While I primarily write fantasy romance, I can’t help but explore other genres. I’m endlessly curious about what elements readers expect to get lost in when they pick up a thriller, for example. Is it all about the cleverest plot twist? What makes a satisfying horror story? Experiencing nightmares from the comfort of your armchair?
What do readers want in historical fiction… to compare life to better times, worse times? What keeps them swiping pages in a steamy, emotional romance novel, besides the steam? Okay. My last one. What is it about traveling to a future world here or out there that draws readers to sci-fi? For me it’s the idea of having a future of any kind.
Then, there are all the sub-genres.
Within the sub-genres—even within a single novel—are the myriad of tropes that change constantly depending on what’s popular.
Where do you go to get inspiration before you even get to the genre you want your story to live in?
Do you prefer writing in one genre? What’s your go-to style?
If you have a favorite style and genre, how do you come up with fresh story ideas inside that genre?
Do you feel your way through the mechanics of a story, and let it tell itself? Or do you establish your structure and all the rules first?
This excerpt is from an article I found after Googling the subject question.
…This [looking for compelling interests] might take the form of research, conversations, looking through ephemera, or journaling. If you follow the trail of that preoccupation, you’re bound to come across the engine of a story.
The idea of being “bound to come across the engine of a story” totally resonated with me. When I started writing, I had no idea about the mechanics of the craft, or that fiction writing was… well… mechanical. Don’t get me wrong. I was an admin assistant and paralegal for decades. Proper grammar, editing, and the efficient conveying of words in sentences and paragraphs were my bread and butter. In other words, mechanics. But when I started my writing journey, I was focused on the artistic side of things—the creative outlet just like all my previous downtime activities in arts and crafts. The “feel good” aspect.
Creativity for me is all about the organic flow of imagination and ideas, letting one thing build onto another, applying different mediums until it feels right under your hands. That’s how I write. I feel my story through the keyboard as I type. But three years into the journey, I’m learning there is much more to it. Feeling the words might get those ideas flowing, but to craft a good story takes the study of and dedication to the mechanics.
So, after plowing through writing my first novel using my decades of voracious reading and acquired business writing sense, and all the grammar fluidity I honed along my career path in combination with my imagination, I’m now digging deeper into the mechanics of fiction, especially as I try my hand at a different genre.
I love reading and watching good horror. Now, I want to write one.
Short story anthologies are a great way for writers to try out the mechanics of a whole new device. I’m currently challenging myself to write a horror story under 20,000 words. Thanks to articles like the one above (and I recommend reading the short piece with quotes from great writers about finding their story ideas) and folks like Dave Chesson, the Kindlepreneur, who generously share resources like Horror Writing Prompts: 50+ Ideas to Get You Started, I’m on my way.
My problem is that I have a real tough time writing scary, bad people, doing scary bad things. That’s where examining the technical aspects of the craft might help. So, I’m off on a whole new tangent. But hey! That’s my joy.
Here’s a link to one of my side trips, aka articles, that you might find helpful. Writing Evil Characters. Packed with great memorable nuggets like this.
…evil characters are heroes in their own stories and in the stories of their minions and countless supporters. And as heroes, it’s important to see how the plot of your story or novel is affecting them and forcing them to grow. ~ Naomi D. Nakashima
However, what I’m learning about the horror genre is that the antagonist doesn’t have to be a person. It could be an entity, an urban legend, the protagonist’s own mind… So off I go, tripping further down the tangent highway of horror.
I would love to get your ideas on how you find ideas. Leave your comments below.
I’ll leave you with this cover and link to one of my short stories where I did venture down the path of horror to a degree, dabbling in a totally fun sub-genre—one I’d never heard of until entering a writing contest with Writing Battle. Cannibal Comedy.
Ride through a swamp in a gondola full of serial killers on their way to a banquet in The Passengers. Their grim pilot? He wears a dark cloak and carries a scythe. The story is also part of my collection of short stories for 99 pennies on Amazon.
Art inspiring writing, inspiring design, inspiring feedback, inspiring reading, inspiring art… and the cycle goes on…
I couldn’t just share this amazing review all by itself. The much appreciated words needed graphics and drama to inspire others besides me. So, I hope you see this as potential for designing your own graphics through Canva as well as adding an epic read to your summer book list.
The Starlight Chronicles
I promised Thomas on his deathbed that I would set out to find the place I was meant to be. Neither of us had a clue where, but Thomas was adamant it wasn’t Reno. So, I shouldered my grief, left my nine-to-five job, packed up my art supplies, and hit the highway. Quincy, California, picked me. I knew this because I found the perfect cottage, miles of hiking trails, and a quaint old tavern with a booth in the corner where I could drink my beer, observe the patrons, and sketch their faces.
Soon, the subtle things that emerge from my charcoal images plunge me into a world right out of a Grimm fairytale. Seemingly ordinary citizens have strange lights in their eyes, visible auras, and uncanny strength. The most intriguing is Andras Johns, and I wonder if the towering man who sets me on fire with one look is the prince in the story or the beast lurking in the woods.
When I find out, I never look back, and suddenly my life is filled with prophetic destiny, hot alpha shifters, mysterious vampires, Fae princesses, an alien antagonist intent on taking me for himself…
You never know when you might strike up a conversation on Instagram during those designated periods each day spent checking out all the creative content in the bookish community. Every so often, a post or a comment will lead me to an awesome resource, exchange of ideas, or a new favorite book or author, which is how I ended up enjoying a fantastic adult urban fantasy series by A. B. Herron, and that prompted an invite to the author to visit my Sunday Spotlight.
Let’s Meet the Author
A. B. Herron is a dyslexic Indy author who resides in the Pacific Northwest where her Elemental Wolf novels take place. Mingling her studies in anatomy and Zoology, she entwines science and magic to creative effect while plundering the forests for inspiration.
She says her love of reading is her dad’s fault, introducing her to White Fang, Treasure Island, and Call of the Wild before she could hold a book. When she conquered reading for herself, Herron could be found curled up in her closet, tucked away from reality riding on horseback, preforming magic, and later running with werewolves.
Herron works full time, writing in the cracks between responsibilities… and playing with her dogs because she just can’t help herself.
Let’s Get Started
Thank you so much for stopping by, Amanda! I’ve really looked forward to our chat. In the time since we first talked about doing this interview, you’ve planned some exciting events, and I’ve had a chance to read both Watching Water and Hearing Wind.
Your stories tick a lot of boxes for me. The setting covers my favorite neighboring regions. The characters are rich, diverse, and captivating and each time a new one is introduced, they’re more surprising than the last, magical and otherwise.
Besides the individual characters, I adore all the supernatural races who come to life in such fantastical detail, leaping off the pages and fluttering into my world like fairy lights. The delectably spicy interactions are imaginative, fresh, and above all, sensual, which is perfect for the elemental theme and Nora who, as a kindred, is a child of nature.
