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Summer Scale-Back | A Message From Avril
Hey, friends! This post is going to be a tad different from the usual. I'm just popping in with a little update. Let me assure you there's nothing to worry about. I don't want to spur any undue anxiety with the words, "We need to talk." Been there, done that far too many times. As the summer draws near, I'm looking ahead and starting to figure out my plans for the blog as well as other ongoing creative endeavors and life in general. Throughout the first half of this year, I
May 29, 20243 min read
Editing As You Go: Should You Dive In Or Hold Off?
Oh, editing! How we love you and loathe you at the same time. Editing is a sometimes tedious, sometimes frustrating, and always crucial step in the writing process. But when should you start? Some writers recommend waiting until you've finished the first draft of your story and to consider giving yourself a buffer of at least a few weeks before you edit. Others edit as they write the first draft. Your approach will depend on your style as a writer and can change from one pr
May 26, 20247 min read
We Need To Talk About Christa | Alternative Endings For Telltale's TWD's Most Underused Character
It's no secret that I love choose-your-own-adventure games. Detroit: Become Human is my favorite game second only to my dearly beloved Red Dead Redemption II , with Until Dawn and The Quarry pretty much tied for third place. Not too long ago, I posted about a character from the Danganronpa games that felt underused from a storytelling perspective, and that got me thinking about another character who got the short end of the stick in the writer's room: Christa from Tellta
May 19, 202414 min read
Sometimes Listen To Christian Pop When I Write, But I'm Not Religious
Music plays a significant role in my writing process. Putting together a playlist for any new story idea is pretty much one of, if not the first, things I'll do, even if all I have to go on is a single character name and the foggiest of concepts in my head. It lets me get a feel for the vibe of the story and explore different thematic elements I might want to weave into it. It 's also helpful for refocusing myself when I'm coming back to a project after time away from it. W
May 12, 20245 min read
New Game Plus - Writer's Edition | Rewriting Your Book Isn't Always Starting Over From Scratch
If my fingers aren't rapidly tapping away at my keyboard, chances are they're curled around my rose gold DualShock controller, indexes poised on the triggers and thumbs nestled in the slightly concave groove of the sticks. I've become an avid gamer as an adult, my favorite title of all being Red Dead Redemption II (as longtime readers of the blog can attest). I've played through the main storyline a total of four times now and virtually live in the post-epilogue. There's some
May 5, 20245 min read
Getting Into The Write Headspace (In 4 Little Ways)
Many writers have an idea of what their dream writing space looks like. Maybe it's in a specific location, like sitting on the beach with a strawberry daiquiri in hand, or sitting on a train with the hills of Scotland rolling by, or just how we'd like to make over a room in our current or future home if time and money were of no object. A lot of us, however, make do with where we are, whether we are bouncing between spaces or able to write in one spot that isn't great but is
Apr 28, 20246 min read
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