• Writing

    What I Learned from the 30-Day Blogging Challenge

    Woman at Computer, What I Learned from the 30-Day Blogging Challenge, Karen Hugg, https://karenhugg.com/2019/07/03/blogging-challenge #blogging #dailyblogging #writing #seo #author #authorwebsites #whytoblog #books #novels

    A month before The Forgetting Flower came out, I took on a 30-Day blogging challenge: publish posts on my blog for 30 days straight. It was a difficult exercise. I had to come up with decent content every day and even though I planned out my topics ahead of time, I had to squeeze in a post at the last minute several times. But overall, it was a fruitful experience. I learned a lot! Here's what I can share about it.

  • Writing

    The Best Book on Writing Emotion in Fiction

    Emotional Craft of Fiction Book, The Best Book on Writing Emotion in Fiction, Karen Hugg, https://karenhugg.com/2019/05/30/emotion-in-fiction, #emotioninfiction #fiction #novel #books #writing #craft #DonaldMaass #emotion

    There are a lot of books that will teach you how to write fiction. And the best ones not only address the craft of storytelling but the issues beneath the story's surface. A main character's wound, the overarching theme, internal versus external conflicts. But the key to a really compelling novel is expression emotion in fiction. And that's the hardest piece to put on the page.

  • Inspiration,  Writing

    Anne Lamott’s Advice on Finding the Truth

    Bird by Bird Book, Anne Lamott's Advice on Finding the Truth, https://karenhugg.com/2019/05/27/ann-lamott/ #AnneLamott #BirdbyBird #writingadvice #howtowrite #inspiration #writing #books

    Bird by Bird is an outstanding craft book for writers. Novelist and memoirist Ann Lamott covers the various aspects of writing: the nuts and bolts of craft to broader, more abstract issues. She talks about the importance of getting the sh*tty first draft on paper before diving into the mechanics of plot, dialogue, character, etc. She tackles perfectionism, finding your voice, and the let downs of publication. It's a wise and witty manual for any writer, experienced or not. I highly recommend it.

  • Writing

    Bran Was a Bore on Game of Thrones But Didn’t Have to Be

    Game of Thrones map, Bran Was a Bore on Game of Thrones, But He Didn't Have to Be, Karen Hugg, https://karenhugg.com/2019/05/22/bran/ #GameofThrones #GeorgeRRMartin #Seasonfinale #BrandonStark #Bran #Winterfell #characterization #character #DalaiLama

    Brandon Stark was a bore on Game of Thrones but he didn't have to be. I enjoyed the finale like so many others but Bran's character fell flat. It wasn't that I disliked Bran particularly. His story of becoming the Three-eyed Raven was interesting but that he turned into a sleepy detached automaton was quite bluntly, a missed characterization opportunity on David Benioff and D.B. Weiss's part. I think one real life person who's still around today could have been an inspirational model for Bran's characterization.

  • Writing

    A 30-Day Blogging Challenge!

    We're about a month away from The Forgetting Flower's release so I thought it would be fun to do a 30-day blogging challenge. It will be super hard but I'm going to try.