Let’s start with updates on your book signing events and then we’ll dive into your works and writer’s life. I imagine Portland and the Pacific Northwest in general is a great place to engage in the wild with your readers (no pun intended 😄). I would love to hear about your experiences. How are the venues? What is it like preparing? How do you plan for how many books to bring? Does one event lead to doing another, or how do you find events? (And note to our readers. As I’m writing this, A. B. Herron is gearing up for a big event at Barnes and Noble in Eugene, Oregon tomorrow, and I can’t wait to hear about it!)
ABH. Hi Darci, let me start by saying thank you so much for spotlighting me and inviting me onto your blog. I’ve really been looking forward to chatting with you about all things books. 2024 has been a very exciting year for me so far. I dedicated this year to outreach with readers, which means finding different in-person opportunities, blog spots, and podcasts. Bumping into you was a happy accident (and I enjoyed exploring your romance world as well!).
As you mentioned above, Barnes and Noble was my first book signing last Saturday, and for a first-time event, it went really well. I had some amazing local support from friends who came by to add to their book collections, as well as a handful of curious new readers. My favorite moment was watching someone literally cradle my book after they read the back blurb, then announce “This has to come home with me!” My author’s heart soared, followed closely by the fear of “Oh my gosh, I hope she enjoys it!’ 😆
Because I’m so new to this part of the book world, I’m learning as I go. My biggest recommendation for anyone getting started is to ask questions of experienced authors. The book community is an invaluable resource and I’m so grateful to everyone who has fielded my questions. I should have asked how many books to order. Whoops! In my enthusiasm, I estimated fifty of each copy, and have been told since that I have perhaps overreached. However, I did have twenty books find new homes last weekend, so that was hopeful. The prep work has been multifaceted, everything from designing an aesthetic for the tables to learning how to use a card reader.
These experiences are forcing me to finally set up that mailing list for readers, as well as be more vocal about what I write. I’ve been shy about talking about my book on Instagram, which is funny because that is the reason I got onto Instagram! I’ve been so impressed by your page, by the way, your book content is wonderful to wander through. So to answer your last question I’m not sure if doing one event will lead to others.
The “Hot and Steamy Portland” romance book fair that is happening at the end of the month (May 30th-June 1st) was an opportunity my friend shared with me and I applied and got accepted. Art and Vineyard, which is taking place in Eugene in July (4th-7th), I got accepted into because I made contact with a local author who spearheads a lot of local author opportunities. My best advice, scour the internet, go to local events and talk to people about how they got in, and ask the writing community at large. When people know you are looking, they tend to help you out.
DLL. This is all so fantastic! Thank you for sharing your experiences and awesome tips. And what a special treat to have someone cherish your book even before reading it. You must still be walking on clouds.
One of the things I love most about your stories is how you bring so many layers of the natural world onto the pages. It’s clear that you love the outdoors and you’ve said you enjoy plundering the forests for inspiration, but to be able to tell a story and convey that love through the sensory details is a real talent. I’m imagining that you soak up so much nature that you either journal about it or somehow catalog the things you experience. Can you talk about that aspect of your writing? What’s your process?
ABH. Thank you, Darci. That’s high praise coming from someone who has spent so much time in the Pacific Northwest, I’m happy to hear I did it justice. Honestly, I don’t journal as much as I’d like. My husband is an avid photographer and when he finds a really good spot I will sometimes pull out a notebook to ramble in while he shoots. But that’s rare.
When I am outdoors I pause and really take in my surroundings, from the smells, to how the light filters through trees, and I even stop to watch bugs. Being present, really present, and curious, I think cements these experiences for me so that when I sit down to write, there is a forest already in my head, in graphic detail.
I would imagine that my dyslexia is an asset here because I experience my inner world as a movie with more pictures than words, and it enhances my memory recall to vivid effect. It also means I’m a notorious daydreamer, but I try to stay in the moment as much as possible. 😂
DLL. Well, I have to say your process benefits your readers! And it’s inspiring for writers… and us daydreamers!
One of my favorite sections that demonstrates how you paint your scenes and put me right inside Nora’s head is her first encounter with the griffons. There’s a rich sensuality threaded through all the elements, not just in the spicy interaction between the smart, sassy, and fun characters, but through Nora’s experiences with her wolf, nature, and magic. I’ve been better in recent weeks at highlighting my favorite snippets while I read, and I want to share a few here from Hearing Wind to illustrate.
Benji’s voice was low and calm from the other room, tumbling like cotton balls into my ears over the din of the city seeping through the open windows.
I could feel the weight of the sky pushing down on me, as if it were trying to keep the scenery in two dimensions and my presence was disrupting the symmetry.
[H]is body was precise and controlled, yet fluid, as if he danced in the space he occupied.
A huge moon floated low in the star-cluttered sky. She pulled at me, begging me to slip my skin and come play in her light.
I could smell his fear for me hiding against his skin.
The air had started to take on the flavor of darkness–cool, pulling loam and moisture forward, sun drenched pine needles fading into the background.
…the emotion glided across her face like a shadow of a fish underwater, then dispersed.
And there are so many more prosy spots I captured.
My next question is how long did it take you to write Books One and Two? Did you live with these stories and characters a long time before starting them?
ABH. Oh, what a great question. Nora, my main character, and Zayden showed up in a short story that I wrote for a friend. Yet I couldn’t set them aside and their bigger story just unfolded around me as I began to play with it. Book One is the first book I’ve ever written, and the characters didn’t live with me long before I put them on the page. It took about a year to write Watching Water, and if it wasn’t for a good friend, I’m not sure it would have happened that fast. Getting the book edited and published was another two-year endeavor. Hearing Wind took a little longer to write. I had my writing group by then, which helped me constantly turn out chapters, but my work life got busier, and then the pandemic hit. My characters don’t live in my head for extended periods, they tend to pop up when they are needed, and I have to spend time getting to know who they are after they walk across my pages.
DLL. We share so many parallel experiences. 🙂 For my three-book series, Book One was published rather (too) fast within the first six months, and it was my very first novel. Book Two was published by the end of that first year. But it took me two more years to finish Book Three. And I’m glad because it was important to wrap everything up in the best way possible. So, to our audience today… don’t put that pressure on yourself. Enjoy the writing and listen to your characters. That’s what comes through most to our readers.
Can you share what we can expect to see next? What’s in the works?
ABH. Happy too. With a bit of luck, I will have the next book in the Elemental Wolf series coming out this year. The date keeps getting pushed back, because, well, life. This book is a slight deviation in the storyline because it is taking place right after Book One and during the events in Book Two. The reader will be following Tobin, a morally grey character from Watching Water, who has a lot of redemption ahead of him if he is going to survive. I apologize to everyone waiting for Nora’s next adventure, but Tobin needed a full book (much to my surprise), and it is putting events into motion for Nora. This book challenges a lot of traditional tropes and I’m excited to see how it will be received.
