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Writing 101 - The Pronoun Avenger

I was momentarily distracted while reading an otherwise excellent blog when I came across the following introductory clause. "The above

Miles O'Neal

Jul 17, 20191 min read

A Tale of Two Thunderbirds

I saw Lynyrd Skynyrd on their first big tour, opening for the Who in Atlanta. Both bass players that night (Leon Wilkeson for LS and John En

Miles O'Neal

May 31, 20191 min read

Writers Life - A Student Visit

These students all read above their grade level. The two classes had different personalities but I was prepared for that. I had a loose outl

Miles O'Neal

May 22, 20194 min read

Who Do You Want To Read More About?

While I am taking a break from working on novels this year, I have plans to write more books (and some shorter stories) related to The Drago

Miles O'Neal

May 20, 20193 min read

Who are the Faerie Really?

There are several documented cases of humans and faerie marrying. Contrary to popular belief, such a marriage does not automatically condemn

Miles O'Neal

Apr 8, 20192 min read

Nappy Headed Thing

Up to this point we were just two normal-looking customers awaiting service, but eventually we felt we had to take action. "Keep Austin

Miles O'Neal

Mar 8, 20192 min read

Writing 101 - Process Part 7

With the first couple of books, the illustrator sent images in arbitrary aspect ratios (height/width). Some images were tall and narrow, som

Miles O'Neal

Mar 6, 20193 min read

Evocative Imagery

This is one of my favorite images from Year of the Dragon Lord, volume I of The Dragon Lord Chronicles. It evokes some of the chaos and path

Miles O'Neal

Mar 4, 20192 min read

My Brief Career as a Cartoonist

"It's a joke, son, Ah say, it's a JOKE!" (I remember hearing Foghorn Leghorn in my head, and having to argue myself out of

Miles O'Neal

Mar 1, 20192 min read

Writing 101 - Process Part 6

Ultimately it's your work, and you have to decide which suggestions to take, but make sure you understand why you accept and reject each

Miles O'Neal

Feb 27, 20193 min read

More Notes on Dragons: Relics

In a previous blog, I referenced the protection dragon relics can afford. Here is a bit more on the subject. Excerpted from Cuthbert's...

Miles O'Neal

Feb 25, 20193 min read

Lost Stuff

All of us have lost, tossed, sold, or given away stuff over the years that we've later wished we hadn't. When I dropped out of college...

Miles O'Neal

Feb 22, 20192 min read

Writing 101 - Process Part 5

I do most of my own research ... And I check on facts ... But we all have blind sides, and the more we invest in our work, the closer we get

Miles O'Neal

Feb 20, 20193 min read

First Comic Con

I've long meant to go to a Comic Con, but always seem to find out about the close ones after the fact. I certainly didn't think my first...

Miles O'Neal

Feb 18, 20193 min read

Riffing on the Past That Wasn't There

You're at a vow renewal where your spouse knows the bride, but you know only your spouse and two people sitting on the bride's side. At...

Miles O'Neal

Feb 15, 20191 min read

My Loved One's Heart

My loved one's heart belongs to me, not worshiped from afar, but right here sitting close to me - I keep it in a jar. We met at...

Miles O'Neal

Feb 14, 20191 min read

Writing 101 - Process Part 4

Some authors are very stringent on how they want feedback. That's fine if all your readers are professionals, or you have an infinite po

Miles O'Neal

Feb 13, 20193 min read

Paring Down My Work and Other Minutiae

Conventional wisdom is that authors must pare down their works. I tried, but all four books of The Dragon Lord Chronicles grew slowly....

Miles O'Neal

Feb 11, 20192 min read

Love Your Libraries

I've read as far back as I can remember. During my teen years and most of my adult life, I read at least 2-3 books a week; during peak...

Miles O'Neal

Feb 8, 20193 min read

Writing 101 - Process Part 3

The early reader (or beta reader) process should start when the first draft is done. You want to start lining your readers up early enough t

Miles O'Neal

Feb 6, 20194 min read