Megan R. Miller's Blog, page 5

Writing With Anxiety

I'm having some intrusive thoughts this morning. Honestly, I was thinking...I should probably let this one pass without comment. Like always. Like no one wants to hear about it. It might be useful, though, to somebody, and it's real, and that makes it worth saying.

So, you guys know the drill. I'm about to start talking about mental health. This blog entry isn't gonna be all positive and while I'm going to try to keep it from being a big ole ventblog,  there will be feelings. If that gros...

New Years Resolutions 2019

It's happening again. Click 'read more' for a laundry list of promises I might not keep! : D



1. Blog more. Wow, guys, I blogged fewer times in 2018 than I did in 2017. I guess, to be fair, I did get married and that was way more work than I anticipated it being. But this year. This year I am definitely going to try to remember to update my blog on Tuesdays and Thursdays like I endeavor to even if that means writing things in advance like I am right now. Anyway I did 49 blog entries in 2017 so...

Writing: Unpopular Opinion - Said-Bookisms Are, Occasionally, Okay.

So there's this massive stigma against said-bookisms in the literary community right now. By that I mean, anything that isn't 'said' and 'asked'.

"What are you talking about?" he screamed.

"I want to see you die," she laughed.

"Here's something you might not have considered," he pointed out.

Yeah, sometimes it's a big problem. But honestly? I think they're like any other tool. To be used sparingly and at the right times.



So when IS the right time to use a said-bookism?

It Might Be Okay to Use a Sai...

Writing and Roleplay: Character Accents

We need to talk about accents. Like, desperately need to talk about accents. RP community, I am looking at you first and foremost. Authors...yeah, some of you should probably also pay attention, but know that you aren't as egregious on this one in particular.

Bear with me, now.
So you're playing a character with an accent. And yes, I will continue to use the word 'playing', because this is largely geared toward my RPers in the audience. Anyway, you want people to know what they sound like in yo...

Laptop Drama

>Laptop keyboard stopped working.
>Buckled down and got a usb keyboard because I figured I could just make it a dvorak keyboard later if I figured out how to fix my on board one.
>On board keyboard totally screwed.
>It kept convincing the rest of my computer that the esc key was being held.
>I realize that doesn't sound like that big a deal but when you are  holding the escape key you can't open new tabs, google search, save photoshop documents, open the start menu, or...you k...

Characterization: First Contact With the Audience

Salutations, nerds, today we're going to talk a little bit about introducing new characters and how a character's first contact with your audience sets them up. Mind you we are not talking do's and don't's. There are some things you can do that will make an audience instantly dislike a character (and you don't even have to resort to kicking a puppy!) but that are still useful as long as you are aware of what you are evoking in the people reading your words.

Now, obviously yes I am talking to y...

Writing: 3 Ways to Make Your Word Count Your Bitch

Hey, nerds! The last time I posted an article four of you saw it immediately before even I had looked at the finished product. After a month off, I think that's incredible. The four of you that clicked me...you're amazing. You're the reason this blog is going up on time.

I just wanted to talk about word count and how to make it less of a crazy experience.


So, a novel is 60,000 words. According to NaNoWriMo, it's 50,000. But most publishers benchmark 60k, and so do most genres so that's what we'...

Writing: 10 Ways to Unstick Your Stuck Plot

Salutations, nerds, I'm coming back at you and continuing to knock off the rust with another blog entry. This time I want to tackle something I hear people complaining about a lot and that is plot tangles. You know, writer's block. When you hit a point where you just don't know what you need to do.

Yes, my outlining friends, it happens to you too.

So without further ado, 10 ways to unstick your stuck plot.



1. Go for a walk or a drive. - It's a proven fact that ambulating makes you think regardle...

Back at the Writing Desk

Just a quick one to let you all know I'm back at it! The wedding was wonderful, and we had several good days with my friends around that. It was honestly a rush to meet everyone in person.

I honestly meant to be blogging again before now, but as it turns out wedding things were not the end of the adjustments. It's not been bad, though. We're on an apartment search, Josh is substitute teaching now, I am just hairs away from finishing Torchlighters and things generally seem to be looking up.



So t...

It's Time for a Small Hiatus

Hello lovely readers~ I'm going to take two weeks off. Because I'm getting married and foolish me, I didn't anticipate how busy wedding stuff would keep me so close to the day of. Please do expect me to return to my regularly scheduled blogging on the 30th and until then, love you all <3

Fortune Favors,
Megan R. Miller