DLL. I totally get how the characters dictate whose story gets told next. As an author, you’ve got to go with your gut. I can’t write unless I’m feeling the character and they’re demanding their story be told.
For my two cents, I’m looking forward to more from Tobin, and you’ve left delicious breadcrumbs to inspire interest in his story. Challenging traditional tropes? Yes! I also can’t wait for more of Nora’s journey, and more from Zayden.
I admit, I’ve got quite a few novels in the works, and different characters call out to me at different times, which is fun because I get to switch between stories and all the novels are progressing bit by bit. Variety is the spice of life, eh?
Who are your top three favorite authors? Or in the alternative, your top three favorite books? What or who has been your biggest inspiration?
ABH. Oh, I never know how to respond to this question because the answer is fluid. Mercedes Lackey shaped me in my teens/twenties. In my thirties, Robin Hobb stole my breath and added to my wonder. And currently, Rebecca Yarros has completely rocked me with Fourth Wing. But I need to add Maria Vale, author of the Legend of All Wolves series. She wrote the romance books I wish I had written.
DLL. Oooh. Thank you for this great list to add to my TBR. Believe it or not, I haven’t read The Fourth Wing. I’m letting all the hype die down. 🙂 I’m definitely getting right on Legend of All Wolves! Those covers rock!
Your website is beautiful. Do you do your own web design? Would you say you’re an indie writer, publisher, and marketer? If so, is that by choice? Do you have plans to publish traditionally?
ABH. 😆 Don’t all Indy Authors have to “do it all”? I did create my website (on Wix), as in those are all my pictures from Oregon and Washington in the background. I am constantly learning how to market and I suspect I could pick your brain for some valuable gems. Going traditional? I mean if I could hand over all the marketing to a traditional publisher that would be amazing. But my understanding is that’s no longer how it works, and traditional authors still have to put themselves out there. So no, I have no plans to go traditional, I don’t have the time to find an agent, and I don’t write stories that fit tightly enough in any one genre to make a traditional publisher happy. So really, I’m Indy by necessity, but we could call it a choice. >laughs again<
DLL. Wow. Nice job! And you hit on exactly the reasons I’m staying Indie. I like the control over all the creativity, and that is such a good point… that we still have to work hard at marketing if we go traditional, so what’s the point? Other than an actual income book deal, but Yikes! The pressure.
What has been your experience getting your books out into the world? Can you share what you’ve found works best and what doesn’t work for you? What are your favorite tools and techniques for creating a manuscript ready to hand off to an editor? Or do you edit your own work?
ABH. Oh wow, how many paragraphs am I limited to? My best advice would be if you want to write, and publish a book series, write the first two books before you publish anything. Send that first book through an editor and take what you learn there and apply it to the second book before it goes to editing so you can change things to make them work better. Once that first book goes to print, affecting storylines becomes a whole lot harder. Pay for a good editor. Get into a writing community somewhere, local, social media, doesn’t matter, you just need people around you who know more than you do. I know there are amazing writers that can edit their own work, but I am not one of them, my dyslexia prevents that, so editors are my superheroes. I also use an independent press for publishing because I didn’t have the time to put toward learning formatting, ISBN numbers, and the rest and it was a good fit for me.
DLL. That is super good advice! I love the bit about writing the first two books before publishing them and wish I had that advice before I published Book One 😁 but then I wish I’d done a lot of things differently. What independent press do you use?
ABH. My publishing service is provided by Luminare Press
DLL. Awesome. Thanks for sharing that. I’ve also had to learn the ropes the hard way when it came to Kindle Direct Publishing (“KDP”) and Draft2Digital (“D2D”) for free publishing and FREE ISBNs (I emphasize free because I’m reconsidering buying a bundle of ISBNs going forward that are mine to use as needed for more control) I’ve been learning how to balance switching between being exclusive on KDP or going wide in other stores through D2D depending on collaborative promos I want to participate in.
So, I will add here for those who are deciding about being an independent publisher as well as an author… Use the excellent tutorials and Google articles! Reedsy and BookBaby offer services and fantastic free articles for independent authors.
You say in your bio that you were diagnosed with dyslexia as a child. I love hearing from writers how they learn to adjust to that challenge. Can you talk a little about how you worked or are working through it for those who might have the same challenge?
ABH. Dyslexia is an interesting neurodivergent condition. It affects everyone a little differently and usually shows up with other neuro disorders. My fun addition is a bit of OCD, but it’s seen a lot with ADHD. At this point, I have a deep relationship with dyslexia and I know how to work with it, where my strengths lie, and where I need the most help. I can’t spell, and that’s the biggest challenge. Spellcheck is amazing, but not a solution.
Now that spellcheck gives definitions with word suggestions, that has been a game changer for me. When the computer would present five different words that all start with the same couple letters, and out of context, I’d be a goner. As a result, people will find “bowel” instead of “bowl”, both words are spelled right, but vastly different and I can’t see that when I’m editing. However, the more I do, the better I get. The thesaurus has been the most help. For instance, I can’t spell “influential” but I can put in “important” and find what I’m looking for. It’s a great workaround.
DLL. Thank you for sharing this. I didn’t know about dyslexia’s relationship to neurodivergent conditions. I have to say, I’m super grateful for all the tools available to us now. I too am constantly using the thesaurus and translation features of Word, and Read Aloud has been invaluable. Hearing my writing has been my game changer for punctuation, word use, and even pacing and story beats.
Now for your writer’s life. You have a full-time job and say that you write in the cracks between responsibilities. I love that. What does that look like for you? Do you grab any writing time you can get? Or do you have a schedule?
ABH. I have tried a bunch of different approaches. Writing at work when I have a free thirty minutes, or fifteen, but those small windows are better for rewriting or editing, not full-on creating. I’ve found the most successful strategy for me is writing on a schedule. Or putting down designated hours during the week to only write. Not market, not answer emails, and no social media. I have my door closed, dog contained in my little home office, with the phone off, writing. Unfortunately, that has been hard to come by recently.
DLL. Ooh yes! I can totally relate. If I want to get fresh writing done for any amount of words–no distractions!
Do you have any tips or techniques to share about balancing your daily life while staying productive as a writer?
ABH. 😂 Yep, don’t have hobbies, friends, or a job. 😆 Seriously though, evaluate how important writing is to you. Do you like the idea of doing it? Or do you need to do it, want to do it, can’t think of anything else? And if it is the latter, then look at your schedule and figure out what you are willing to give up to pursue this, because as much as we want to believe we can “do it all”, we can’t. Something has to be sacrificed, whether it is sleep, movies, social activities, etc. Weekly I’m reevaluating what I’m able to trade for my writing time. For instance, I look for what will make me the most successful in the next hour and put my energy there.
