Looks like everyone had awesome answers, so I’m just popping in to recommend Abbie Emmons on YouTube for any writing/editing tips. She’s super helpful and straightforward and most (I’ll say most because she does use movie examples from films I would not watch XD) of her stuff is clean.

I’m just throwing this out there because I really don’t support the real NaNo organization so this year I am joining a writing group called the Glory Writers for NaNo. I am pretty sure they have a website run by two really fun Christian girls (Victoria and Livy) where you can probably find a link to join their “Cabin”. They are also…[Read more]

First off…wow. Just wow.

You pretty much just sold me on whatever books you are ever going to write. XD Like, the pain? Ahh. I do not regularly fall in love with other people’s characters but I NEED Sebastien and Dr. Corvo and Baassilll. *pleading face*

And then Kit and Val. *heart eyes* What even??? Kit seeing Alastor for who he…[Read more]

It’s been ages since I’ve been on SE, so there are a lot of new people to meet as well as old faces I’m so happy to see still around. 😉

Tell me about your villains! I’ve been working through arc/backstory/motivation for some of my antagonists lately, and I want to hear everything about yours.

Info dump away. XD

Gonna tag some…[Read more]

Heeyyyloo! *waves!

I know I’m a little late to the conversation, but I just wanted to say hi anyway and tell you that you are not alone. XD

I am NOT an outliner at all. I prefer to just jump in and see where the story takes me. I have not officially finished a manuscript, but I have over 80k on one and I’m planning to finish it. I…[Read more]

Sorry I’m a little late to the discussion.

I wrote a short piece lately about a female sergeant and I ran into some of the same questions you are asking.

First, there is a Christian author, Ronnie Kendig, who writes action-packed military thriller type books. If you want a good read and want to see how another Christian handles…[Read more]

Hi. *waves*

Haha, I know exactly what you are talking about. XD Some side characters insist on stealing the spot-light and that makes it hard as an author.

Calidris had some great advice. One thing I thought maybe I should mention is you could always try 2 points of view instead of 1. If Payton wants to steal the show but for story…[Read more]

I think Rose is right…probably between 75k and 100k. If it’s under that it’s always okay to classify it as a novella, and if it’s over it’s just a big book (yay!) or you can probably cut the length down in edits.

Personally I like aiming for 80k (which is usually too short for me XD).

Hey! *waves* I haven’t been on here for probably a year, so I don’t think we’ve met.

I think your story sounds really intriguing.

I am sure you have already thought of a few of these, but I will throw them out there anyway.

You could always show the loss of intimacy through Lydia’s emotions instead of actions. She could be heartbroken…[Read more]

I got in digital art about a year ago, and I really like it. You probably saw some of it on my Instagram.😝  I also really love charcoals. What style do you like best?

I haven’t been reading too much lately, unless you count school textbooks. I’ve learned a ton from my Western Culture textbook so far (about how to world-build and stuff), but…😆

I’ve slowly been working through a re-read of Lord of the Rings. I’ll give them a 6/5 stars.🤩

One thing…[Read more]

I haven’t the time, nor the current mental capacity to actually duel you on this one, but my opinion is that writing is like life…you never stop growing, and you never stop learning from those greater than you.

As a writer, you can study writing theory all you want, but it’s reading that keeps your story-soul growing. I think it’d be a…[Read more]

I’m not very active on SE right now, but I’m here to be supportive of this thread.😆

Here’s a few questions to start a discussion:

If you had to go on adventure with one character from each series, who would you bring?

I would probably bring Jo and Rudric. We’d be unstoppable.😂

Who cried at the end of both…[Read more]

*internally screaming* They are SOOO cute! And that lighting…😍

That was a terrible way to introduce myself, but I’m an artist and your drawings are gorgeous. I have not read the Silmarillion yet (my sister is hogging it), but you made Manwë so cute. Good job.

I don’t really have much advice.😄. I’m a panster, so I have a lot of random stuff all over the place. I have a computer folder for each of my WIP’s, and ones for characters, author stuff and reference photos, but other than that, it’s usually all in my head.

One thing I’ve found is that if I don’t keep it, or I don’t remember it,…[Read more]

Tagging some Wingfeather lovers:

@kylie-wingfeather @joelle-stone @mischievous-thwapling @backwardslivewriter @craz…[Read more]

The thing that makes me so excited about motifs is that they bring you back to a previous place, and that they can be anything. The Lord of the…[Read more]

My favorite things I’ve created so far are probably the Moltan’s…lava people that turn to rock when exposed to water…because their culture is really fun and strange. And the Ticaur (the tiger…[Read more]

I’m a Panster, so I can’t really speak for Plotters.😄  But, the difference I see is that Plotters like to have everything mapped out before they start. They like to see that this story is going in a good direction and will be successful. Pansters, on the other hand, just go by their gut and know that “It’ll turn out good somehow.”

@devastate-lasting This is such a cool topic!

