Last weekend I immersed myself in the Virginia Festival of the Book. I’m fortunate that the festival takes place right down the road, and I took full advantage of my proximity to hit up as many panels and events as I could. My weekend started with a panel on world-building in Science Fiction and Fantasy,…
Author: E.K.Thiede
I'm a writer, former teacher, mother of tiny humans, fast talker, and a northern transplant who now lives in central Virginia. Things I love: books, people who care deeply about things, dance parties with my kids, espresso, and big squashy armchairs.
I edit my novels constantly, but not my blog posts, so don't expect brilliant wordplay here. Welcome to my brain! It's messy and disorganized but never boring.
Contests!
There are more ways to publish a book than ever before– big publishing companies, vanity publishers, online self-publishing, the list goes on and on– but most of the authors on the “New Releases” shelf at Barnes and Noble got there by sending their book to an agent first. Agents are the gatekeepers in traditional publishing….
The Inkwell Council Experience
I saw a post on Twitter in January about a group offering free manuscript critiques and went to check out their website. Every month they select one manuscript and then the Council provides feedback on the first three chapters. Many writers and editors offer similar services for a fee (often a VERY STEEP fee), but…
When Good Books Revolt
I’m in a war with my middle-grade fantasy novel. I’m only a few chapters in and already it is refusing to be what I want it to be. Or, rather, what I intended it to be, at least. As I’ve mentioned on here before, I began writing this book (working Title: Dragon Thief) because I…
#GOALS
I feel a bit like Lucy at the chocolate factory, stuffing my face and shirt with truffles to keep them from crashing to the floor. Like chocolate, the things I’m juggling right now are things I love, so I can’t complain too much. It’s a good problem to have. Still, I need to find…
Feedback Bonanza!
Whew, life has been coming at me fast recently. I’m back in writing class, for one thing, which means reading up to 60 pages a week of my classmates’ writing and typing up feedback for them. I’ve also been marching around town like the rest of the newly energized populace, carrying signs and chanting. In…
Okay, so we’re doing this! Chapter One!
I don’t know about all of you, but MAN I NEED A PICK ME UP RIGHT NOW! I wish I could give the world a hug, or buy you a coffee or an expensive chocolate, but my arms and funds are limited by distance and… well, funds, so instead I’m giving you a chapter. It’s…
Writing Prompts, or “Naked Dude on a Horse”
One way that for writers to develop and fine-tune their craft is to do writing prompts. A prompt can be as simple as a sentence or a picture, or sometimes just a part of a sentence. For example, if I said, “When Anna woke up that day, she had no idea….” No idea what? That…
Here there be Dragons…
Inspiration is an odd phenomenon. Many writers refer to their “muse,” that ephemeral something that gives them ideas. I’ve never felt like I had a muse, whether tangible or intangible. That’s just not how I visualize the creative process for me (so if you have a muse, go on with your bad self and enjoy…
My Year in Books
I have a gift. Just one. I discovered it at a young age. I have now passed it on to my eldest child. Come close and I’ll tell you… * * * * *whispers* I am a very fast reader. (A bit of a let down? Sorry. This is real life. You want magical gifts,…