We all simply need to define what success looks like to us. Is it a clean house? A job well done? Time with kids/family? Another chapter written? Another paragraph written? Food shopping? Dinner prepared? The list goes on. To make it even simpler, what do I need to do in the next hour that will make me the happiest later? Because “later me” will only be happy if “current me” puts in the effort. Sometimes it is addressing work challenges, sometimes it is writing a short story. And sometimes it is just sitting and reading a book. My humble advice would be don’t worry about balance, tend to your needs, your heart, and your future self. And somehow it all gets done.
DLL. Ooh! “…later me” will only be happy if “current me” puts in the effort.” This is going in my notes for inspiration. Great advice! Thank you!
Thanks again for chatting with me, Amanda! I look forward to what’s coming next. Any last words of advice for those who want to pursue writing fiction?
ABH. Thanks for having me. I really enjoyed your questions, they made me think more about my own process. To end, I would simply say, if you have a story inside you that you want to tell, start working on it, read a ton, get involved in the writing community, and be curious in your pursuits. Thanks again everyone, let your reading, and your writing, be wild.
Thanks for visiting everyone! You can follow all the latest happenings with A. B. Herron on her Website and Instagram.
This isn’t even mine, but my husband’s photograph. He was out on his ebike 30 minutes away from us. But his enjoyment is my enjoyment. Pretty fabulous to crest a trail and see this.
I so enjoy pet sitting for Mack and Elway. Wouldn’t you? We had a lovely week together though I missed my own two fur faces.
While pet sitting, I got out for a girlfriends day. Always nice since I’m staying in Midtown where there’s lots of fabulous eateries. We went for gyros. Tori brought me gifts. She loves getting me Kodiak/Grizzly bear cards because she’s in love with Andras Johns, my alpha shifter in The Starlight Chronicles, and aren’t the mug and stickers awesome!
More fun things from my hubby this month. He found this coffee table book for a steal on eBay where he also sells knives. Doesn’t this knife scream Mando! Think Beskar and blue triangles.
Last but not least, I’m digging on my May WIP! This novel has been in the works for a couple of years and my current focus. Toxic Friends Can be a Good Thing is a YA Urban Fantasy. Shifters, ninja brothers, hidden places beneath Long Beach, CA, an unhoused teen girl, and her stray Aussie Shepherd companion are a few of the elements.
Stay tuned!
Thanks for catching up with me!
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May in the high desert is a crap shoot. Will it be hot? Will it be cold? Will there be snow on the mountain top? Will a freeze crush all the blooming plants? Will I need my allergy medicine? This May, all of that is happening and more.
I love my home environment for that very reason. You never know what kind of day it will be when you wake up. Roll the dice and get any combination of the above-mentioned scenarios in one day! That’s exciting in my book. If I take a walk in the morning, I might need a jacket and will see my breath in front of my face. If I walk at noon, I’ll need a hat and sunglasses to guard against the hot sun while I inhale all the wonderful-smelling natural blooms. If I walk in the afternoon, the high winds will push me and the huge puffy clouds along for the ride, and I’m back in my jacket.
The high today was 58, the low 36–Fahrenheit. But the sun is oh so warm… until the wind blows. We had snow last weekend. No one in my 5,000-foot elevation valley plants anything until June.
Views from my place
May brings other things to enjoy besides the mercurial weather. It’s MerMay for one. I love checking out the creative output during MerMay and have been doing so for the last five years, ever since I got embroiled in my mixed media phase of life. It’s primarily about sketching and art, but we writers get inspired too.
At the end of the month, I’m participating with five indie authors in a MerMay Selkie Take Over giveaway. You can follow me on Instagram if you would like to participate. We’ll be posting the event instructions and the drawing results. There’s more about the event and selkies in my May newsletter going out soon.
What’s MerMay you ask? A Disney creator back in 2016 posted an illustration of two mermaids chatting on their “shell phones” and the craze was born. Every May, artists follow daily prompts to draw something mermaid-inspired throughout the month. Check out MerMay.com and this NPR piece for the scoop.
Here is my MerMay gift to you. It’s humble, I know, but she’s sort of cute. She was inspired by a class at Willowing.org and has lived in an art journals for a while now. I recently ran her through a couple digital backgrounds (side images. I know… duh) to explore color alternatives.
My other big happening coming up is a pet sitting gig. I don’t pet sit for just anyone. Okay, so I only have one client–because I adore her dogs–and it’s like going on vacation–and when they do what they do the cutest, which is sleep side by side, it even becomes a writing retreat.
Meet Bully brothers Mack and Elway. They’re actually quite active a good portion of the day, but I love listening to them snore. Can’t you hear it?
It is such a pleasure meeting new authors on my Spotlight and a special treat when they come back for another chat to catch up on the latest happenings and explore new topics.
So, Let’s Meet My April Guest
E.B. Hunter lives in a remote town in Northern Alberta, Canada with his wife and daughter. He spends his days working, and his nights crafting stories to entertain himself through the long, harsh winters. He hopes these stories portray people as they are, flawed humans capable of great and terrible things, and you can see yourself within his body of works. He strives for representation in his storytelling, and believes that everyone’s story is worth being told. If he ever stops writing, there are strict instructions for him to be put out of his misery. You can find his short stories in anthologies with Dragon Soul Press, and Starlite Pulp, as well as on Vocal Media.
Let’s Get Started
Thanks so much for stopping by, Eric! I’ve been eager to check in this year and talk to you about some of your latest works. I just finished the rest of your stories in Tales From Beyond the Veil and had so much fun being surprised by that last story! I want to gush about it, but I don’t want to let slip any spoilers. Also, I just ordered my copy of Starlight Pulp Review #2. Those covers are the bomb! And I can’t wait to read the stories, especially yours.
I was super impressed with Starlite Pulp’s website and its vibe. Let’s start by asking you about the story you submitted for Review #2 and your submission experience with the publisher and then we’ll delve into Tales From Beyond the Veil and talk about horror.
E.B. Danny Galieote’s artwork is superb! I am a big fan of his femme fatale series. Fun fact: the title of the review #2 piece is Damn, I Broke a Nail.
I have submitted a few times with Starlite Pulp, and it has always been a good experience. They are responsive and get back to you when they say they are going to. They work hard to cultivate not just good stories, but ones that carry a unique voice. I had a story sent in for #3 that didn’t make the cut, and I don’t even feel bad about it because I know they have a very specific vision for all their collections. They do charge to submit, but like they say on the site, there is a LOT of work that goes into putting these out, and the people doing the work deserve to get paid for it.
The story I have in Review #2 is an urban fantasy called Luck that sees Peter Halliday caught in between two vengeful Irish deities and an ancient game. I think it is one of my best short stories, and I can’t wait to hear what you think of it.