I have two different types of fantasy worlds in my stories, but they have similarities. One is your typical Narnia-ish feel (castles, mythical creatures, dragons, magic spells, etc.) and the other is what’s called Adventure Fantasy. It’s really just fantasy with no…[Read more]

Anyywayyy…as for the voices. I agree with Rose that…[Read more]

I’m glad I could be a bit of help. Life can get so overwhelming sometimes (especially with COVID and all that), but God is with us.

One thing to remember when writing is that it is as much for you as it is for readers. There will always be someone who is ahead of you and has the “perfect” writing life. For example, I see people on…[Read more]

Thought I’d jump on and just say hi. I am Gracie, fantasy writer, farm girl, and huge fan of Lord of the Rings. I’m 77k words into my first novel, and it’s going slowly, but I’m hoping to finish the first draft in the next few months.

I’m trying to think of questions nobody else has asked.😁  What is your favorite…[Read more]

Hello! I’m Gracie, teenage writer girl who loves cats, art, and anything story. My favorite books are Lord of the Rings (J.R.R. Tolkien), Wingfeather Saga (Andrew Peterson), and a ton of older classics (Where the Red Fern Grows, Little Women, Anne of Green Gables, etc.) I don’t usually add the Bible to that list, even though it’s…[Read more]

For me, shelving a WIP depends on whether I’m just having a flash-inspiration for a different project, or whether I actually need to wait on it. I have a story that’s been banging around in my head for like 5…[Read more]

Goodnesss.🤣  You were so much closer than you thought.

1) Name: Promise Wetterling (very old-timey)

2) Age: Around 65 😁  You were like spot-on.

3) Career/Role in Story: Warrior/Head of Secret Service. So yes, she’s an older woman who’s getting back into the adventure. Not so much in fighting, but in leading. She is the g…[Read more]

@rose-colored-fancy I love this character now.😍  I’m so impressed by the artwork and how much we could read from it. Good job.

@rose-colored-fancy  Let me see… (probably gonna ruin this)

1) Name: Something soft, but with a lot of heart to it. Like Ella, Gwendolyn, or Lilia.

2) Age: Either early teens or early twenties.

3) Career/Role in Story: Side character, probably a supporting role

4): Personality: Quite, intuitive, a lover of…[Read more]

@melancholicwriter Don’t worry, I totally understand about being “proud” of being INFP. I am too. And yes,…[Read more]

You’re an INFP? *high fives* So am I!

Just out of curiosity, what does having this personality mean to you? I don’t know a lot of people with my personality (besides Anne Shirley, Frodo Baggins, Shakespeare, Tolkien, and other great dreamers I never got to meet😊) and it’s fun to see what other people see us as, and how we view…[Read more]

@dakota *trying not to cry* Love this so much. Now I’m itching to touch the darker side of the Outrider’s arc…

@rose-colored-fancy Liorah, yes!😄   This Liorah girl sounds like someone I’d like. My favorite characters are the f…[Read more]

Tell us your plot in as few words as possible, while still including the whole thing. Dialogue (either from your story, or made up) is a fun way to do it.

If you aren’t sure about the plot (or just want to do something else) you can also do character arc in as few…[Read more]

– Old wizard tries to keep his friends from killing sulky outlaw.

– Or: Sulky outlaw tries not to be helped by old wizard and saved from all old wizard’s friends (but totally fails😝).

I find that whenever I’m alone, I work through scenes, building character voice (out-loud😁), and filling in details from my surroundings.

I also work to find story everywhere…learning how story effects media, dinner, how-to books, laundry, and even how we talk. Our whole society is practically built off of story.

And…[Read more]

This is probably going to sound terrible, but…😂

Damien is just a farm-boy, until his uncle is murdered by a government Tracker. Damien kills the murderer, out of self defence, and is forced to flee. Now an outlaw, hunted by the Emperor, Damien begins to realize that most of what he knew about…[Read more]

Hello Tanya! Welcome! So nice to see another Canadian here (there’s a few of us😊).

I’m Gracie, a teen writer and artist from a little further north. I love Jesus, cats, Lord of the Rings, and am currently reading Ben Hur. What is your favorite book/story?

My current work is a fantasy book about what it means to leave a legacy,…[Read more]

I think most of my countries would do it in a similar manner…an adoptive family, orphanage worker, or other care-taker would name them, and that’s what they would go by. Some may never have surnames, and some would just take the ones of the people they were in the care of.

Unfortunately, in some cultures, they probably don’t take…[Read more]

Such a good question! All of a sudden I’m like, “Wait, how do they…”

I’m gonna have to think about it and get back.😁

Sounds cool to me. I love fairy-tale retellings, so I might be a little biased.😄

I’m wondering what the point of her being an illegitimate daughter is. Is it going to be important later in the story? Also…just a random idea…what if she wasn’t actually illegitimate, but her father was hiding her true identity?

Can’t wait…[Read more]

Ya’ll are so good.🤩

*doing a mental checklist of how many my stories do or don’t have*

I think we could see more good sibling relationships. And healthy parent-child relationships.

I also really want to see more of the “left behind” side of romantic relationships. The friends who are no longer the most important in…[Read more]