I could write nonsensical drivel and get fifty thousand words in a few days. I would get zero[…]
NaNoWriMo Day 19: Getting Over the Hump
I wrote about 2, 289 words yesterday for the Warrior Tithe project, bringing my NaNoWriMo word count to 28086 words. This means that I’m behind on NaNo and not writing Eastside Faerie. However, because I took a step back and took a break from the project, I realized I wrote myself into a corner with[…]
NaNoWriMo Day 16: How it Went
I woke up in the rental while it was still pitch black outside. The Pacific Northwest gray and rainy that blossomed at dawn and a good cup of coffee made for the perfect writing ambience. I wrote about a thousand words and got some marketing work done. After we drove home, I spent the afternoon[…]