D.L. Ooh. Thanks for sharing the name of the cover art piece! Fabulous! And for sharing the artist’s Instagram. And yes, I agree that the nominal submission fee is very well spent. I had a blast reading Luck. Loved the ending because my mind went all over the place thinking of what I might do in Peter Halliday’s place.
My favorite partial line…
… I said, heading for the maroon Porsche that screamed ‘my owner wears turtlenecks.’
That totally landed on so many levels. Congratulations on being part of this great collection.
Here’s a shot of my book mail. I must say it was a very pleasant shopping experience.
I like how your Instagram vibe is noir, including the classic movie graphics you’ve been sharing on your posts. Can you talk a bit about that noir influence on your creativity?
E. B. When I first started writing, a friend of mine described my writing as ‘punchy’. I didn’t know exactly what that meant, but soon found out she was right! I like to keep things tight. Short, concise sentences like a shotgun slug that packs a wallop. I ended up reading the entire works of Raymond Chandler, then moved on to Dashiell Hammet. Starlite Pulp definitely got me more interested, and I really liked the vibe of the old gumshoe stories. I think the biggest influence on my writing style was seeing these masters of similes deliver such impactful dialogue with such punchy timing. I try to do that with my work, and hopefully succeed. My favorite line from Chandler has a woman tell Phillip Marlowe, ‘geez, you’re awfully tall.’ to which Marlowe replies, ‘I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to be.’ I just love stuff like that, and the old crime books are chock full of it.
D. L. I think you’ve found your voice, and that punchy style resonates with me for sure. I so appreciate getting the story behind the influence.
You recently published your first book under your own publishing banner, Heorot Press. It’s a collection of horror stories where each protagonist has an encounter of the supernatural kind.
Here are a few of my favorite lines as examples of the mood and setting your stories evoke.
Moth at the Window
“It’s stupid. To look into something like an attic and feel like death is staring back at you.” ~ Tiff
“A broken record is the worst noise in the world, other than maybe nails on a chalkboard.” ~ Tiff
As You Wish
“The reverberation of his neck breaking rumbled up my arms and across my back, making my stomach flip-flop.” ~ Amir
What Lies Beneath
“I’m glad that I was unable to sleep, or didn’t seem to be anyway (for all I know, it was all sleep though my eyes felt open). I was thankful for the stillness and the calm that came with knowing that nothing would happen in that place. I don’t know how I knew that, but it seemed true while I was there. But now I’m no longer there, and calm is a memory.” ~ Lawrence
Wow! I’m thinking our readers know what I’m talking about here. I enjoyed how each story had its own voice. Each protagonist was completely unique and anchored the reader immediately to what was happening. Thus anchored, each story moved along at a satisfyingly brisk pace, either with pure horror driving it, a gritty noir setting immersing the character (which I adore), or the soul-searching dread of fate moving inexorably towards them like a freight train.
If I had to pick, I think What Lies Beneath is my favorite. Lawrence was a compelling character, relatable in many ways, perfectly illustrating our human weaknesses and the consequences of giving in to them. Also, following him on his journey was probably the most terrifying read for me. And in Moth at the Window, my second favorite, I’m glad about Larry the Terrier, though I won’t say more. 🙂
I’ve read about half of these stories in earlier formats, so I know many of them have been around for a while. I’m enamored with how they all came together in this volume and curious about your process.
So, my questions… Did you plan early on to link them through a supernatural theme and publish them together? When did you construct that last story in the scheme of things? And tell us about Heorot Press and how that came about.
E.B. Ahh! So many good quotes! I love how things like that creep up on you after you haven’t read them in a while.
It all started when I felt like I needed a break from my third person narrative I was doing for my novel. I wrote a horror story called Graveyard Shift, and people seemed to like it, so I wrote three more. Once I had three stories together, it gave me the idea for the eighth and final story. All I had to do was keep writing! I did Moth at the Window and What Lies Beneath, then finished with the eighth story. I really wanted each of them to have a unique feel to the character and capture who they were.
For Heorot Press, I decided to create a banner for the book to be released under. I felt like I wanted something a bit eldritch, and a bit fantasy as well. I chose the name Heorot, which is the name of King Hrothgar’s lodge in Beowulf. It is an old English word that translates to stag, so the logo came easily enough for it as well!
D.L. This is great stuff! So fun to dip into your process a bit and to learn the story behind your publishing mark, which I really like btw. It’s a great idea to have one, and I’m thrilled to see an example.
What is it about the horror genre that appeals to you most? What elements are typically involved in a good horror story, and which of those do you focus on most as a writer? Can you give us an idea about the tools a writer needs to tackle the genre and tap into terror and fear?
E.B. I think the biggest thing to be aware of is your own fears. I don’t try to make a scary story when I’m writing horror. I write about human nature and lean on primal instincts to evoke that fear. In any horror movie, as soon as you see the creature, the jig is up and it isn’t scary anymore. I think showing your hand too soon is never good, so like with most storytelling, timing is key. So far as the tools you need in your toolbox, I think reading Stephen King’s ‘On Writing’ is step number one. After that, just make sure to write about what makes your skin crawl.
You write fantasy as well. I enjoyed beta reading your fantasy novel in progress, which I might classify as dark fantasy. To me, your author’s voice in horror and fantasy is distinct. In your horror stories, there is often a gritty (think shadows and rain trickling down windows and splashing on pavement) noir atmosphere, though I did detect some of that in certain scenes in your novel. Are dark fantasy and horror interchangeable for you? What are your aims for each? Feel free to take the opportunity to talk more about your novel here. We would love the scoop!
E. B. I think genre is really subjective, so it is hard for me to pin anything down to one category. I really love urban fantasy. The thing with that is, when you introduce any fantasy creature into a modern urban setting, it doesn’t take long to become Horror. Just look at the TV series Supernatural. There are ghosts and demons, but the episodes with Gods pulling out fingernails and people sacrificing their granddaughters for bumper apple crops are the ones that are really good. I can’t get enough of the supernatural, and I will take it in most any form I can get it! So far as my aims, I just want to write what I love. I’m currently working on what I am calling an Occult Western that sees Brant Garret working with an astral plane being to avenge his lost family. I do plan to continue with my urban dark fantasy series once I find representation though!
D. L. Thank you for sharing what inspires you (including fingernail torture 😄) and what you’re working on! I’m with you on the supernatural subject matter. There is so much in the way of mythology, legends (including the modern urban variety), history, and ancient texts to draw from for the speculative fiction writer.
I believe you’ve written a romance as well. And I love the diversity of your protagonists and how their individuality comes through. Do you enjoy and are you exploring other genres besides the ones mentioned? And out of so many amazing characters, do you have a favorite that resonates the most?
E. B. I did write and get published a sci-fi romance short story! It is called Pink Lights and is about the last surviving human refugee on a starship far away. He fights with feelings of his lost planet and wife while coming to terms with the new love he has found in the heavens. It is definitely a NSFW kind of read, and it was a lot of fun writing it!
