by kristinoakley | Jul 20, 2018 | Creativity & Craft, Newsletter
I recently submitted the first 53 pages of The Devil Particle manuscript to writers Shannon Anderson and Tricia Wagner and my two twenty-something daughters for feedback. Shannon couldn’t believe those pages were from the same author who’d written Carpe...
by kristinoakley | Jul 6, 2018 | Creativity & Craft, For Readers, Newsletter
I stayed up way too late last night and am having a hard time concentrating on my work today. It’s all Fredrik Backman’s fault. Mr. Backman is the author of the critically acclaimed novel A Man Called Ove which was made into an Academy Award nominated...
by kristinoakley | May 25, 2018 | Creativity & Craft, Newsletter
I’m sure many readers imagine novel writing as a solitary pursuit. First thing in the morning, the novelist grabs a mug of coffee or a cup of tea on her way to her computer wearing pjs and fuzzy slippers and writes until noon. Followed by a shower, lunch, maybe...
by kristinoakley | May 11, 2018 | Creativity & Craft, Fictional Research, Newsletter
While editing the second book in my Devil Particle Trilogy, I’ve been thinking about how to craft the third book. I have an idea of what protagonist Jaelyn Bellamy’s struggle will be, but not much else and it’s gnawing at me. It’s as if...
by kristinoakley | Apr 27, 2018 | Creativity & Craft, Fictional Research, Newsletter
I’m happy to say I’m beginning to know as much about survival in the wilderness as my protagonist, Gaige. Last weekend I hiked the Appalachian Trail to the top of Devil’s Tooth and Tinker Cliffs near Catawba, Virginia with nine independent women, our...
by kristinoakley | Feb 16, 2018 | Creativity & Craft, Newsletter
Beginning novelists want readers to love their characters as much as they do, so often they’ll make them perfect. I was guilty of this. When I first wrote Leo into existence, I continued to point out how gorgeous he is. The funny thing is, the more you state a...
