Do any other authors do this? When I’m about to start a new project, I’ve found it incredibly helpful to take a little time and interview my characters. I will literally open a blank document, and just start asking my characters questions. Sometimes I write it as a little scene between my character and a … More Interviewing my characters
From a young age, I had been fascinated by stories. From sitting in front of my mother as she read me a Darkwing Duck picture book for the hundredth time, to watching movies and playing video games, I could always get lost in a narrative. When I was growing up, I was exposed to the … More The First Time I Realized that Stories Don’t Always Have Happy Endings
So, while I do my writing on the train, I tend to do most of my thinking in the shower. No, I don’t know why. But I’ve always done this. Every time I take a shower, my mind wanders to the worlds I’ve created, or the worlds that I’ve experienced through other books or movies. My … More My Thinking Place: My Shower
It occurred to me that I don’t actually have any fiction writing posted on this blog. I think it’s time to change that. Here’s something short I typed in fifteen minutes. It’s unedited. Take a look and let me know what you think. If anyone can recommend a good writing prompt web site, let me … More Fifteen-Minute Story
I realized something Friday as I rode the train home. I realized what my young adult fantasy novel (of which I’m almost done with the latest draft! :-) ) was missing. All along, I knew it was missing something. Something that other fantasy books had, but mine didn’t. Something I couldn’t quite place my finger … More Legends and Myths are needed
I was sick over the weekend, and while that meant that I posted an old, quick blog about my lack of singing skills, it also gave me time for some good ol’ self-analysis. While I lay in bed, staring at the walls and wondering how I can feel so tired yet be unable to fall … More Why I write
I think we all remember the first time we realized the true power of words. It’s when you find a passage that just smacks you right in the heartstrings. You realize that you are not reading mere symbols on a page, but something truly magical. Suddenly, you are all-too-aware of the power these symbols have … More Understanding the power of words
Derek Pietras 