Musings Archives : Page 4 of 10 : JamiFairleigh.com

Thoughts from 20Books Vegas 2022

Posted on December 2, 2022 by Jami Fairleigh

Last month, I flew to Las Vegas to attend 20Books Vegas 2022. The event is the largest indie author conference, inviting people from all over the world to learn, collaborate, and network. The event is enormous; 1,800 authors attended in...Read More

Gifts for Writers in 2022

Posted on November 25, 2022 by Jami Fairleigh

If you have a writer on your shopping list, here are suggestions for gifts for writers in 2022. I use and recommend each of these items, with one exception. For more suggestions, check out the gifts for writers in 2021....Read More

Revive Your Flagging NaNo Project

Posted on November 18, 2022 by Jami Fairleigh

NaNo writers, this is your mid-month wellness check. How are your projects going? If you're rocking NaNo 2022, keep typing! You probably won't see this article until December, anyway. But if your schedule has slipped and your word-count graph is...Read More

When Between Writing Projects

Posted on November 4, 2022 by Jami Fairleigh

Right now, I'm between writing projects. My editor has Charcoal and Smoke, and while I could continue drafting Ink and Waves, I don't enjoy juggling multiple projects. If, like me, you're between writing projects, here are ten productive writing-related activities...Read More

Character Goals and Motivations

Posted on October 28, 2022 by Jami Fairleigh

In our last week of prepping for NaNoWriMo, it's time to ponder your character's goals and motivations. For previous "Preptober" articles, check out How to develop Your Story Idea, Develop Your Characters, and 50 Questions to Build Your Fictional World....Read More

50 Questions to Build Your Fictional World

Posted on October 21, 2022October 28, 2022 by Jami Fairleigh

All writers world build. Although sometimes attributed to science fiction and fantasy writers, anyone who creates a fictional community or describes an imaginary setting is world building. The goal when world building is to create an authentic setting that can...Read More

Develop Your Characters

Posted on October 14, 2022October 28, 2022 by Jami Fairleigh

Stories are about characters. Who they are, what they did, and why they did it drives your story forward and keeps your readers hooked until the end. Even if you're writing plot-driven tales, your readers should care about, or at...Read More

How to Develop Your Story Idea

Posted on October 7, 2022October 28, 2022 by Jami Fairleigh

It's October, and if you're considering joining in the NaNoWriMo fun this year, it's time to develop your story idea! Assuming you're not already brimming with ideas, here are ten ways to generate them. But once you do land on...Read More

5 Reasons To Restart Your Pleasure Reading

Posted on September 23, 2022 by Jami Fairleigh

In the Pacific Northwest, not only does autumn herald the return of holiday-flavored coffee drinks, but of reading weather. When I'm not working on my books, one of my favorite fall activities is to curl up in my chair with...Read More

A Moment to Grieve Otis

Posted on September 16, 2022 by Jami Fairleigh

This week, we had to say goodbye to Otis, one of our parrots. Though he was elderly, the loss was sudden and unexpected. It's been a tough, emotional time so I'm giving myself a bit of grace and skipping my...Read More

Lessons Learned After Publishing My Debut

Posted on September 2, 2022September 2, 2022 by Jami Fairleigh

Yesterday was Oil and Dust's "book birthday", aka its one year publication anniversary, which made me think about the lessons I've learned over the past year. During the past twelve months, I've published two books and have a third nearly...Read More

Give Yourself Grace With Your Writing

Posted on August 26, 2022September 2, 2022 by Jami Fairleigh

If you've struggled with feelings of writing-related anxiety, guilt, or shame, know that you're not alone... and it's time to give yourself grace. As a part-time writer, I struggle to find balance. There aren't enough minutes in an hour, hours...Read More