Like most creative writers, I have a lot going on in my life that isn’t related to the story I’m penning. First, there’s the repetitive work at my day job, then household chores like dirty dishes, shopping, cooking, paying bills, and finally, the shameless attempt to stay in touch with friends and relatives. When I…
Back in 1999, when author Stephen King was severely injured in a pedestrian/vehicle accident, a young man at the library where I work commented, “Maybe now he’ll have to stay at his desk and write books faster”. Not only did I find his comment incredibly insensitive, I also found it naïve. Just because King didn’t…
It’s a cocky thing to say, but I’ll say it: I rarely get stuck when I’m writing. (Notice I didn’t say ‘never.’) If I feel slightly stuck, here’s what I do: I start writing down everything my character is feeling in the moment, in the “now” of that character’s situation. If the character isn’t feeling…
By Natasha Watts As you may know by now, the 2020 Colorado Gold Conference has been moved online as part of the Colorado Writers’ Collaborative. We’re sad we can’t be together in person, but here’s one thing COVID-19 can’t take away: the 2020 RMFW Anthology, baby! WILD: UNCIVILIZED TALES FROM ROCKY MOUNTAIN FICTION WRITERS will…
In 2018 I narrated and released an audiobook version of my novel, Etti’s Intended. Riding a shallow learning curve, it took over a year for me to grasp the daunting combination of knowledge and skills necessary to reach “The End” of that first novel. It’s magical to hear your novel come to life in audio,…