I really do enjoy genre-hopping, and it is all dependent on what I am in the mood for. I think to really get a good view of the human experience, no viewpoint should be left unexplored.
I don’t really have any one character that resonates with me the most. I think if I needed to choose, I would say Alex from my story Graveyard Shift has a lot of me in him.
D. L. Pink Lights… awesome! (Click on the cover to find Eric’s sci-fi romance in Dragon Soul Press’ Union anthology) For links to this volume and Eric’s other publications, check out his website.
Thanks for addressing the favorite character question again, Eric. I know I’ve asked before, and it’s fun to see that Alex is still your favorite!
Can you share more about your works in progress and what we can expect to see next?
E. B. I am in a bit of a lull at the moment as I await the birth of my second daughter. I have described this experience as waiting at an airport, but I don’t know when the flight is leaving. It is exciting, but the waiting makes it hard to want to jump into anything with fervor.
I am currently focusing on my Occult Western called Revenge, as mentioned above. Once the first draft for this is completed I plan to throw my shoulder into finding an agent for Into the Grey, my dark urban fantasy about a secret organization that keeps parallel earth demons from taking over our world. I also have the short stories from the FSF Alliance to keep me busy as well as the occasional poem when the mood strikes. I like to work on a lot of things at once!
D. L. Well, I can’t wait to see both in print, Eric. And I’m up for another beta read! All the best on the projects!
We’re both members of the Fantasy Sci-Fi Writers Alliance, you being one of the founders and me being an early member. So, I’ve watched it grow and am blown away these days by all the new members and support. There are lots of fun events, including Instagram follow trains. But I wanted to highlight how well thought out the short story competitions are and how they’ve inspired some fantastic stories.
ScreenshotScreenshot
The group published its first anthology Versus. The whole process was impressive, from the competition to the editing and compiling–to the cover art and marketing. Congratulations to the volunteers and writers and kudos for all their hard work!
Can you tell us more about the Alliance?
E. B. Absolutely! It was started because it can be a really lonely place, being a writer. A lot of people have a hard time finding feedback or support for their work in the early stages, and I think it can be really demoralizing when you don’t have that community. We wanted to create a community that could be that support, and it took off from there! The anthology was really born from that. We wanted to have a contest for the people who are looking to get some recognition for their work, and I think the anthology is a great way to support the members.
D. L. Well, the prompts are fantastic. The current one I believe is a mashup of Punk meets Fae. I love it! And the graphic is really inspiring. I hope there are lots of fabulous submissions.
Check out the submission page and reach out to Eric or sign up here to become a member.
Thank you so much for taking the time out of your busy working, family, and writing life to chat, Eric. Congratulations on your growing family, and I look forward to your upcoming works. Do you have any parting words of advice for those who dream about embarking on their writing journey?
E. B. I will leave you with wise words from Colum McCann in his book Letters to a Young Writer, “if you want to be a writer, get your butt in the chair.” At the end of the day, we only have to conquer the blank page and keep honing our skills. To do that, you need to sit down and do it!
I write romance. I like to think it’s romance with heart and enough steam to compete with a hot mug of tea and keep those pages turning. So, I’m going to talk about what influenced me to march down this path. First, I was heavily influenced by all the fantastic romance authors of my day, Johanna Lindsey(greatly missed), Jude Deveraux, and Julie Garwood to name a few.
We’re talking, sexy, Fabianesque, badass, cinnamon roll heroes whether wearing tartan, business suits, or armor and engaging in all the exciting tropes of today, and maybe a few forgotten ones of yesterday–and the strong women who cleverly persuaded them to change their ways.
Remember the movie Romancing the Stone–the opening scene when Joan Wilder bawls like a baby and can’t find anything in the apartment to blow her nose after she finishes her novel? I wanted to experience that… and crying after writing an emotional scene or ending is real folks. Awesome!
In my youth, my favorite place to get lost in a good romance novel was climbing my way around to a remote ledge along the Pacific Ocean at places like Salt Point or Timber Cove. My parents were scuba divers and they’d be out all day freezing in their wetsuits while I cozied up in a rocky alcove with a bottle of pop and a bag of sunflower seeds, the ocean spread out before me and the surf crashing below my dangling feet. Often, whole families of seals would be lounging near my spot, and a grey whale would spout so close I could see the barnacles on its back. If I wanted to cry at the end, no one could hear me. It was heaven.
Salt Point State Park, California
But my stories must also be steeped in fantasy and paranormal lore. This brings me to the other side of my romance coin–the influence that came from my obsession with muscle-bound barbarians in the delightful, violent, and sexy eighties movies… thank you Schwarzy for blazing the trail.
Conan The Barbarian, Conan The Destroyer, and Red Sonja taught me that fantasy can take you anywhere you want to go in a plot. Yes, they might have come with lots of cheese, but it’s all in the perspective. Great actors like Max Von Sydow and James Earl Jones elevated the cheesy pizza grade movie to a steak dinner in my book. Enjoy all three movie trailers in this YouTube video.
Do you remember the other lesser enduring flicks like the one starring another of my favorite eighties hunks, Mark Singer, in The Beastmaster? I’m providing it below. Watch if you dare. 😉 I’d even consider my all time favorite fantasy flick, Willow, to be in the barbarian realm, and all the Highlander movies. Seems like where we had magic, we had to have barbarian hordes. This is the stuff of fantasy world building for me.
People think I’m crazy when I tell them I love being my age. But hey, it means that I got to spend decades steeped in all of the above while watching and being part of the exciting romantasy genre taking over the fiction landscape of today. Barbarians still have a role to play in romance and many of them have moved into space. I’m not surprised. It’s harder to imagine fierce horse cultures and warrior races clashing over territory across the vast steppes of the Earth we have today. So, why not fly off to unknown planets? That’s what I’m doing in a novel I have in the works, Caged Diamond.
Stay tuned for the story of MMA fighter Justina “Diamond” Jewel Blake who’s forced to fight for a planetary syndicate and the barbarian warrior she’s pitted against. You can follow me here and subscribe to my newsletter for updates.
I’ll leave you with a sci fi romance reading recommendation. A romance writer who brings to mind my old faves is Zoey Draven. Her Horde Kings of Dakkar series is a romping lot of fun and full of suspense. Here’s the first in the series.
I’ve been an indie author for three years now, and I’m here to say that publishing my own books has been the best way to go… for me. There are many pros and cons for going indie or trad. I encourage anyone to research both options as well as the various hybrid options as thoroughly as possible.
I’m a creator at heart and the control I have over every aspect of my product is necessary as a creative outlet as well as extremely satisfying and fun. That is not to say it isn’t a ton of work, but what better way to spend my time!
Check out these astonishing statistics at Wordsrated.com like the 300 million a year number in the title of this blog, or that the number of self-published books has increased by 264% in the last five years, and up to 34% of all books sold are self-published.
