by Jim
Hi Jim, I’m trying to come up with characters for my book. I was hoping you could maybe provide a little insight into how you came up with yours. I specifically liked Xaphine, could you use her as an example? Thanks, Rich. Hi Rich, General Xaphine seems to be a recurrent theme in character discussions… perhaps I should write her into another story. You … Read More Character Development #Writing #Author #Advice
by Jim
Admittedly, I’m not big on the voice of the lead singer. He kind of put me off the band for a while. The release of the album ‘The Last Stand’ changed all that. These songs are amazing and it’s hard for me to resist a band with good music where the subject matter is history! When to listen: World building. Sabaton likes to tell … Read More From My Writing Playlist
by Jim
Hi Jim, I’m in a major bind… I was working on my latest piece. I’d been working on it for days and… forgot to save it. I was about 140 pages in and suddenly my computer blue-screened. I’ve lost everything and Word didn’t auto-save it. I’m not sure of what to do now. I feel like having to start from scratch is a fairly … Read More Just Start Over… #Writing #Author #Advice
by Jim
Here’s another one from Sabaton. When to listen: Same as before. World building. Sabaton likes to tell stories in their songs that deal in historical events and groups of people. It’s a unique type of metal that is great for brainstorming. Readers, Do you have a question about writing, publishing, my stories, etc? Please feel free to post a comment or email me. … Read More From My Writing Playlist
+ advice, Author, Book, Fiction, literature, Nonfiction, Reading, writer's block, Writing
by Jim
Hi Jim, I saw your posts inviting people to ask for advice, so I thought I’d ask… How do you deal with writer’s block? Right now, I’m having issues with it. I had a great idea, I’ve gotten about half way into writing my story, but now I’ve just run out of steam. I can’t even get myself behind the keyboard to type because … Read More Beating the Writer’s Block #Writing #Author #Advice
by Jim
Found this one online not too long ago. It’s soft, relaxing, and is pretty well done. When to listen: Simply put, this is something to listen to when you need to unwind. I wouldn’t necessarily use it while writing, but perhaps just as a way to detox after. Readers, Do you have a question about writing, publishing, my stories, etc? Please feel free to … Read More From My Writing Playlist
+ advice, Author, Book, Fiction, literature, Uncategorized
by Jim
Hi James, We connected on Twitter and I got your email address from your website. You had made a comment on Twitter to feel free to email for advice. I’m new to self-publishing and released my first book in January. I had worked on the manuscript off and on for a couple of years before getting serious about publishing. I did the best I … Read More Bad Reviews… #Writing #Author #Advice
by Jim
Not metal, but given where most of our music comes from, metalheads should appreciate this. This song is extremely old and has a lot of history to it. It is hauntingly beautiful and relaxing. Everything sounds better in Swiss. When to listen: Honestly, I use it when brainstorming or when relaxing between writing sessions. It really is a song that can be used in multiple … Read More From My Writing Playlist
by Jim
Hey Jim, I was just wondering how you come up with your character descriptions? I’m trying to accurately describe my character, but sometimes it can be hard to figure out exactly how I want them to look, you know? Thanks, Gerraid Hi Gerraid, All too well, I’m afraid. It can be tough figuring out what your character looks like. If you create the … Read More Character Descriptions #Writing #Author #Advice
by Jim
Sabaton kind of reminds me of the Dropkick Murphys with this song, but it’s still a good one. When to listen: Charged with positive energy, so I’d say during writing fatigue. It’s a good way to recharge while still getting some inspiration. Readers, Do you have a question about writing, publishing, my stories, etc? Please feel free to post a comment or email me. … Read More From My Writing Playlist
by Jim
“Dear Jim, I’ve been writing a novel for some time now, but it’s been a struggle. I’ve come on hard times recently with a friend. I’ve felt betrayed and hurt. The problem is that I’m afraid to write while I feel that way. I’m worried that it will affect my writing and change how the story goes. Do you think I should keep going … Read More Embracing the Dark Side… #Writing #Author #Advice
+ advice, fantasy, Inspiration, literature, Music, Reading, Writing
by Jim
Yeah, no Heavy Metal playlist is complete without at least 5 songs by Dragonforce. This song is pure adrenaline. It makes you feel good, it’s upbeat, and I love it. When to Listen: Well, it’s on my general playlist and I like to listen to it whenever, but if you’re looking for a specific time to listen to it… burnout. I’m not kidding. … Read More From My Writing Playlist #Writing #Author #Advice
James Harringtons Creative Work 