Category Archives: Setting

Creative Wednesday: Communicating Our World Building To Our Readers

Posted on December 1, 2021 by dbjackson

Tomorrow night, I will be giving a talk on world building here at the university, in a themed residential house devoted to writing. The students from the house, at least those I’ve met so far, are earnest and passionate and … Continue reading →

Posted in Fantasy, History, Novels, Setting, Writing, Writing Life | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , | Comments Off on Creative Wednesday: Communicating Our World Building To Our Readers

Professional Wednesdays: Lessons From Manuscript Critiques — Simple Is Better

Posted on February 24, 2021 by dbjackson

I am reading stories right now for a teaching gig I have coming up in early March. I’ll be running a critique workshop, and so I not only have to read and comment on the manuscripts, I also should take … Continue reading →

Posted in Novels, Publishing, Setting, Short Fiction, Writing, Writing Life | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Comments Off on Professional Wednesdays: Lessons From Manuscript Critiques — Simple Is Better

Writing-Tip Wednesday: Ten Books You Should Read

Posted on December 23, 2020 by dbjackson

Early in the year — even before the pandemic hit — I wrote a post in which I basically said that all writers should read. There are certain “rules” about the profession that are actually negotiable — writers don’t really … Continue reading →

Posted in Business of publishing, Character, History, Novels, Publishing, Reading, Setting, Short Fiction, Writing, Writing Life | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Comments Off on Writing-Tip Wednesday: Ten Books You Should Read

Writing-Tip Wednesday: Holidays As Part of World Building

Posted on December 9, 2020 by dbjackson

I have written about the holidays a good deal in the past few weeks, but I have yet to address holidays as a topic in a Writing-Tip Wednesday post. Now, you’re first response to this might be, “Well, why would … Continue reading →

Posted in Character, Fun, History, Islevale Cycle, Novels, Setting, Short Fiction, Writing, Writing Life | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Comments Off on Writing-Tip Wednesday: Holidays As Part of World Building

Writing-Tip Wednesday: Descriptions and Point of View

Posted on October 14, 2020 by dbjackson

Description does not — cannot — take place in an emotional or circumstantial vacuum. Not that long ago, I offered tips on writing scenes involving sex and violence, and essentially said that dealing with such encounters is almost entirely a … Continue reading →

Posted in Character, Setting, Writing, Writing Life | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , | Comments Off on Writing-Tip Wednesday: Descriptions and Point of View

Writing-Tip Wednesday: How To Handle Profanity In Your Writing

Posted on September 2, 2020 by dbjackson

Have you watched the HBO series Deadwood? It’s a Western, the creative child of the brilliant David Milch. It’s violent, brutally realistic, and absolutely the most profane thing I have ever watched, with the possible exception of the Academy Award-winning … Continue reading →

Posted in Business of publishing, Novels, Publishing, Setting, Thieftaker, Writing, Writing Life | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Comments Off on Writing-Tip Wednesday: How To Handle Profanity In Your Writing

Writing-Tip Wednesday: Ideas — Finding Them, Using Them

Posted on May 13, 2020 by dbjackson

You may notice at this point that I have yet to offer any tangible advice on dealing with or coming up with ideas. That’s right: I’m stalling. Writing about ideas is really hard. Giving advice on developing ideas is nearly … Continue reading →

Posted in Novels, Setting, Writing, Writing Life | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , | Comments Off on Writing-Tip Wednesday: Ideas — Finding Them, Using Them

Writing Tip Wednesday: Maps, Worldbuilding, and the Creation of Story

Posted on March 25, 2020 by dbjackson

So you’re trapped in your home with too much time and too little to do. The world around you has gone to hell, and you’re fed up. Sound familiar? Yeah, thought so. So why not take the opportunity to create … Continue reading →

Posted in Character, Islevale Cycle, Setting, Writing, Writing Life | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Comments Off on Writing Tip Wednesday: Maps, Worldbuilding, and the Creation of Story

A Quick-Tip Tuesday Post on Travel and Narrative

Posted on May 17, 2016 by dbjackson

We never know when we’re going to draw upon experiences in our lives, be it for setting or character, plot or emotional content, dialog or action or romance or any of the myriad other narrative elements that come, at least … Continue reading →

Posted in Novels, Setting, travel, Writing, Writing Life | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Comments Off on A Quick-Tip Tuesday Post on Travel and Narrative

A Better Day

Posted on February 11, 2015 by dbjackson

First off, my deepest thanks to all who left comments of support and encouragement and advice in response to yesterday’s post. Your words helped. Your good wishes helped. I knew already that I was not alone in feeling those things; … Continue reading →

Posted in Character, Novels, Setting, Writing, Writing Life | Tagged , , , , | Comments Off on A Better Day