In Case You Missed it, here’s the round-up of all of my latest content, plus updates from old guests!
Read on if you want to know more. If not? See you next week with more writing tips and writerly musings.
Coming up this week:
On Youtube:
- Morgan’s Lazy Sunday Afternoon “Productivity” Stream: – Sunday afternoons, starting at 4:30pm ET. Come, hang out, eat snacks, and maybe even get some productivity done yourself.
- The Queery Helpline w/Patrick Hopkins, Hosted by Morgan Hazelwood – Next episode is Monday, April 3rd at 9:30pm ET. Because re-writing someone else’s query is 1 million times easier than working on your own, where we’re fundraising for reproductive rights and giving back to the writing community. Every other Monday at 9:30pm EST. DM to details.
On Twitch:
- Or join the livestreams here on twitch!
Content Around The Web:
On Youtube/Twitch:
- Giving Your Characters Room To Grow – While I was reading this week, I realized my favorite parts of the books were where I could see how characters had done the work, grown, and become better versions of themselves. And I realized — I could do better at giving my characters room to grow. Here are some ways to create flawed characters, how to overcome flaws OR how to embrace flaws.
On Season 6 of the Podcast “Writing Tips and Writerly Musings”:
- Tips and Tricks to Fix Word Count Issues – Each type of book has its own expected word count. From chick-lit to epic fantasy, from picture books, to middle-grade to adult, it’s often easier to find traction with agents, publishers, and even readers when your story length meets expectations.
On The Blog (In Case You Missed It):
- Giving Your Characters Room To Grow – While I was reading this week, I realized my favorite parts of the books were where I could see how characters had done the work, grown, and become better versions of themselves. And I realized — I could do better at giving my characters room to grow. Here are some ways to create flawed characters, how to overcome flaws OR how to embrace flaws.
- Author Spotlight Guest: Austin Blair – a hybrid fiction writer who was once a librarian, he’s sharing writing tips and writerly musings with us.
Upcoming Events:
RavenCon 2023 – April 21-23rd, 2023 – Richmond, VA
Balticon 2023 – May 26-29th, 2023 – Baltimore, MD
Imaginarium Convention 2023 – July 14-16th, 2023 – Louisville, KY
What I’ve Been Reading:
I didn’t have any pressing work deadlines and I had vacation leave to burn, so I took Tuesday off so I could start reading as soon as Book 29 of the Anita Blake series by Laurell K. Hamilton dropped. While I was happy to hear it was a 2-parter, the character growth — of main and background characters alike inspired this week’s blog/video posts!
Smoulder (#29)
Vampire hunter Anita Blake is no stranger to killing monsters. It’s part of her job as a Preternatural U.S. Marshal, after all. But even her experience isn’t enough to stop something that is bent on destroying everything—and everyone—she loves.
Anita Blake is engaged to Jean-Claude, the new vampire king of America. Humans think she’s gone over to the side of the monsters. The vampires fear that their new king has fallen under the spell of the most powerful necromancer in a thousand years.
In the midst of wedding preparations—including getting Edward, aka U.S. Marshal Ted Forrester, fitted as best man—Anita gets a call that the local police need her expertise at a brutal murder scene linked to a nationwide slaughter of vampires and humans, dubbed the Sunshine Murders.
But there is more than just a murderer to catch: an ancient evil has arrived in St. Louis to challenge Jean-Claude for his crown, his life, Anita, and all they hold dear. Even with Jean-Claude’s new powers as king and Anita’s necromancy, it isn’t enough; they must embrace their triumvirate or allow primeval darkness to spread across the country, possessing first the vampires and then the humans. Evil will triumph unless Jean-Claude and Anita can prove that love conquers all.
New Works By Previous Guests:
Nothing this week, check back soon!
Picture(s) of the Week:
I debuted two poems at this month’s Spilled Ink — a local open mic night for writers on 4th Fridays. “Alone, In a Crowd” and “Screaming. On. Mute.” The audience said they appreciated both of them.
WRITING TIPS & WRITERLY MUSINGS 