M.A. Kropp: Writer, Blogger, GeekGirl. My Life. My Words. My Way.
If you are a writer, you probably have at least heard about National Novel Writing Month. For the non-writers and others who may not know, NaNoWriMo (as it is known) occurs during the month of November. The idea is to start on November 1 and by the end of the month, write a 50,000 word … Continue reading Wednesday On Writing: NaNoWriMo and You
Oh, yes, the annual frenzy of National Novel Writing Month has begun. Yes, I am participating this year, but not for writing a novel. I am using this month to keep me focused on developing an idea I had for a YA fantasy. There will be writing done. There has already been some. But I … Continue reading Monday Musings: NaNoWriMo is Upon Us
It's Halloween and as in years past, I have published a short Halloween themed story on my site. This year, it's a take on an old European tradition of soul cakes. Soul cakes are a small cross between a biscuit and a scone, usually baked with raisins or currants. They are handed out on Halloween … Continue reading Halloween Story 2019
I have mentioned the I have been working on the third installment of the Yo-Yo Files, my urban fantasy series. Well, I have decided on a release date for it: January 20, 2020. Wow, that's a lot of 20s! The title is The Demon's in the Details. This one is going to be a bit longer … Continue reading Monday Megaphone: Announcing The Yo-Yo Files #3
The newly designed cover for Five and Daemon: The Yo-Yo Files #1 is done! And I am so very happy with it! Many thanks to Kream of the Kropp TechWorks for the design, which is much nicer than the old one, and really works with the story so much better.The new cover has been submitted to all … Continue reading Monday Musings: Stay Tuned!
It's at the center of every story. It is the thing that drives the action forward. It's what causes the characters to act and react. What is it? Conflict.Conflict arises when a character wants something and there are obstacles in the way of his getting that thing. It can be big (the hero must stop … Continue reading Wednesday on Writing: Conflicted
Well, for me at least, it looks something like this: Yes, I do my revising, at least the first pass, on paper. It seems to help me if I can mark on, scribble notes, cross out, highlight, and rewrite sentences on an actual piece of paper. Later passes will probably get done on the computer, … Continue reading Wednesday on Writing: What Does Revision Look Like?
I have been busy for the last year writing the third installment of my urban fantasy series. The first draft is now done, and I am letting it sit for a while before I dive into the revision process. I do this with most of my writing, and many other writers do, as well. Why? … Continue reading Wednesday On Writing: Should You Start Revising a Story as Soon as You Finish a Draft?
Remember high school writing classes? One of the first assignments was always to define the theme in what you were going to write. We still see theme mentioned in book reviews, in blurbs and book descriptions, and in discussions about books. So, what exactly is this theme thing and do you need to worry about … Continue reading Wednesday on Writing: What is Theme and Do I Need One?
Boy, they seem to be rolling by fast, don't they? Of course, we were out of town for seven days, four of them on the road, so things are a bit disrupted in my brain right now. We also had the BaldMan needing to have a detached retina reattached and of course, he can't drive … Continue reading Monday Musings: And Another Week Bites the Dust
