Ryan Lanz's Blog, page 183

Being a Better Writer: Character Development and Character Growth

by Max Florschutz Characters. There’s no force more central to any story you tell. Be it a run-and-gun thriller or a dramatic love dodecahedron, a tale focused around a lone wanderer exploring a crumbling city or a baker expanding her rivalry with a butcher (that last one sounds like a potential rom-com, doesn’t it?), … Continue reading Being a Better Writer: Character Development and Character Growth

The Siege Winter – Book Review

Originally posted on The Book Review Directory:
? I won this book through a Goodreads First Reads contest. Although a bit different from my normal taste these days, I was eager to sink into this historical fiction, agenre I don’t read as often as I’d like. I was not disappointed. The book begins with a…

How Not to Write a Book Review

by Jacqui Murray I read a lot,on average threebooks a week (based on my Goodreads Reading Challenge numbers). I livethemaxim that writers must be readers. Because I love writing, I review many of them for one of my three blogs.When Amazon asked me to be a Vine Voice, I was flattered and wanted to … Continue reading How Not to Write a Book Review

Stone and a Hard Place – Book Review

Originally posted on The Book Review Directory:
? Stone and a Hard Place It’s hard enough for Alastair Stone to keep his two lives—powerful mage and mundane Occult Studies professor—separate without an old friend asking him to take on a new apprentice. Especially after a university colleague wants him to investigate a massive old house…

How to Write a Novel That Will Actually Be Worthy of Publishing

by Michael Cristiano So, you say you have a dream, Mr. Martin Luther King Jr. of prospective fiction (or nonfiction) writer. Well, so do I, and so do millions of others around the world. That is to write a book, but not just any damn book: a book that will be good enough to … Continue reading How to Write a Novel That Will Actually Be Worthy of Publishing

The Consequence of Loving Colton – Book Review

Originally posted on The Book Review Directory:
? Title: The Consequence of Loving Colton Author: Rachel Van Dyken Series: Consequence #1 Genre(s): New Adult, Contemporary Romance Publisher: Skyscape Publishing Pages: 304, Kindle Edition Publication Date: April 21st 2015 My Rating: It’s all fun and games…until someone’s heart is broken. They’re not kids anymore, but…

How To Add a Time Jump To Your Story

by Meg Stories are different from real life in a lot of ways. One major difference is that stories don’t move from one day to the next in chronological order. Stories cover significant events, which sometimes occur days, weeks, months, maybe even years apart. You might need to implement a time jump into your … Continue reading How To Add a Time Jump To Your Story

How to Approach Your Long Term Goals

by Kate M. Colby Despite the “how to” title of this post, I’m not going to offer a series of steps to reach your goals. Obviously, each goal, each person, and each situation is unique, and frankly, you shouldn’t need me to tell you the steps to meet your aspirations. But what I do … Continue reading How to Approach Your Long Term Goals

It’s Here! The Idea Factory

It’s ready! My new book The Idea Factory: 1,000 Story Ideas and Writing Prompts to Find Your Next Bestseller is live. It’s been an interesting work in progress. I wrote this book specifically with writers, authors, creative writing enthusiasts, teachers, and poets in mind. I’ve always heard that writing prompts were helpful, but I … Continue reading It’s Here! The Idea Factory

Writing Tools: High-Tech, Low-Tech, and the Unnecessary

by Christina Dalcher Stephen King talks about a sort of writer’s toolbox in his bookOn Writing. I’ll be discussing a different set of tools on Le Blog today. Ready? Let’s go. The high-tech A voice recorder You know that iThing you carry around with you all the time? I have one, but it’s … Continue reading Writing Tools: High-Tech, Low-Tech, and the Unnecessary