Thanksgiving Archives - Archer's Aim

There are always so many things for which I can be thankful. I have a great family, a good home, reasonably good health and my job. The year has had its ups and downs but I’m still here. However, I wanted to focus on everything for which I’m thankful as a writer.

1. I’m thankful for how far I’ve made it as a writer this year. It has been challenging but I’ve been afforded many opportunities to grow as a writer this year and I’m thankful for each one.

2. I’m thankful for the many connections I’ve been privileged to make with so many other writers. I’ve had a wonderful time sharing the experience with all the regular visitors and followers of this site. Thanks to everyone for reading so often and sharing your support and comments. It has been a pleasant surprise since I was rather hesitant about even blogging.

3. I’m thankful for how much progress I’ve made this year. I want to get into the specifics maybe at a later time but I didn’t start the year with a writing platform. In fact, I didn’t even have a site, email or social media accounts for writing until May. Again, thanks to all the social media contacts, readers and authors for the support. It’s been amazing to share the ride with everyone. The growth has been incredible considering my hesitation to begin all this due to my wife being out of work over the summer. I don’t know how it’s all grown so much except for the support.

4. I’m also thankful for how much I’ve learned about writing and blogging from so many terrific contacts over social media, webinars, membership in Rave Reviews Book Club and at the convention I was privileged to attend locally. I learned so much this year about writing that I’ve been able to put to good use.

5. I’m thankful for how much I was able raise for my novel during the IndieGoGo campaign this year. I didn’t reach my goal but I did raise enough to commission cover art.

It’s been a great ride the latter half of this year. I’m looking forward to holidays, finishing this year and bursting into 2015 with lots of inspiration to continue what I’ve begun. Until then, HAPPY THANKSGIVING!!! I wish everyone a good time with family and friends over a good meal and conversation.

For what are you thankful as a writer this year? What accomplishments and goals have you met? Please share your thoughts and ideas in the comments section. I’d also love to connect with you over social media so check my contact page for that information. See the News page for announcements and remember to sign-up to receive news and posts by email. I’ve added a new sign-up tab on my FaceBook page to simplify the process. New followers can download The Black Bag via free coupon today! Also, the cover of my book, The Bow of Destiny, was revealed recently so take a look.

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I’ve had several ideas buried like nuts in my mind for some time – though maybe I’m actually nuts. One in particular has been asking to be written several years, perhaps as long as a decade. I never really knew how I wanted to approach the story so I let it ride.

Fantasy is a great genre so an idea can be developed in any way necessary to tell the story. I’ve only dabbled with urban fantasy once before but this idea certainly fell into that sub-genre. After all, the idea came from reality in such a way that it had to be told as a story set in this world.

The other day, this idea surfaced in my mind again but this time a funny thing happened on the way to conscious thought – it shifted out of urban fantasy and I recognized it’s potential. In that instant, I realized that this story idea needed to be written in a secondary world setting rather than in its original, primary world concept.

Now I don’t want to share the idea at the moment but it is certainly rich with ideas and potential with the movement into traditional fantasy. I get to develop the notion into a plot, setting and everything else. This is the beauty of writing fantasy fiction – the chance to take the commonplace aspects of living and drop them into a different world entirely where they become unusual. It’s why I love reading and writing fantasy – the chance to bake something fresh out of the brain-oven using everyday ingredients. Can you tell I’ve got Thanksgiving on my mind?

Inspiration is a great motivator for writing. It’s also integral, especially with fantasy- in my opinion. If a story setting doesn’t fit, it will leave both the author and the reader uncomfortable. The precision of concept fitting it’s setting in fantasy is almost as important as characterization. Otherwise, it may just be the proverbial “emperor in new clothes”.

I’m looking forward to developing this short story project. I love my updated concept and the opportunity to fit it into a completely new and unexpected setting. I hope to post it and a few other stories on my Short WIP page soon.

Why do your read/write fantasy or any other genre? Please share your thoughts and ideas in the comments section. I’d also love to connect with you over social media so check my contact page for that information. See the News page for announcements and remember to sign-up to receive news and posts by email. I’ve added a new sign-up tab on my FaceBook page to simplify the process. New followers can download The Black Bag via free coupon today! Also, the cover of my book, The Bow of Destiny, was revealed recently so take a look.