To ring in the new year, I’d like to talk about my favorite authors, the writers who inspire me, who move me, and whose writing style I love. Every time I pick up a book of theirs, whether I’ve never read it before or I’ve read it dozens of times, these are the writers who …
Category: The Writing Life
Best Portrayals of Santa Claus
A page from J. R. R. Tolkien's Letters from Father Christmas Merry Christmas, my friends! Today’s holiday-themed topic is all about my favorite portrayals of Jolly Old Saint Nick. This legendary gift-giving extraordinaire has been interpreted in many creative ways over the years, with some versions extra memorable in my mind. Plus, this gives me …
A Decade of Myth-Keepers: My Oldest Story
"Mythics" was the original series name - I brainstormed different names for the series in my planner. It's on a November calendar page, but I didn't commit to writing and working on the series until December 2013. The Myth-Keepers, my longest actively worked on series, turns ten years old this month. It is very surreal …
December 2023 Writing Update: A Year of Little Progress
Hey there. It’s been a while. 2023 has been the sparsest year for writing updates (I at least get four, one per quarter, but this is only the third of the year) and one of the longest droughts since the last update (which was in May!). But I will admit up front: it seems odd …
Continue reading December 2023 Writing Update: A Year of Little Progress
The Powers & Perils of Nostalgia
Nostalgia is such an interesting emotion. It brings out longing for the past, but a very idealized version of the past. It makes us overlook flaws in books or other media from our childhood, tinging it with rose-colored glasses. Because it’s a powerful emotion, lately, marketing seems to be saturated with appeals to nostalgia. This …
Facing My Writing Demons: Upon Rereading Our Company of Fools
For the first time since it was published in early 2021, I reread Our Company of Fools—with a Book Club. And yes, it was as intimidating as it sounds, even though it was with a few friends. And yet, I was pleasantly surprised by how reading my own novel, now removed from an author’s protective …
Continue reading Facing My Writing Demons: Upon Rereading Our Company of Fools
Thor’s Failed Marvel Cinematic Universe Character Arc
I’ve expressed in passing that the post-Endgame MCU films have been misses or mediocre for me. While there’s still some fun in going to see the latest Marvel movie, I’ve been less-than-impressed with multiple of the recent MCU films. The Spider-man movies after Endgame were great, I really liked Shang-Chi, and I’d agree that Guardians …
Continue reading Thor’s Failed Marvel Cinematic Universe Character Arc
May 2023 Writing Update: A Finished Draft, A Started Sequel, and A Rut
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
My Top 10 Stories Of All Time
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 …
How To Get Through Writing Your Rough Draft
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
By Madelynn Orion 