Pitchfork and Pen—What’s in a Name?

How do you get a writer to freak out?

Well, it’s really not all that hard. We get bent out of shape over a lot of things.

Progress

Finally!

Today I sent the last of the manuscript for book three in the Knights of Kismera series to my editor.

I can breathe a sigh of relief now. I had begun to wonder if I was ever going to finish The Dragon’s Tear.

I was about halfway through when the dreaded writer’s block happened—two months of nothing. Usually, I couldn’t write more than a line or two. Then the next day I would read over it and reject it.

I couldn’t even come up with blog posts or my newsletter. It was torture. UGH!!!!!

Then, one day it was as if the fog just blew away. The characters had things to say, and when I had time to write I couldn’t get it down fast enough. I still didn’t get the other writing responsibilities done, but it was because I was putting all of my energy into the manuscript.

I was discussing the progress of my writing and how I hated writer’s block with my family one day. My daughter looked at me and very calmly said, “But Mom, you get it at some point with every book.”

I thought it over and she was right. I lock up with every project. No clue why, but it happens with each novel.

Now I’m sitting here with mixed emotions. Is it just a normal part of my process? Do I have this issue to look forward to for any future work? Does that involuntary break make my writing better? Is being a frustrated writer “cool”?

The good news is that I have no shortage of ideas for future novels. I have at least four more in the file box in the back of my brain, as well as a few ideas that could become novellas.

So the plan of action is this: decide on the next project, sit down, start writing, and don’t sweat something that may or may not happen.

Read more from Tamara Hartl!

Dark Lord of Kismera (cont’d)

Chapter Five

    When Drace met Ki on the practice field he was relieved to see that it was only she and her brother, Cearan.

Dark Lord of Kismera (cont’d)

Drace fumed for a moment in silence, thinking. Finally he asked, “What can one man do that would so drastically change the outcome?”

“You will change the Lady, and that will change fate,” Nimbus simply said.

Dark Lord of Kismera (cont’d)

Nimbus gave a visible shake that rattled his scales. “It was an ancient firedrake legend that had been forgotten by most dragons until recently. I came across an old forest dragon many years ago that was the last to know it.

Dark Lord of Kismera (cont’d)

A group of observers began to assemble as he warmed the stallion by trotting then cantering in large then smaller circles. He then rode to the center of the practice area and bowed his head to Ki.

Dark Lord of Kismera (cont’d)

Chapter Four

It had grown late enough in the day that torches had been lit along the walls in the great hall. Drace proceeded into the hall and saw that Vashti and Ka’Ril had already arrived and were taking seats on the raised platform.

Pitchfork & Pen—The Voices Aren’t Always Nice

I did a post recently about how writer’s “hear” characters and their “voices.”

I’m at a point in the creation of my third novel, The Dragon’s Tear, where I’m working with an antagonistic character that at first didn’t really have a voice.

Dark Lord of Kismera Pt. 14

Vashti directed Drace in through the side entrance into the huge kitchen
area where the smells of cooking meat permeated the air.