Collecting people is a great way to build characters. Not, you know, like The Collector, of course. People watching is the first step. You go someplace public, like a library or a hospital or a grocery. Watch them. Listen to them. Here’s a woman saying, “A…
Inspired by Holly Jahangiri’s story challenge, I began the story of Michael and Marisa yesterday. I think I want it to be a fantasy with a happy ending. I popped my outline into Scrivener and started character notes. I’ll go back and forth with those…
Somebody posts a call for submissions. Holly Jahangiri, for example. Or Apex magazine. You want to submit, but you don’t have an already-written story hanging around the office, eating its head off. You have to actually go to work and write something. Go like this:…
