Oathbringer: Book Three of the Stormlight Archive by Brandon Sanderson. 1255 pages. Tor Books. Writing a massive series such as the Stormlight Archive takes a major commitment on the part of the author (you’ll note above that it’s not only the third and hopefully final book in the series, but weighs in at a hefty … More Review: “Oathbringer” by Brandon Sanderson
I’m a top writer on Quora. You know: that website where you can get your questions answered or can go on and answer other people’s questions. I spend a lot of time there answering questions about writing, which makes sense, since I teach it at the university level. One of the questions that pops up … More The Problem with Great Ideas
There are two typical ways of starting to writing a book. The classic way that people envision–and the way I actually started–writing books is you sit down at a desk with a laptop (or a typewriter, since I started in the Stone Age), and just start typing. The words flow from your psyche and you … More Logistics: Getting from Point A to Anywhere Else
Over the years, it’s my privilege to rub shoulders with many creative people that I have learned from. One of my recent colleagues was Kyle Portbury, filmmaker and scriptwriter who shares an Emmy win with me that we won a year ago today. One of the stories he tells is of a famous scriptwriter–whose name … More Stuck? Consider the “Dora” Approach to Writing
I’m invested in National Novel Writing Month for what I think is the seventh time. I’m not doing as good as I should. I think I have just over 9,000 words written. I can blame it on having a more challenging book this time, one that calls for me to research every time I turn … More “This Above All: To Thine Own Self Be True”
Easter Eggs. Maybe you’ve heard of them. Not the kind that kids look for on that spring holiday out on the lawn. I’m talking about the kind that you find in movies and books where authors and filmmakers include little clues for you to find. They’re fun, they’re free and they show that you’re paying … More Hunting for Easter Eggs
Today is the first day of National Novel Writing Month, and this is the eighth time (at least I think it is) that I have participated. I’ve completed the 50,000 words in 30 day challenge five times. The first time I did it, I started two days late, and finished it in 17 days. A … More Want to learn how little you know? Write a book.
Red Metal by Mark Greaney and Lt. Col. H. Ripley Rawlings, IV, USMC. Berkley Books. 638 pages. I happened to pick this book up at my friendly neighborhood library last weekend, and since it was in the seven-day loan area, I hustled through reading its 638 pages in six days. Fortunately, it was a fast … More Review: “Red Metal” by Mark Greaney
People say that the Root of All Evil is the love of money. But I’ll wager that it’s just money, period. The fact that we need it, and most of us don’t have it. Right now, it’s pretty much running my life. And I’m sick of it. I’m not writing right now. Okay, I’ve admitted … More The Root of All Evil
Words of Radiance: Book Two of the Stormlight Archive by Brandon Sanderson. 1096 pages. Tor Books. It took me a while to get back to this series after the immense first book that was The Way of Kings. At 1,258 pages, it was a lot to swallow, and took me a while to read. The … More Review: “Words of Radiance” by Brandon Sanderson