I started in a time when more amazing tools than ever are available to help authors publish on their own, and I’m extremely thankful for services like Amazon’s Kindle Direct Publishing (KDP), Draft2Digital, Reedsy, and BookBaby that offer so many resources for indie authors–many of them completely free.
The other fantastic resource for indie authors is us–our community and all the amazing collaboration opportunities. I’m taking part in one starting Friday, April 12, and running through April 15. The Indie Authors Spring Spectacular Event. Indie authors are amazing when it comes to supporting each other and you can be part of it. In addition to the volume of affordable reads for .99 or less, there will be fun giveaways and other events.
With all this said, nothing beats a reader’s review for spreading the word. That goes for all authors no matter how you publish. It always comes down to what our readers like and want. I’m an avid reader, so I can attest to that from a reader’s perspective as well. I’ve got my shopping list going. Happy reading!
“Write one. Read ten. Win thousands… The peer-powered short story competition where everyone receives oodles of feedback.”
Writing Battle
As a participant, I can attest to the oodles of feedback, which is one half of the backbone of this engaging community. The other half is Max and Teona. Last summer, I visited with the dynamic duo as they prepared to launch their revamped platform—and soon after—what was fun got funner! We’re checking in this month to see how it’s going. Here’s what one member had to say about Writing Battle.
“This is a growing community with a mix of experienced and curious writers. Sharing your work and feedback in the forums is invaluable.”
Matt Gamarra
In The Beginning
We learned during their visit in 2023 that software engineer Max Bjork wanted a chance to use his creativity in his working life. Like many of us back in 2020, the disruptions to our lives and routines wrought by the pandemic inspired big changes. As an amateur screenwriter, Max turned his creative aspirations to writing contest platforms, recognizing a need to offer more to participants like a robust and engaging community, easier navigation, and more ways to have fun during the contest. Max gave up his job, took over daytime parenting so Teona could get back to work after maternity leave as an EEG Technologist, and started creating. See our previous chat for the couple’s in-depth discussion on how Writing Battle (“WB”) got started.
The unique structure, engaging graphics, and shining personalities behind Writing Battle were an instant hit, and WB captured my attention from the first Instagram post.
Let’s Meet Writing Battle!
Thanks both of you for coming back for a chat in 2024! I’ve been dying to check in to see how things are going–in general–but especially since you launched the new design. What is your biggest highlight since July? And if you each have a take on that, we’d love to hear both perspectives!
Max: Thanks for having us back, Darci! I think it was the last interview we did with you that we announced a redesign of the site. Cool to do this again a year later and everything is in full swing with the new site. The biggest highlight I think is that this “product” (if you want to call it that) is feeling more and more complete. We’re really just refining at this point and that feels weird in a way since we spent years trying very different battle structures.
Teona: Things are great! We have come leaps and bounds when it comes to restoring some stability to our life when the battle gear comes off. There have been a lot of things that we have been able to put a happy little book-end on so that we can spend more focused time and energy on the business. A highlight for me would be the merch store–it is a part of Writing Battle that I helm and gives me more sense of connection to the community since I’m not a programmer and don’t have much to offer in terms of site features.
Darci: In other words, you both are totally in the groove. Awesome!
We talked about your phenomenal success last summer. There have been two Battles since then. Two of my peeps (a Canadian writing friend and my niece) signed up for the Fall Short Story Battle, which I participated in, and my niece participated in the Winter Flash Fiction event that just ended. So, if every member pulls in just one or two… yikes! This might be a good place to insert that WB’s slogan rocks! Write one. Read ten. Win thousands. Are we talking about exponential growth? What are the overall stats since last summer?
Max: Thank you for spreading the word about Writing Battle! You know, the slogan actually came from the community. If I recall correctly, Cristi Lynn, a previous winner from an early Screenwriting Battle suggested that slogan. She said it on the Forum and I immediately asked if I could use it. When we started these Battles we really thought that the reading part of the contest was going to be a chore. As it turns out, it’s everyone’s favourite part about the contest, so why not highlight the reading aspect.
Teona: Definitely seeing something along an exponential growth curve. It’s still amazing to us! It looks like we might 3X the Spring 2023 Battle. And, like you say, if one person pulls in one or two friends to join in the fun, it really just takes off from there.
Our New Year’s resolution with WB was to make long-term realistic and holistic goals for the year. So instead of saying we need to accomplish X,Y,Z… we set a single goal of 3000 participants for the Autumn Battle. We’re then able to reverse-engineer a path to that goal and then it has been more figuring out what that goal looks like in the shorter term in regards to the Spring and Summer battles. What has been so incredible and exciting has been seeing the numbers for the upcoming Spring Battle SMASHING the shorter goal in place for the Spring. It really looks like there is some snow-balling happening and we are just grateful the site broke when it did last year because there is no way this growth would have been stable or sustainable on the old platform. Our new website handles traffic with ease because it is built on Google’s infrastructure.
Darci: So exciting to hear the numbers! And I love that about the slogan being a community contribution.
A little side story on the fall Battle. I hadn’t been in touch with my niece, Arianna, for a few weeks, and I had no idea she’d participated until a few weeks after it was over. We could easily have ended up critiquing each other’s stories… but we didn’t. Still, the idea that we could have added another fun element to the contest.
Her story was excellent, too. She does audio narration and has a one-minute audio excerpt of The Emperor’s Noose on her website’s project page. I was super happy with my story, Little Shop of Honeybees, as it was my first whodunnit and I enjoyed researching how to write a locked room mystery. Every time I participate, I’m glad I took on the challenge of a new genre I might never have tried otherwise and happier each time with the results.
How is the feedback stacking up since launching the revamped platform? Has the revised structure made a difference in participation aside from the momentum WB had going already?
Max: Absolutely. There were over 3.5 million words of feedback written in the Winter Battle. 1 million of those words were written after the Battle was complete in Debrief. There’s still a lot of improvements to the site coming, but the revamped platform has helped with that.
Darci: Mindboggling!
To get an idea of how far you’ve progressed in the short time since starting up WB, I’m throwing out multiple questions. 😊 Have you reached a place where the business is starting to run itself, or does it still require a lot of hands-on attention? How much of that is the fun stuff, and how much is business? What constitutes both? Is this turning into a full-time business for you both?
Teona: It is definitely turning into a full-time business for the both of us. Our youngest starts school in the fall which means that I will have time in the day to dedicate to WB and to work on things we would like to see evolve in the future. I would say the vast majority of what I do is fun. I think Max will likely say the same. There is a lot of hands-on. There is a LOT of reading–and not just stories. We are constantly on the forums trying to keep an eye on the community to ensure that needs are being met and that members maintain the constructive space we believe WB to be.
