Story Time: Week 1 in StoryGrid's scene writing workshop

The chief reason I am taking this course is because I want to write better, faster. I’ve written plenty of meandering first drafts where I’m finding the story and learning the characters, plot, world all at the same time and the second draft is a total rewrite and it takes two years to get a book out. That’s where I live. But… I have so many ideas for stories and new series and wouldn’t it be great if I didn’t take two years to write a damn book! Yes, the answer is yes, it would be great.

Science Fiction, Writing fiction, editingKristen IllarmoNovember 18, 2024Comment

Charlie and the Fur Ball: Scene writing practice

Easy job, she’d said. The pay just happened to be what he needed to get off this swamp infested rat trap of a planet. Just pick up the package and deliver it. And, oh yeah, don’t let the package bite you. That should have been a clue.

Science Fiction, Writing fictionKristen IllarmoNovember 18, 2024Comment

Write at your pace, but make room to write

Have 15 minutes? Start the scene. I also always leave a few lines about what should come next, so I don’t have to start with a blank page when I next pick it up.

Writing fiction, Science Fiction, PublishingKristen IllarmoOctober 7, 2021Time for writing, Time management, writing practiceComment

Prequel cover, the final revealed!

Publishing, Writing fiction, Science Fiction, Book MarketingKristen IllarmoAugust 12, 2021Book Cover, Book Marketing, Fiction writingComment

Taking the book marketing plunge: Post 1

Publishing, Writing fiction, Science FictionKristen IllarmoJune 17, 2021Book Marketing, Sci-fi, FictionComment

There is a looming black hole. It's not just our anxiety.

Publishing, Science Fiction, Writing fictionKristen IllarmoOctober 13, 2020Black HolesComment

Errant black holes and other unsettling thoughts

Science FictionKristen IllarmoMay 5, 2019Space, Black HolesComment

Sometimes the research does back up the writing

So you have an idea that you think it completely far fetched and then you start doing some research and you find out… whoa, Earth could be swallowed by a black hole? I thought it was just Tuesday.

Science Fiction, Writing fictionKristen IllarmoApril 2, 2019Space, SynchronicityComment