Vitamin F: Birth Control

When we hear about birth control in the news, so often we’re hearing about things like condoms and contraceptives, but let’s pull back and think about those words in a more literal context.

Birth control, as a phrase, denotes controlling birth, or at least the factors involved with birth.  Usually, this means control on a personal level, such as individual choices, family planning, or simply having a procedure to insure one can’t have any children.

The problems arise when governments try to assert that control for themselves.

Notes on Strong Women

As I find myself at the nexus of three projects, all featuring at least one strong female, I’ve been reminded more and more of one of my biggest influences when it comes to characters and building tension.

Greg Rucka is a fantastic writer, noted (or notorious) for his female characters and putting them through as much hell as his male characters.  You only think Joss Whedon torments characters; Rucka does worse and usually leaves them alive.

Becoming a Detective

A few years ago, I finished the first draft of Vitamin F and I started noticing things about people.  There were little details everywhere, things I thought would be good to include in my writing.  I was fascinated by all these little details, then I realized something shocking:

All the little details were clues, hinting toward something else.  It’s never the same from one person to the next, but the little things can paint a more complete–and interesting–picture of who a person is.

A Dose of Vitamin F

I have always tried to uphold basic values of compassion and decency.  At a young age, my Mom taught me the Golden Rule and I have tried to uphold it as well.  With that in mind, I’m going to get political.

Embracing the Visage

Something I’ve been thinking about for a while now isthe author photo.  Since I’ve written books and am starting to build a little following for it–thank you guys!–it’s becoming more and more a reality.  I’m going to have to do this.

Because of that, I find myself torn between two distinct forms and not big on either.

The Most Difficult Question

Recently, I asked those who follow me on twitter and Google+ what they’d like to see me address here in my regular posts.  One of the first responses I found troubling and interesting at the same time:

What is the most difficult character for you to write?

My first thought was that I just get rid of said characters, but that’s not an entirely honest answer.  I was confused as to how to answer for the longest time.

The Cornerstone

Years ago, I got a little book for Christmas, a book filled with simple insights about writing.  My Mom caught an interview on the local news and found out where she could get a signed copy for me, since she thought it was something I might find useful.

And did I.

The Writer’s Little Instruction Book: 385 Secrets for Writing Well & Getting Published by Paul Raymond Martin is a fine book of anecdotes, full of playful bits of wisdom.

I Got An Award!

Can you believe it?  It’s happened, it’s finally happened.  I got an award!  This is so great and wonderful and awesome, I don’t know if I can contain myself!

What award you ask?  Why, the prestigious LIEBSTER AWARD!

Plan? What Plan?

There have been times when I’ve tried to put together plans on how I want things to go forward.  Every writer does this to some degree or another.  In fact, I’d dare say we do it more as we come closer to success.

Plans don’t work out, they never do.  There’s an old military axiom: No plan survives first contact with the enemy.  I’d be willing to extend that to first contact with friends as well.  That’s just how life goes.

Lucky Seven

Earlier today, I was asked by Shen Hart to go to page 7 or 77 of my current manuscript, go down to line 7, then post seven lines from that point.  I have several stories I can choose from, but I thought it would be interesting to show off more of Tesseract.