Tag: Featured
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Kailey Oliver, author of World Stained Us System Blamed Us
What inspires you to write? I find inspiration to write in the simple beauty of life’s everyday moments – in conversations, in nature’s wonders, and in the emotions that course through us all. It’s like capturing snapshots of the world and feelings, frozen in words on paper.” Writing is my way of participating in the ongoing conversation…
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S. Berget, author of Let Slip the Beasts
What inspires you to write? Movies, music, video games, comics and other books, specifically Underworld, Aeon Flux, X-Men, Resident Evil, Ginger Snaps, Lazarus by Greg Rucka and Firebreak by Nicole Kornher-Stace. Are you a full-time or part-time writer and how does that affect your writing? Definitely a part-time writer, more like a once in a…
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Challenges of Writing Fantasy (and How to Avoid Pulling Out All Your Hair)
Last year, I began my work-in-progress: a fantasy about a struggling actor who stumbles into a parallel world. Not only is the novel my first portal fantasy, but it has some typical fantasy tropes, such as taverns, lots of travel and quests, sorcerers and magics, were-people, etc. Unlike my previous novels, which fall more into…
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Writing Compelling Dialogue: One Author’s Process
Dialogue can make or break a story. Writing compelling dialogue is a crucial aspect of crafting engaging and believable characters in fiction. I’ve read books with too little dialogue and, consequently, found them to be snooze-fests. On the flip side, I’ve read books with too much bad dialogue, and they were virtually unreadable. My preferences…
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Christine M. Germaine, author of The Brother’s Curse Saga
When did you first consider yourself a writer? I knew I had a passion for writing at the age of eleven. I was intrigued by Stephen King and R.L Stine. My fascination with supernatural stories started when I discovered the Fear Street novels. I love horror and anything that injects fear. Why did you choose…
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Five Characteristics of Great Speculative Fiction
Speculative fiction explores the unknown, the impossible, and the extraordinary. The genre (which includes fantasy, science fiction, horror, superhero fiction, dystopian, utopian, and other stories with supernatural and/or futuristic elements) allows us to venture into the uncharted territories of our imagination, and delve into worlds that challenge our understanding of what is possible. I write…
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Faders and Alphas Series: 2nd Edition
Dear Reader, As you probably know, I’ve spent the past couple of years writing and publishing the Faders and Alphas two-book series that also includes two short story serials. Well, with the release of the second edition covers, my co-author (Lornett B. Vestal) and I have finally reached the end of our journey with the…
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A Letter from the Editor: Looking Forward to an Exciting 2023
Dear Readers, I hope you are enjoying the content here at Waking Writer. Since I started this site in 2016, Waking Writer has become quite a hub for indie authors looking for more exposure. Last year was a busy year as promotion requests poured in! This year, you can expect more fascinating interviews, book highlights,…
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Question Culture: A Tribute To Carl Sagan
During the most recent episode of Question Culture (a bi-weekly socio-political podcast), Lornett and Brian discussed one of their favorite scientific minds, Carl Sagan. They talked about his early contributions to space exploration, his amazing documentary Cosmos: A Personal Voyage, and his activism for causes like nuclear disarmament and climate change. Check out the episode. As you…
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Raymond Parish, author of The Mighty Shall Fall
Why did you choose to write in your particular field or genre? I found my way to the mystery/ thriller genre through the intersection of my love for detective series, dating back to childhood, and an enduring interest in understanding the unique lives of folks who are, as I like to say, “not me.” As…
