Nicholas Bruner
Fantasy, Science Fiction, and Young Adult Author
Category: Uncategorized
The Importance of Not Flinching
Now we come to what I think is the most important rule of all for a writer: Don’t flinch. Everything you see and experience can be used in your writing, but you must have your eyes open to see it. Be aware of your… Continue Reading “The Importance of Not Flinching”
What I’m Reading: Hell Phone
I typically read a few YA or middle grade novels a year, usually when my wife, a YA librarian, finds a book she thinks I’ll find funny. But since my WiP is a scary middle grade novel, I recently asked her to bring some YA horror home. One of… Continue Reading “What I’m Reading: Hell Phone”
How to write about object location
One mistake I often used to make was over-precision in writing about the physical location of objects in a scene. Robert put his keys on the end of the countertop. He dropped his pen. It fell to the floor and rolled three feet from his shoe.The living… Continue Reading “How to write about object location”
What I’m Reading: Superparenting for ADD
No, not a comic series, although maybe Superparent would be a good character! Rather, Drs. Edward Hallowell and Peter Jensen have written a book encouraging parents to focus on the strengths of an ADD (that is, a hyperactive) child. For those looking for a general… Continue Reading “What I’m Reading: Superparenting for ADD”
How does writing a novel improve your writing?
Well, obviously, if you commit to write a novel, you write nearly every day for weeks or months on end. That much practice can’t hurt! As Malcolm Gladwell writes in Outliers, it takes 10,000-hours of practice to gain mastery of a skill.* Writing a novel certainly… Continue Reading “How does writing a novel improve your writing?”
What I’m Reading: Writing the Breakout Novel
Writing the Breakout Novel by Donald Maass may be just what I needed at this point in my writing development. Strunk and White’s book was immensely useful long ago, but I’m long past the basic grammar and style advice they provide. Stephen King’s On Writing… Continue Reading “What I’m Reading: Writing the Breakout Novel”
New Book Out: Nana…and Other Grandmothers
The Writers of Chantilly have their (nearly) annual collection out: Nana…and Other Grandmothers. The various writers in the WoC have contributed stories based on the theme of Grandmothers. One of those writers is me!My contribution is titled “The Price of Gas.” Here’s the tag… Continue Reading “New Book Out: Nana…and Other Grandmothers”
Work in Progress update
Last night at my writers’ group I read chapter four of my WiP, which I have given the working title of “Piece.” I was worried the writing wasn’t as smooth as what I normally read, and maybe it wasn’t. Nevertheless, it got quite a reaction. The… Continue Reading “Work in Progress update”
