What’s in a Name? A Lot.

Most of us are familiar with the German fairy tale, Rumpelstiltskin. If you're unfamiliar with it, you can read up on him here, here, or even here. Fast-forwarding to the end of the fairy tale, the once upon a time peasant Queen is triumphant because discovering his titular name is what seals his fate. The …

“The Many Faces of Ito” is . . . delightful.

The Japanese TV Drama, "The Many Faces of Ito" has it all and then some. I binge-watched it when it debuted on Netflix and may mostly re-watch it. Why? Unrequited love. Misunderstandings. Best Friends Forever Betrayal. Oh. My. Goodies! The series is mostly about Rio Yazaki, a jaded rom-com screenwriter who is struggling to make …

Hyperphantasia or Aphantasia: How Much Does Your Mind’s Eye See?

Hyperphantasia is the ability for an individual to create highly graphic images in his or her mind's eye. In other words, some could call it the conjurings or machinations of an "overactive imagination". Alexander Brennan, the main character in my middle grade novel, MOONSTRUCK, has an overactive imagination. I didn't know there was a "scientifically" …

Motivation Monday Quotes

Writing a chapter a day keeps the voices at bay. -Yours Truly/Ou vrèman Writers often joke about how their characters talk to them, threaten them, plead with them to spend time with them and write, write, write. I especially appreciate what George R.R. Martin has to say about the strange and intimate relationship between writers …

Enter the Dragon: The Art of Beating the Sh*t Out of Your Characters

My toddlers and I love using our imaginations when playing with Little People action figures and Beanie Babies. However, I think my five-year-old has more fun messing with the carefully created plots that I craft for our playtime. For example, I enjoy the mundane story with generic problems while playing with my kiddos. It's typically …

The War of the Genres and Why Fantasy Writing isn’t for Everyone! (I Feel Your Pain, George R.R. Martin)!

I love reading all kinds of genres. Whether it be poems, song lyrics, autobiographies, recipes, etc. I'm not a picky reader. In this post, I'll discuss something few talk about. The War of the Genres! Publish America and the Hasty Generalization That Pissed Off the Science Fiction and Fantasy Community Almost twenty years ago, a …

10 Simple Rules for Writing That You MUST Follow!

A couple of days ago, I shared that exercise is one of the most important things one can do to stay healthy and if you're a writer this is especially true! This "rule" or "tip" is one of ten that I learned from a fellow writer. 10 Rules for Writing Exercise daily! Mix with people …

Quotes to Write By – Day 29 What’s In a Name? More Than You Think!

Disclaimer: The following analysis of characters and their names are solely my opinion and conclusions I've drawn from being a wordsmith, character creator, and a lover of names. Juliet, from the play, Romeo and Juliet, speaks this famous line. She argues that it doesn't matter that the young man Romeo whom she loves is a …

Quotes to Write By – Day 27

Writing high fantasy is not for the hobbyist. It takes perseverance, cleverness, and lots of dedicated time. I'm currently completing the second phase of world building for a high fantasy series that's been haunting my waking and dreaming hours for quite some time. About three years actually. Adara Trosclair, for whom this blog is named …

Quotes to Write By – Day 13 . . . with a BONUS!

I have two quotes today from two different authors: Daniel José Older and Ray Bradbury. From a superficial perspective, it appears that these men don't have much in common. However, both Older and Bradbury are exceptionally talented writers. Yes, are. Even though Ray Bradbury has died, his stories are still read and discussed today. For …