So, I’m here trying to write a synopsis for my novel to send with my submission packet. Yow my brain hurts! After writing 25 drafts of my query, I’m pretty sick of my story. Not that it’s a bad story, but after trying to describe it so many times it just feels like it’s aboutContinueContinue reading “Wait, after 25 drafts of a query, I have to write a synopsis too?”
Author Archives: Thomas Fawkes
False progress activities (Getting nowhere, but working so hard!)
One thing we do when working towards a goal is something I will now coin “False Progress Activities.” This is when we want to procrastinate the hard part of a goal (e.g. actually writing the darn query letter) and we instead focus on tasks that help, that are far easier, but give little progress. For example,ContinueContinue reading “False progress activities (Getting nowhere, but working so hard!)”
Pizza Magic
In talking about buying Pizza on the Sabbath (a friend at work had to do that today in order to feed a family gathering on Sunday, their kitchen was a mess because it was being remodeled), I said “It’s spirit food!” Pizza’s OK to buy on Sunday cause it’s holy. Right? Right? Bueller? Then I thought,ContinueContinue reading “Pizza Magic”
(Anti-)Social Media
Why do they call it social media? People share a lot of words, but so much communication is lost. Body language is gone. Tone of voice is gone. Touch is gone. People spend their lives experiencing other people through the medium of little pixels on a screen, rather than directly experiencing them. It’s like aContinueContinue reading “(Anti-)Social Media”
How do I find the right editor or agent?
So I’ve been searching for agents and editors, and sheesh this process is hard! First, I bought “2016 Novel and Short Story Writer’s Market” and “2016 Guide to Literary Agents.” Then I went through the publishers and agencies that represented fantasy and I highlighted which ones I thought might be good (because they didn’t explicitlyContinueContinue reading “How do I find the right editor or agent?”
How much time do you spend doing nothing?
One of my church leaders asked that question. If you’re spending a lot, then maybe you should use that time to serve others. For me, a lot of my time is spent with my family. I don’t want to just abandon them to serve others, but this still applies in the home. Rather than doContinueContinue reading “How much time do you spend doing nothing?”
Flexible Minds
Be willing to believe new things based off of new evidence (spiritual or physical). If not, why have beliefs at all? If you aren’t willing to change your mind, then you are doomed to the semi-random set of beliefs you begin with. Your thinking does not define reality nor does it change it. So, you shouldContinueContinue reading “Flexible Minds”
Blah, Website Reviewing
I’m writing a website review for a church-related project. Why do our websites have to suck? Can’t we do mo’ betta’? Just every step of the way, ask “What does the user want/expect?” And then design it for them. Don’t design it for yourself. Or in the easiest/cheapest way. Do things right the first time.ContinueContinue reading “Blah, Website Reviewing”
Writing books is hard to do
It’s good that writing books is so hard. Many of the most worthwhile things in life are hard. Overcoming flaws is hard. Maintaining relationships is hard. Becoming more than you are is hard. Keeping everything from falling into chaos (as everything naturally will) is hard. But it is certainly possible to overcome. Patience and diligence.ContinueContinue reading “Writing books is hard to do”
Thomas Fawkes 