MathiasCavanaugh.com

A fantasy & science fiction writer's blog by author Mathias Cavanaugh
  • Home
  • Home
  • Novels
    • Daughters of Fate Book 1
    • Daughters of Fate Book 2
    • Daughters of Fate Book 3
  • About Mathias Cavanaugh
  • Info For Literary Agents/Publishers
  • Contact Mathias

Archive

Archive for the ‘The Writing Process’ Category

When In Doubt, Blow Something Up!

September 4, 2020 Mathias Leave a comment

When writers get “stuck” during the course of their work, they often call it something like “writer’s block”. And they’ll sit there and agonize (sometimes for months and even years, believe it or not) about how to get past a particularly troublesome point in their story.

People who have been listening to me pontificate about writing know that one of the things I repeatedly stress is that I do not suffer from “writer’s block.”

Am I lying? No. It’s the truth!

Am I some sort of weird inhuman creature? Also, no.

So then, how is this possible? How have I overcome an affliction that seems so common for writers young and old, new and experienced, published and unpublished?

I simply use one or more of some common, easy to implement strategies, that’s how. Some might call these “tricks” or “gimmicks”. I call them tools that are necessary in every writer’s toolbox.

So, today I want to talk about the strategy of when is doubt, “Blow Something Up!”

Or, as was put so poetically by Jamie Hyneman from Mythbusters …

Now, when I say “blow something up,” that can be taken literally or figuratively. It really depends on the story you are writing.

If you are writing an action spy thriller, it might mean that you literally “blow something up.” The good guy’s car during an escape. The pursuit helicopter. Whatever needs physically blown up in the moment.

But, if you are writing a romance story, “blowing something up,” might be more of a figurative sort of thing. Maybe the two main love birds have a misunderstanding that leads to some sort of emotional turmoil or falling out between them and requires the plot to progress so everything can be fixed and love will bloom once more.

If you’re writing a vampire novel, maybe you break a window and let the daylight stream in upon the hapless blood sucker (be he/she hero or villain).

What you are doing is, at its core, introducing some extremely catastrophic event that is somewhat plausible within the continuity of your story. This is what it essentially means to “blow things up” in your story.

Now, a word of warning. Unless you are writing a farcical story, as I said, the explosion you introduce (literal or figurative) has to be plausible. Not necessarily probable, mind you.

If you are writing a Sci-Fi Thriller, introducing an alien invasion is plausible. If you are writing a Teen Rom-Com, aliens coming down and wreaking havoc within the narrative is most likely NOT plausible. Although, it may be.

Plausibility of the catastrophic action you are implementing as a storytelling device is crucial. The reader has to look at what you just did and say to themselves, “Yeah … I’ll buy that!”

So, next time you are stuck in your story, try blowing something up!

In the future, I’ll be talking about other methods I use to get around the dreaded problem of writer’s block. All of which are either useful or fun or even both!

Categories: General Things, The Writing Process, Writing Style

Real Rules For Real Writers

January 10, 2020 Mathias Leave a comment

Ok, I admit it … I’m horrible at keeping this site up to date! If only I spent as much time creating content here as I do for other people!

So, to start off 2020 I want to talk about “rules” for writers. Seems like a lot of self-important people have them. Filled will all sorts of obscene absolutes that really don’t make much sense except to come off as pompus. So, without further ado, I thought I’d give you my less stodgy list of writing “rules”.

Enjoy!

  • If you think what you’ve written is great, it’s probably rubbish.  But if you think what you’ve written is rubbish, then it is possibly passable.
  • If you haven’t edited your story half a dozen times (or more), it probably isn’t done yet.

Read more…

Categories: Form and Style, General Things, The Writing Process

Creative Free Writing – My Fingers

May 2, 2019 Mathias Leave a comment

Just something I blurted out today …

My Fingers:

Sometimes nimble, but often hesitant, all my ideas flow from me through them. Onto the page the thoughts and dreams within my mind course forth through gripped pen or the caress of keys. Fighting with my desires and against my heart, they are at times an unwelcome gatekeeper to my progress. To hate them would be foolish, for they are so much a part of me and the stories I seek to tell. Today I must learn to control the curse of these tendrils and break it. I will deal with their protestations of tomorrow when that time comes.

Categories: General Things, The Writing Process, Writing Style
Older Entries

Let’s Connect!

Follow Me on FacebookFollow Me on TwitterFollow Me on LinkedInFollow Me on PinterestFollow Me on RSSFollow Me on Goodreads

Subscribe to My Newsletter

We keep your data private and share your data only with third parties that make this service possible. Read our Privacy Policy.

Check your inbox or spam folder to confirm your subscription.

Read Books by Mathias Cavanaugh

AVAILABLE NOW ON WATTPAD!

Daughters of Fate Book 1
Daughters of Fate Book 2
Daughters of Fate Book 3

Tales of the Inglorious Brotherhood (In Progress)

Recent Posts

  • Was an instant payday loan such as a cash loan inside Hattiesburg?
  • Cheap Essay For Sale – Get Your Paper Sold Quickly
  • (no title)
  • Getting Your Writing Done: Burst and Session Writing
  • Daughters of Fate (The Completed Trilogy)

Categories

Archives

Writing Projects:

Novels:
Under the Darkened Moon (Final Manuscript)
100%
Outsider (1st Draft)
90%
Cry of the Golden Wyvern (1st Draft)
15%
Awakening (1st Draft)
55%
Dragon's Tale (1st Draft)
15%
Her Lovely Blood (1st Draft)
20%
The Half-Orc Princess (1st Draft)
15%
The Stone-Flesh Curse (1st Draft)
10%
Wildflower's Rebellion (Concept)
0%

Short Stories:
Second Chances (Final Manuscript)
100%
The Yoke (Final Manuscript 2nd Take)
100%
First and Second Lessons (3rd Polish Edit)
88%
Sacrifice (Manuscript)
90%
The Flames (5th Polish Edit)
100%

Top
Copyright © 2011-2022 MathiasCavanaugh.com