Waaaay past my bedtime...

Lately, I've been sleeping horribly so I've been hittin' the sack around 1am or so. This leaves me lots of time, that I don't use. Let me rephrase that: that I don't use constructively. I normally play WoW to put me to sleep but before that (and sometimes after!), I usually check up on some author's blogs. My favorite is Brigid Kemmerer's. If you haven't heard of her, you will! Her debut novel, Elemental, is coming out in Spring 2012. It's a while away, but I'll be reminding everyone I know to check it out!
Anyway, what I really love about her blog is her advice and insight.
For instance:

"Just like in any kind of story, I needed to keep character motivation at the forefront of my mind. I need to keep character at the forefront of my mind. The plot needs to keep moving. I write every scene with a goal of maintaining conflict on every page. Conflict adds tension, and tension keeps the pages turning. I read my friend's edit letter, and the editor had a fantastic insight: every scene should add a minor turn to the plot. If it doesn't, it's unnecessary."

- The hell with research. Just make it up., March 8, 2011

See what I mean? What she said makes perfect sense. She also posts little tidbits of her writing, which is really good and right up my alley! Both are what keeps me coming back for more!