Writer, poet, journalist, editor, and more
So-- there it is. Your idea. You're knee-deep in the stream, and the current's moving fast. Suddenly, amid the pebbles and plants clinging relentlessly to the river bed, you see it. A nugget of gold nestled among the dirt. You reach into the biting cold water, gripping it in your palms. Now what? Instead of... Continue Reading →
There is a fairly large debate in certain literary circles as to whether audiences are addressed or invoked whenever a writer produces a work. I didn't know this myself until I read a couple essays for my writing class. I, at least, feel that I can leave that argument to literary theorists. When I write,... Continue Reading →
I'm one of those rare people that's actually still doing what they wanted to do in elementary school. You know, the dream job that you're sure 90% of your classmates will change their minds about. True, the job seemed (A) a whole lot easier and (B) a whole lot more rewarding-- but that's beside the... Continue Reading →
By now, everyone knows that there's no "right" way to write a book. There are as many different writing styles and approaches as there are people. In some ways, writing styles can be grouped into loose categories. However, I prefer to see them as points along a spectrum-- a line stretching between two extremes, with most... Continue Reading →
They say that mimicry is flattery. These days, mimicry is a more subtle art. Sometimes it can lean more toward plagiarism than respect. However, beyond that pessimistic thought, borrowing other's ideas is a proven tactic if you're lacking ideas (or enough ideas for a whole plot). Indeed, it seems that, with all of the novels... Continue Reading →
Ah, that familiar feeling-- the one of having no new ideas. In this world full of literally millions of possible plots and characters, it shouldn't happen, and yet it does, whether caused by a mental block or simply finishing one project and moving to the next. And what's to be done? How can we glean... Continue Reading →
Michael Nellis 