Author Archives: storytellergirlgrace

New Science Fiction just Published!

Posted in Music, Movies, and other Muses by

So it took a wee bit longer than I’d planned, but I finally have another book out! This is my second book published ever, and it’s longer than my first one (a small collection of fantasy short stories).

This one is science fiction. There are no aliens or space battles in this tale (sorry, if that’s your thing), but there’s plenty of nerdy science, tension, and action.

Here’s the blurb and the cover. It’s for sale on Amazon (other platforms to come soon). Check it out!

Alone.

On a space station designed for millions, First Lieutenant Elín Hallsdóttir is alone, with only her memories and the other four members of the shut-down crew.

The station orbits the planet, turning from darkness to light to darkness again. Solar storms are growing, the station is dying, but life continues on. Or does it?

Elín’s past rides with her, and with every rotation of the station her future seems more uncertain. And then the unthinkable happens.

Can Elín say goodbye to her past before it’s too late for her and her companions to have a future?

 

What to Do When you Can’t Write

Posted in Writings about Writing by

Lately I’ve had trouble writing. It’s not that I’m out of ideas or have hit writer’s block. It’s also not that I don’t have time to write – I have the same amount of time I’ve always had. But sometimes life just does things, and often it feels like everything happens at once. For example, I’m getting ready to move to another state, my car has been in the shop and needs to go back to the shop again, and I’ve been struggling with some health challenges.

I’m not trying to complain or air all my dirty laundry here, but because of these factors, my brain has not been letting me write the way I want to. The expected stress of packing and dealing with car repairs, along with the distraction caused by ongoing pain, has drained away all my creative energy.

So what do you do when you can’t write? I wrote a post some time ago about ideas to help you get past writer’s block, and here are some more thoughts about what to do when you can’t write: Continue reading →

How to be a Good Critique Partner

Posted in Writings about Writing by

Over the past several years, I’ve been very blessed to be a part of some very good critique groups. Even though writing itself is a solitary endeavor, I believe that associating with other writers – whether it’s with critique partners, a creative writing class, or a big writers conference – is vital to any writer’s growth.critique

So what are the benefits of joining a writing critique group? How do you know if your critique partners will be helpful or useful? How can you make sure that you yourself will be a good critique partner?

Details Matter

Critiquing a fellow writer’s work involves much more than just saying “I liked it.” It’s also much more than line editing, where you call out every unnecessary comma and misspelled word. Every critique group has their own set of rules and expectations, but usually groups are made up of writers submitting a first or maybe second draft, and looking for overall feedback. Does the story flow? Is there too much head-hopping or other issues with point of view? Are there confusing plot points? Do the characters feel real, or just one-dimensional? These are some good aspects to consider when you’re critiquing other’s work. Continue reading →