Mirriam Neal's Blog, page 22

//dear younger me

Dear Younger Me, I don’t know where you are right now, or what you’re doing. You’re probably reading – or maybe I found you in that moment when you first wrote that first short story, a page and a half long. If so, congratulations, you’re never going to stop, you aren’t prepared, and you were […]

//snippets, etc.

You may have noticed that I didn’t post a sketch winner last week. I didn’t forget, but I decided that posting a sketch winner during weeks where I only write one or two posts seemed a little silly. So, I will relegate sketch winners to weeks when I write three or more articles – which […]

//when the sun goes down and the lights burn out

The last two nights I’ve spent several hours on my back, staring up at the sky. It’s been so clear that not only are planets bright and visible, but the galaxies behind them. I squeal every time I see a shooting star. It feels so personal and special, somehow, even though I know thousands – […]

//selling your imagination

I love being an artist. The only time I’m happier than when I’m drawing is when I’m writing. Art is a special kind of communication for me – a love language shared between myself and the image coming to life on paper. However, it’s not all ease and romance, and since I have several friends […]

//and the sketch winner is…

Thanks to Cat for sending me a picture of the sketch! It was an older one, but with a certain meaning and I knew I had to send it to her. I love you, girl! This week’s winner is Lisa! I’ll send the sketch out on Monday! [I know this is pitifully short but I […]

//the four times I was a fictional character

Several weeks ago my friend Izzy asked me if I’d ever done a blog post about characters who were me. I asked exactly what she meant, and she said ‘you know, characters who reminded you exactly of you.’ [I’m paraphrasing there; we’ve had many conversations since then and I didn’t try to sift back for […]

//a fine frenzy

I’m thankful for days like these. Days where the weather is cool in the morning, despite August having just reared its flower-crowned head. Days where I take the short walk down the road to the pool and I get it all to myself. I can float on the water and watch a dragon chase a […]

//and the sketch winner is… (+ book haul!)

I have a confession to make – I don’t have a picture of last week’s sketch, because I haven’t sent it out yet. It’s been a bit of an odd week, with PB in and out of the repair shop and conspiring circumstances, but I hope to get this week’s sketch as well as last […]

//creating diverse characters

I was emailing with a friend the other day and she said, “What helps you write diverse characters? I’ve noticed recently that a lot of my characters are the same.One of the things that I’m always struck by, when reading your works, is how well you do characters.Do you have any tricks to getting in […]

//Sessions with John Howe, Part One

In the words of the man himself, ‘biographies are hard…so welcome to the strict minimum.’ John Howe is an artist and author. He was also a major concept and design artist behind Peter Jackson’s The Lord of the Rings and Hobbit movies. [His website is www.john-howe.com] He has been my creative hero since I was […]