Miles O'NealJul 17, 20191 minWriting 101 - The Pronoun AvengerI was momentarily distracted while reading an otherwise excellent blog when I came across the following introductory clause. "The above
Miles O'NealMay 31, 20191 minA Tale of Two ThunderbirdsI 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'NealMay 22, 20194 minWriters Life - A Student VisitThese 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'NealMay 20, 20193 minWho 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'NealApr 8, 20192 minWho 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'NealMar 8, 20192 minNappy Headed ThingUp 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'NealMar 6, 20193 minWriting 101 - Process Part 7With the first couple of books, the illustrator sent images in arbitrary aspect ratios (height/width). Some images were tall and narrow, som
Miles O'NealMar 4, 20192 minEvocative ImageryThis 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'NealMar 1, 20192 minMy 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'NealFeb 27, 20193 minWriting 101 - Process Part 6Ultimately 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'NealFeb 25, 20193 minMore Notes on Dragons: RelicsIn 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'NealFeb 22, 20192 minLost StuffAll 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'NealFeb 20, 20193 minWriting 101 - Process Part 5I 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'NealFeb 18, 20193 minFirst Comic ConI'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'NealFeb 15, 20191 minRiffing on the Past That Wasn't ThereYou'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'NealFeb 14, 20191 minMy Loved One's HeartMy 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'NealFeb 13, 20193 minWriting 101 - Process Part 4Some 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'NealFeb 11, 20192 minParing Down My Work and Other MinutiaeConventional wisdom is that authors must pare down their works. I tried, but all four books of The Dragon Lord Chronicles grew slowly....
Miles O'NealFeb 8, 20193 minLove Your LibrariesI'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'NealFeb 6, 20194 minWriting 101 - Process Part 3The 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