Max: I don’t think Writing Battle will ever run itself, but my job as the sole software dev is to build systems that make things easier on Teona and I during a Battle. It is ALL fun. Honestly, I still love every second of every Battle. It’s been a full time business for a while now. We will be building the tools for Forum mods soon, so that will help some of the stress. With so many passionate creatives, you want to put out fires as quickly as possible, so the Forums require a lot of attention. Having a few mods might ease the workload a bit.
Darci: I’m sure I speak for the community when I say your joy comes through and we appreciate all the hard work.
WB opened an online merchandise shop. My Two Crows sweatshirt just arrived! I’m excited about the designs and to have something to show for my battles. Also, being a sticker and planner fanatic, I adored getting your stickers in my happy mail! What a great idea to offer merchandise. How is that going? Will we see more offerings–more designs?
Teona: The merch store has been a lot of fun and I get a little giddy knowing that there are people out in the wild sporting the WB logo! I handle the majority of the merch dealings because it isn’t too time consuming now that it is up and running.
Modeling my Two Crows sweatshirtLove me some stickers!
Once our littlest little starts school, I will have a lot more time to dedicate to expanding options and designs. I have been looking to source pottery mugs and had a prototype made but we are putting a lot of that on hold while we set up our new Tarot Card Decks that will hopefully be ready for purchase on the site late summer. I will let Max get into detail on this…
Max: Actually, I don’t want to go into too much detail because we’re still working on it. But I will say that there will be a card-collecting aspect to the site. You will get digital cards for participating in Battles and then if you order the physical cards, you’ll automatically get all of them digitally.
From My Fall Battle in 2023. Aren’t these amazing genres? The card turned up for me was Locked Room Mystery
Darci: OMG! We get the scoop right here folks. I love the card collecting idea! It shouts “huge hit!” I’m super impressed with my merch, and I must say the customer service was excellent. I can’t wait to see what’s next.
Was it a tremendous undertaking adding a shop?
Teona: Long story short: Max said “I think we need a merch shop. Go.” And after panicking ever so slightly, I learned how to set up a Shopify store and a Printify print-on-demand service. It was very much out of my comfort zone at first (and perhaps a few tears of frustration spilled) but I feel I have a handle on it now and it works quite well!
Darci: You are so totally inspiring, Teona! I see the merch shop exploding in the near future. I’m trying to get up the gumption to add a shop on my website for signed paperbacks. Supposedly it’s as easy to offer a small line as it is for a larger one.
I asked this question last time, and I’ll ask again because I’m sure everyone wants to know. Who’s behind the artwork? How do you come up with so many wonderful ideas and illustrations for the slew of genre cards needed four times a year and for social media marketing?
Max: The Italian tattoo artist, Vincenzo Ingenito, does most of our artwork and he illustrated an entire 78 card tarot deck for us. We are also using Valerie P (@valerie_pl on Fiverr) for a lot of cards. We commissioned a few pieces of art from some folks from our community too. Oh! Someone is getting a Writing Battle inspired tattoo and used Vincenzo as the illustrator. The person that had the art commissioned gave us permission to use the illustration. I can’t wait for people to see it. It’s going to be a cool tattoo!
Darci: This is so fabulous! Thanks for sharing, Max. Check out Writing Battle’s Instagram page to see all the wonderful art and stay posted on everything Max just shared.
Let’s talk about the community. The WB forum is super active, and I love to see that. Do the conversations continue between the Battles?
Max: Things definitely die down in-between Battles in the Forums. I think that will change when we have more of a reason to come back to the site when a Battle is not underway. But you know – in the end, that’s probably healthy. Battles are pretty intense (haha it’s not just the name). People get fairly invested in each one and it’s a bit of an emotional rollercoaster. It’s probably a good thing to take a break and recoup before the next Battle. That being said, we are working on features that might keep more Ravens** engaged in-between Battles. **Our community members now refer to themselves as Ravens which is fairly bad ass.
Darci: That’s about what I expected. I think WB has settled into a very nice ebb and flow with the four yearly Battles.
Teona has been awesome about reading and sharing works by WB’s members and the newsletter is generous with its shoutouts. You’ve truly made it feel like family and it’s clear from your adorable Instagram reels that WB is a family affair in your household. What are some of the other activities going on in the community and what are a few of the recent highlights?
Teona: For a hot second we were going to plan an in-person meet up because we basically wanted an excuse to hang out with WB’s incredible community in person. It fell through because it turned out to be a bit more of an endeavor than we anticipated and I won’t be able to put in the hours for something like that until at least this time next year. We’re now looking at an in-person meet up for 2025!
Darci: Okay, now my heart is really pounding. Another sneak peek at what’s coming! A WB Retreat would be phenomenal!!
What routines have you found to be helpful to keep the productivity and creativity flowing for Writing Battle? Any tips or tricks you can share about staying organized and balanced with other aspects of daily and family life?
Teona: One thing we are looking to set boundaries on this year involves not trying to implement new features during a Battle. The intensity of programming AND running a Battle can take its toll and Max gets completely burnt out and needs time to decompress. So we have “official meetings” at least twice a week. It sounds kinda funny to me since we’re husband and wife and these conversations can happen at any time of day (and they do) but actually setting time aside with the purpose to brainstorm and discuss what’s working and what’s not is so valuable to how we maintain boundaries between work and home lives.
Max: Yeah, no new features while a Battle is underway is going to be huge. The plan is to get a lot done in-between Battles so during a Battle, I can just focus on the community and not coding new features.
Darci: I really appreciate getting a glimpse into what you’ve learned as you grow with Writing Battle.
What advice can you offer to those who would love to leave their mundane jobs to pursue their dreams?
Max: Oh, if you’re reading this and you are thinking about starting your own business or side hustle, go for it! Even if Writing Battle was deemed a failure and shut down for whatever reason, this entire journey would still have been worth it. I’ve met the coolest people and have learned so much from them – and learned a lot about myself. It’s hard work and expect to work long hours, but there is a price to pay for not pursuing your dreams too. I promise that you won’t regret it.
Teona: Have a “yes-buddy” in your corner. There are going to be people who give unsolicited advice and who are going to help you find reasons not to follow a dream. There has to be at least one person in your life who will listen and encourage you without question. And I know for Max and for Writing Battle, this person wasn’t always me… I became a bit more certain about WB when it transitioned from an amorphous and iterative early idea to an actual thing with rules and a schedule. Max’s brother has ALWAYS understood what WB could be way before it was WB.
Great insights, and what a blast it has been catching up. Any parting words of advice?
Max: Thank you, Darci! My parting words of advice would be to reach out to Teona at teona@writingbattle.com if you are someone that is thinking of participating in Writing Battle but are a bit short on cash at the moment. Our amazing community organized a “Spartan Fund” to help fund entry fees. Please reach out to her if this is you or if you know someone that may appreciate a Battle ticket.
Teona: Thanks so much for having us again! We love the questions and are grateful for the opportunity to connect with you and your followers!
By D. L. Lewellyn 