Imposter syndrome is, simply put, when someone doubts themselves (and their work) and is afraid of being revealed as a fraud. Ironically, the first tweet I saw as soon as I made this here post live on my blog, was this: You’ve written and published a book. It’s getting good reviews and positive feedback. So that means that the crippling fear of writing the first draft of your next book is gone for good, right?…
After a very full first day at FyreCon, I’m ready for a nap. But first, I wanted to take this time to share an idea that perhaps shouldn’t have been new to me but was. And maybe it will be new to you as well. That is that scenes can (and should) be treated like a book. Let me explain. No, there is too much. Let me sum up. According to Ryan Decaria (author of Devil…
I just got back from a trip to Kentucky, along with some other Southern states. It was wonderful to get away, spend time with the in-laws, and tour the various states and cities my wife lived in while a missionary before we were married. There are countless stories to be told from the trip, but one in particular stands out to me as pertinent. My cousin and her family recently moved to Kentucky. Being…
The third draft of Beneath the Haze, my latest fantasy novel, is finished! At this point I’ve sent it to my two favorite beta readers: my wife and my mother. I know they’ll give me all kinds of unbiased feedback because they have no emotional connection to the author whatsoever. In other news, I’m open to others reading this as well. As long as you know it’s still not finished and are willing to give…
Today I came across a Kickstarter campaign for a role playing game. The reason I found it was because someone had posted about its…uniqueness in one of the board game groups I’m apart of on Facebook. The RPG campaign is essentially shrouded in mystery, complete with pen-on-paper art drawings (from when the creator was apparently 12 years old), little to no information about the lore or gameplay, and an ego to fill a small moon…
Oathbringer is, by far, one of the best books I have ever read. And I don’t mean that just because it has cool magic and a nifty world (although that is also very true). If you’re reading this, then hopefully you know about The Way of Kings and Words of Radiance. While those books are amazing in their own rights, Oathbringer was a book I needed to read. It spoke to me, much like Vasher’s…
I may have mentioned my love for board games in previous posts (if not, shame on me). Game nights with friends and family are always some of my favorite times. What could be better than that? How about an entire weekend dedicated to board games? (I think we have a winner.) Earlier this month I made my way to SaltCON, a board game convention held in Layton, Utah. This was my fourth(?) time going, but my…
Learning is a lifelong pursuit, and as a writer, any bit of knowledge is useful. My educational background is in broadcasting and mass communications, and writing is something I’ve taught myself over the (many) years. Perhaps this is one reason why I find Life, the Universe, and Everything (LTUE) so valuable. LTUE is a science fiction and fantasy writing convention held in Provo, Utah. I was fortunate enough to attend one day last year, and…
Welp, Christmas has come and gone, and the new year has been rung in. And what a new year it’s been! On Monday, January 8th 2018, I was informed that I was one of the lucky folks to participate in company layoffs. Being the third round of layoffs in a year, I wasn’t entirely shocked. And yet, I didn’t see it coming. According to my (former) boss, it had nothing to do with my work…
Last night was the midnight release of Oathbringer, book three in Brandon Sanderson’s Stormlight Archive. As fortune would have it, I live a mere five minutes away from where it was being held. So, naturally, I attended. The place was crawling with cosmere enthusiasts and all-out super fans alike. My wife came with me for the first hour before having to pick up the kids from a baby sitter and get them to bed, so…