Welcome to a rambly writing update! There’s a lot to cover, so let’s dive right in. A Finished Draft Finishing a draft is a quiet affair, though it feels like it shouldn’t be. While publishing is certainly a big deal, I almost feel like finishing the rough draft is more worthy of celebrating. Finishing a …
Continue reading May 2023 Writing Update: A Finished Draft, A Started Sequel, and A Rut
As a writer, I love good stories. There are some books, movies, and TV shows that continue to stick with me over the years, as well as excellent tales I’ve only recently discovered. Some I appreciate for their impact on my writing; others, I love simply because they excite me and move me. Trying to …
Note: Possible spoilers ahead for The Super Mario Bros. Movie. You’ve been warned. Let’s-a go! I’m a Nintendo fan. And while The Legend of Zelda and Xenoblade Chronicles are my go-to Nintendo franchises, I’ve been looking forward to The Super Mario Bros. Movie ever since it was announced. I went into the film with expectations …
Continue reading Why Critics Are Wrong About The Super Mario Bros. Movie (And Other Thoughts)
Welcome to the first Reading Recap of the year! I’ve decided to split my reading recap posts into three parts this year, as the first few months of 2023 were full of many great books, both fiction and nonfiction. So far, the year has a strong fantasy bent, which will likely continue through the rest …
Continue reading Reading Recap 2023 – Part 1: Mistborn, Princess Bride, Norse Mythology, & More!
This past year has brought some significant encounters with death in my own life. Up until last year, my experiences with death were somewhat distanced. My maternal grandfather died before I was born, and while the shadow of his loss has affected me in a way, it has lacked the same personal sting that my …
I’m the kind of writer who can only write to lyric-less music. From orchestral pieces to movie scores, I’m a big fan of powerful, beautiful music that helps inspire the mood or tone of each scene I’m trying to write. Out of all music genres, though, video game music might just be my absolute favorite. …
I’m slowly realizing two very true things about myself as a writer. First, patience seems to be a defining virtue in this season of my career. Second, I really hate whatever stage of the writing process I’m currently in. Okay, maybe that second point is a little dramatic. After all, if I really disliked writing, …
Continue reading How To Get Through Writing Your Rough Draft
Writing is hard. You’d think after a decade of serious writing, I’d have it figured out. But part of the problem for writing as long as I have? Story ideas grow and get tangled together and make it tricky to know how all the plots, characters, and world-building piece together. Tied up with that, with …
Continue reading March 2023 Writing Update: Rough Drafts Are…Rough
Now that football season is officially over for another seven months, I’m sure you, like me, are missing it already. So let’s talk about some of the best football movies that can help fill the post-Super Bowl void! The following is a list of my favorite football films, in no particular order. Remember the Titans …
Something about the Minnesota Vikings 2022 season felt different from the start. From before the start, actually. I’m not quite sure why I felt this way back in July 2022. Maybe it was the intrigue of a new head coach coming off a Super Bowl-winning season with the LA Rams. Or it could be my …
Continue reading A Season To Remember: A Retrospective on the Minnesota Vikings 2022 Season
By Madelynn Orion 