Category: Writing Process

• Letting Ideas Become Other Ideas

  Ideas are not static. There’s a constant ebb and flow to them and any sort of creative artist has to take advantage of the movement of ideas in order to fully develop the original thought. I’m learning to do this better than I did in the past. Many times I would have a writing idea,…

  sassevn

  February 17, 2015

  Indie Author, Writing Process

  brainstorming for writing, generating ideas for writing, writing advice, writing ideas, writing process

• Is Using a Thesaurus Cheating? (And other stupid thoughts.)

  Is using a thesaurus cheating? (And other stupid thoughts.) Sometimes I feel like I’m competing against everyone’s outside perceptions. Here’s a stupid example. I went through a phase when I thought that good cooks never had to consult a cookbook. When I’m writing this now, I realize how stupid that sounds – as if someone…

  sassevn

  January 29, 2015

  Indie Author, Writing Process

  a writer’s vocabulary, authorship, cooking, cooking without recipes, using a thesaurus, writers and thesaurus, writing

• Integrity: Can it be lost and then re-found? (Philosophical musings of my next novel.)

  He is a man of integrity. Have you ever heard someone referred to as such? What does that really mean? A man of perfection? A man of excellent decision making abilities? A man who is trustworthy and honest? Isn’t that actually quite a heavy anchor to put on someone’s shoulders? I remember a former pastor…

  sassevn

  January 26, 2015

  Indie Author, Writing Process

  character development, integrity, King David, losing your integrity, morality, novel writing, philosophy

• Writing Forecast: 2015

  A deliciously light breeze from the west lifts spirits and places smiles of satisfaction on writers everywhere. The sun’s hues glitter on the placid ocean as a million shades of contrasting blue. I would say the forecast for writing in 2015 is peaceful and inviting. So here are the writing projects I have on my…

  sassevn

  January 18, 2015

  Indie Author, Writing Process

  indie author, novel writing, writing, writing plans, writing projects

• I just hit 50,000 words for the fifth time. That deserves a post.

  For me, a writer who likes to be concise, hitting 50,000 words is always a feat, but I’m noticing that it’s not nearly as big a deal as it used to be. Fifty-thousand is, of course, the usual plateau where a work officially is granted the title of novel – though I’m not sure who…

  sassevn

  January 8, 2015

  Indie Author, Writing Process

  50000 words, novel length, novel vs novella, writing, writing goals, writing process

• I Feel a Focus Break Coming On

  I’m starting to feel like I’m hitting a writing wall with my new novel. It’s not writer’s block. I know what I want to write, but I’m losing interest for the moment. It’s not because I’m not happy with the story. I am, and I can’t wait to see it through. But I’ve noticed that…

  sassevn

  January 7, 2015

  Writing Process

  a writer’s break, writer’s block, writing, writing focus, writing process

• Keep it Simple. Stick to the Story. (Flowery not required)

  This post is basically a reminder to myself, if nothing else. I often lament over sentences that I write, thinking they are too stale, too boring, too similar to what I always write. I want the adverbs to flow, the impressive vocabulary to astound, the metaphors to soar. But so often, writing seems so ordinary.…

  sassevn

  January 5, 2015

  Indie Author, Writing Process

  authentic writing, faulkner, flowery language, Henry James, vocabulary, writing, writing process. what makes a great story

• Short Writing Sessions No More

  Suddenly, I can’t get away with short writing sessions. I spent the last couple of years with a laptop that had a maximum battery life of an hour and a half. It was limiting for a writer, but it helped me focus on my writing and do the best I could until the dreaded battery…

  sassevn

  December 21, 2014

  Indie Author, Writing Process

  indie author, laptop for writing, writing, writing process

• Where do mid-latitude writers write in the winter?

  I live in the low latitudes, tucked right north of the equator, still a long way and many degrees separation from the Tropic of Cancer. That means one crucial thing – in December – March, I still do my writing outdoors. At the beach. At a cafe by the pier. In a little open-air food…

  sassevn

  December 15, 2014

  Indie Author, Writing Process

  location for writing, writing, writing in the northern hemisphere, writing in the tropics, writing process

• Are you telling the story you want to tell?

  If you are telling the story you want to tell, congratulations. You must feel fulfilled as a writer. As I was compiling my most recent story, I got to the point where I realized I had told everything about this story I had wanted to tell. I would be proud to put my name at…

  sassevn

  December 10, 2014

  Indie Author, Writing Process

  genre writing, literary agents, story critique, storytelling, writing, writing process