Veil of the Void

Veil of the Void Yggdrasil

Vikings and mecha, you say? Look no further ... The Realm of Riachtan has long been at relative peace. There haven't been any major wars or galactic-wide threats to shake up the norm for quite some time. That is all about to change, however, as whispers of Ragnarök are on…
June 9, 2023
Secrets of Seven Point Plot Structure

Secrets of Seven Point Plot Structure

We all know fledgling writers who've spent months or even years engaged in meticulous world building. But when it comes time to tell a story in their lush secondary worlds, the plot spins its wheels. How can a writer have planned every detail of his fantasy world down to the…
June 6, 20234 Comments

How to Master Perspective and Tense

If you've taken up the challenge of writing fiction, two essential steps toward achieving your goal are understanding narrative point of view and narrative tense. Too many new authors either don’t understand these powerful authorial tools, or they don’t use them to maximum effect. So today, we'll explore point of…
May 30, 20234 Comments
Newpub Talk Z Strike

Return to Newpub Talk

A couple of high-profile boycott campaigns have captured Conservatives' attention lately. It's understandable that middle America would get jazzed about giving beer, sports, and retail megacorps what for, despite the effects being almost all symbolic. Since January of 2021, the realization has been growing among normal people that the system…
May 25, 20232 Comments
The Forest Calls

The Forest Calls

Gaming books don't get enough exposure on this blog, which is a huge oversight given the overlap between my audience and TTRPG players. By way of a course correction, here's a little something for you to check out: The Forest Calls! The Wilderkind is a supplement for Castles & Crusades,…
May 23, 20234 Comments
Genre Fiction

The Power of Genre

If you’re a new author reading this post, and you’re not out to become a self-help guru, odds are you’re interested in writing genre fiction. Let’s talk about how to approach writing fantasy, horror, mystery, and sci fi. First, it’s important to understand that genres aren’t just labels. They are…
May 22, 20231 Comment
ƵXSeed-revised

Combat Frame Ƶ XSeed Is Live

Summer's almost here. And we're kicking off the sizzling season with the red-hot finale of my epic mech saga. Combat Frame Ƶ XSeed is now live in digital and print! The Epic Mech Saga’s World-Rending Conclusion Betrayed by their makers … … their sole hope is vengeance. Humanity reels from the disastrous Battle of Earth. Blamed for…
May 19, 20232 Comments
Placement

Purpose and Placement

We’ve covered the importance of dramatic tension in scenes. Now let’s talk about how to structure them in a way that maximizes their impact. Scene structure is crucial to a novel’s success. A well-ordered scene can keep readers engaged and invested in the story, while a poorly structured scene can…
May 14, 2023
Gemini Outsider

Gemini Man: The Complete Series

Author JD Cowan is launching a 3-book superhero adventure. And he's inviting you along for the thrill ride! My name is JD Cowan and I am a writer of weird action stories full of strangeness and hotblooded intensity. Today I wish to share with you my next project, a full…
May 9, 2023
Drama Club

Quit the Drama Club

Social media's rise to dominance as the indispensable marketing channel has has spawned the omnipresent phenomenon of eDrama. Nor are authors immune to the lure of chasing clout online at others' expense. That's true regardless of whether you signed with fakepub or self-publish. That's why every how-to guide aimed at…
May 8, 20233 Comments