M.A. Kropp: Writer, Blogger, GeekGirl. My Life. My Words. My Way.
How do you know when your story is done? That is a very good question, and I'm afraid there isn't a very good answer. Because, for the most part, it never really is. "But you have stories and books that you have published. Aren't they done?" Well, yes, they are. At least, they have a … Continue reading Wednesday on Writing: When Is It Done?
Impostor Syndrome can affect anyone in any part of their life, but I am going to focus here on what it means for a writer. First, what is Impostor Syndrome? It's the deep down feeling that you aren't a "real" writer. That what you have done, published, accomplished so far isn't good enough or important … Continue reading Wednesday on Writing: Impostor Syndrome
One of the questions writers get asked a lot is: Where do you get your ideas? I think the most common answer is: Everywhere! I also think it's the truest one, at least for me. An article read online. Something on TV. A snippet of overheard conversation. A picture. It just pops into your head. … Continue reading Wednesday on Writing: Ideas
We all have heard the Staving Artist Myth. You know- the writer or artist or creator who sits in a freezing attic, making a packet of ramen noodles last for a week's worth of meals, cold, hungry, alone, but fulfilled. Oh, so romantic, right? No. At least not to me. But we are too often given … Continue reading Chuck Wendig on the Starving Artist
It's February, isn't it? January seemed to disappear, especially on the writing front. I got very little done in the past month. It's been hard to get going again. I can't seem to get back into a writing routine. "Ah, yes," they say, nodding knowingly. "Writer's block. Happens to everyone." Well, no. If you have … Continue reading Monday Musings: Writing Updates
That's right. One more day to take advantage of the presale discount on my new space opera novel, Two's Company. It's scifi action-adventure featuring Deuce Grainger, a poker playing, Scotch drinking shuttle jockey faced with losing her main source of income if her friend's terraforming company is sabotaged out of business. Her companion AI Personality may … Continue reading One Day More: Two’s Company Drops Tomorrow!
For many authors, whether traditional or independently published, pitching is a difficult part of what we do. Pitching isn't exclusive to publishing, of course, but for our purposes, I will limit this post to how it relates to authors. When you pitch your book, you are essentially selling it- to an agent, a publisher, a … Continue reading Monday Musings: Pitch That
It's the end of the year- well, almost. I have finished and overshot my reading goal for this year, so I have slowed down on that a bit, and am catching up on some things I've needed to, so book reviews are going to be a bit sparse from now until next year. What I … Continue reading Friday Review: Let’s Look at NaNoWriMo, Shall We?
Catch a Falling Star by M.A. Kropp The old man stood up, stretching the muscles in his lower back. He winced as the tightness worked its way out. Picking up the carved pumpkin sitting on his worktable, he turned and surveyed the rest of the small workshop. All around him, on shelves and in boxes, … Continue reading Halloween 2018 Short Story: Catch a Falling Star
Last week, I posted a couple of the concept art sketches for the cover of Two's Company. Below are two images that show the idea we decided on with color, background, and text added. I really loved the way Rob managed to put Deuce's face into the art without taking away from the overall idea. … Continue reading Cover Reveal, Pre-Sale is On, and, Oh, Heck- Let’s Do a Giveaway
