L. MacNaughton's Blog, page 2

3 Secrets to Writing Vivid Settings

There are three elements that make up every story: people, problems, and places. To form a good story, those elements need to be in balance, because each one affects the others. That’s why you need to put as much effort into the places in your story—your setting—as you do for your characters and your plot. […]

5 Books That Will Inspire You to Be a Writer

Are you planning to write a book in 2020? Want some writing inspiration and wisdom from authors who have written dozens or even hundreds of stories and books? Check out my list of the five most inspiring books about writing over at Civilian Reader. P.S. Do you love free stuff . . . like books, […]

My Funny (and Totally True) Ghost Story

The fine folks over at Fresh Fiction asked me to write a little bit about ghosts. (Because, you know, there are ghostly bad guys in my new book, Forever and a Doomsday.) So I got to talk a little bit about the Stanley Hotel, haunted Cheesman Park here in Denver, and — best of all […]

The Secret to Writing Fascinating Villains

What makes a villain fascinating? It’s not just about scaring the pants off the reader. The most terrifying thing a villain can do in a story isn’t killing the hero or blowing up the world — it’s making their twisted viewpoint seem morally right, and making the hero seem wrong. Because if the villain’s outlook […]

9 Surprising Things I Love about Writing (and One Thing I Hate)

True story: When I was 17, I met an African storyteller. He traveled to distant parts of the world, collecting oral stories and writing them down for posterity. He was my first real-life writing teacher. His feedback helped me get started as a writer. Within a couple of years, I had sold my first magazine […]

Making Fascinating Monsters on The Bibliosanctum

How do writers create fascinating monsters? For me, it’s a many-layered process that involves thinking about where a monster came from, what it’s after, how it thinks, and what happens when it encounters the heroes. I actually got the chance to dive deep into the monster-creation process and explain how to do it step-by-step, thanks […]

Why Writers Should NEVER Carry a Notebook

Before I became a published author, I used to carry around a writing notebook in my back pocket. You know the kind I’m talking about: the little black book that tells the world you’re a Serious Writer. But that little notebook is a big mistake, I eventually learned. Here are three reasons why you should […]

Forever and a Doomsday on the Rocky Mountain Writer podcast

The best writing podcasts dig deep into the writing process and make you think. That’s why it’s always interesting talking to fellow Colorado author Mark Stevens on the official podcast for the Rocky Mountain Fiction Writers. Not only is Mark an award-winning author in his own right, he also asks the tough questions about what […]

Join me at MileHiCon 2019 this weekend!

There will be more than 100 science-fiction, fantasy, and horror authors and artists giving talks, signing books . . . cats and dogs living together, mass hysteria. Join in the fun! I’ll be on these panels: Hidden Depths: Characters with Secrets Friday 10/18/19 at 3:00 pm Mesa Verde B Self-Editing vs. Hiring Friday 10/18/19 at […]

“As much fun as you can have reading about impending doomsday!”

The wait is over! Forever and a Doomsday releases today (yay!) and the reviews are already pouring in. Here’s an absolutely fabulous recap of the entire series (that doesn’t give away any spoilers) from Fan Girl Nation: Mixing together the atmospheric flavor of the action sequences from Buffy: The Vampire Slayer, airy hints of classic […]