Category Archives: writing process

Maps and Direction: Exploring a Metaphor

Posted on June 3, 2016 by

I recently stopped in at a local gas station/convenience store to look for a local area map that will help me think about where to buy my next house.  The woman next to me in line immediately asked where I … Continue reading →

Posted in essays, fantasy, Settings, writing, writing process | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Location, Location, Location: The Roles of Setting in Fiction

Posted on May 13, 2016 by

A few of my recent posts have focused on settings I visited and researched for my work–definitely one of the perks!  But it may seem as if I am a bit obsessive about my settings.  That’s because setting is one … Continue reading →

Posted in research, Settings, writing, writing process | Tagged , , , , , , | Leave a comment

What I Hate About Writing Groups

Posted on January 8, 2016 by

Full disclosure here:  I currently belong to four writers’ groups, as well as SFWA, my national genre organization.  And I have recently dropped out of two others (and dropped out of another one last year, for similar reasons). A good … Continue reading →

Posted in editing, essays, fiction, personal, Uncategorized, writing, writing process | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment

The Hand-bound Book of Elisha

Posted on June 5, 2015 by

Some years ago, I did a research project on medieval bookbinding, complete with making my own (rather clumsy) examples. At a street fair in Providence, I found this amazing book offered by a graduate of the Rhode Island School of … Continue reading →

Posted in books, essays, medieval, personal, research, The Dark Apostle, writing process | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment

Finding a Balance: Cultural Appropriation and Under-representation

Posted on February 12, 2015 by

Writing fiction has lately become a bit of a minefield where, if you write about another culture, you risk charges of appropriation, and if you fail to include representatives of other cultures, then you are exclusionary. I have always operated … Continue reading →

Posted in character development, essays, personal, Uncategorized, writing, writing process | Tagged , , | Leave a comment

Welcome to 2015

Posted on January 1, 2015 by

Happy New Year!  For most of us, anyhow, if you celebrate the turn of the year according to a different calendar, then you can file this away to consult at the appropriate time. As for me, I wanted to both … Continue reading →

Posted in conventions, essays, medieval, personal, The Dark Apostle, writing process, writing series | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

The Uses of History: Inaccuracy and Injustice

Posted on June 4, 2014 by

One of my commenters on another post included the following: Kenneth Chase cites a book called “Teppo denrai” by Takehisa Udagawa who states: “If historical inaccuracy is ignored for the sake of the message then it is not clear what … Continue reading →

Posted in Elisha Barber, essays, fantasy, fiction, history, Uncategorized, writing, writing process | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment