Scribes & Archers

How to Write an Effective Character Death

Posted on April 15, 2025March 5, 2025 by R.M. Archer

Most of us have a character death or two that we can point to as having effected us as readers, whether or not we can identify why exactly that particular death struck us so powerfully. In this post, I’m analyzing some of the character deaths that I’ve found most impactful–both as a reader/viewer, and from the storytelling perspective as an author.

Note: Due to the nature of the topic, this post does include spoilers for Warehouse 13, Arcane, and The Maze Runner trilogy.

The Crux of the Matter: Character Deaths Should Have an Impact

You probably already know this–on an instinctual level as a reader if not from an authorial perspective–but character deaths must have an impact on the story in order to feel meaningful to the reader. There must be some sort of impact on the story and/or the characters left behind, or else Continue reading “How to Write an Effective Character Death” →

Book Review: DragonFire and Other Nonsense by Bethany Meyer

Posted on April 8, 2025March 10, 2025 by R.M. Archer

I haven’t posted as many reviews this year as some other years, as a consequence of reducing the volume of books I read in order to take my time with books that I really enjoy. Let me start by saying, this book was definitely worth the time.

(Required disclaimer that though I received a free copy to review, the following opinions are my own.)

Since this book concludes the Scorch trilogy, here is the blurb from book one rather than DragonFire itself:

What is Robbing Centaurs and Other Bad Ideas about?

Wick the tree messenger is bound for success. His career as a messenger is better than it’s ever been, and he’s on the fast track to getting an even more important job as a councilor. But before he can succeed, word spreads that a thief is after the most powerful magic in Aro, the Heather Stone, and stealing it piece by piece. To be safe, Wick is entrusted with moving one of the stones to a safer location.

On his journey, Wick is overtaken by the thief himself, a seraph named Archer, but Archer’s plans as he explains them are nothing like what everyone thinks. Wick doesn’t know what to believe, but Archer seems so sure. Wick’s options are limited: ignore Archer and keep his piece of the Heather Stone out of potentially dangerous hands, or choose to trust this thief and the warning he brings.

Something is coming. An ancient scourge that could destroy all of Aro. All that stands in its way are an uncertain messenger and an untrustworthy thief.

If he chooses wrong, Wick could lose everything.

Prior to reading DragonFire and Other Nonsense, I went back and reread both Robbing Centaurs and Other Bad Ideas and World Saving and Other Disasters–and I’m quite happy to have done so, both because Continue reading “Book Review: DragonFire and Other Nonsense by Bethany Meyer” →

Getting Past the Chapter 8 Slump

Posted on April 1, 2025March 5, 2025 by R.M. Archer

A few years ago, I had a conversation with someone who said he’d tried to write a number of stories, but could never seem to get past chapter eight. I was familiar with the feeling, and maybe you are, too. It’s easy to blaze through the start of your story, fueled by all the excitement of a bright new idea, banking on momentum until… that momentum inevitably runs out. Today, I want to talk about how to get past that initial loss of momentum to keep going and complete that exciting new project you’ve started.

*This post contains affiliate links, marked with an asterisk. Purchases made through these links earn me a small commission and help support my work at no extra cost to you.

What is the “Chapter 8 Slump”?

For the purposes of this post, I’m discussing that first big case of “writer’s block” after you’ve started a new story. For some reason, it seems that has a tendency to hit around the chapter-eight mark, or after 10-20k words. In my own personal experience, it’s also more prevalent when “pantsing” a story vs. working on a story that has already been plotted out ahead of time, but that could just be a personal issue; if this “chapter 8 slump” is a problem you’ve faced, I’d love to hear in the comments whether you’re usually a “pantser” or a “plotter”!

Tip #1: Expect the Slump

Here’s the thing: Every new story idea loses its luster and causes the author’s momentum to falter. As Rick Riordan put it,

“Writing a book is always hard work. It’s much easier to think of new ideas. You’ll get to the middle of the manuscript and you’ll think, ‘Oh, this is too hard. I’ll start another book instead and that will be easier.’ DON’T! That new book won’t be any easier.”

Part of having a strong defense against the chapter 8 slump is to expect it and prepare for it ahead of time. One way to do this Continue reading “Getting Past the Chapter 8 Slump” →

Addressing the Fear of Traditional Publishing – Guest Post by K. Orme

Posted on March 25, 2025March 17, 2025 by R.M. Archer

For a while now, I’ve noticed that a lot of authors in the indie community seem to be afraid of traditional publishing for one reason or another. While I fully believe that that traditional publishing path is not for everyone (I don’t think it’s for me, as a general rule), I do believe that we should think clearly about both publishing routes and choose one because it’s truly the best fit rather than because we’re afraid of the other! Today, I have K. Orme on the blog to dispel some of the fears that tend to crop up around traditional publishing, to further the informed choice between traditional, independent, or hybrid publishing. I hope you enjoy and find her article informative!

I have spent the last seventeen years learning my writing craft and studying publishing trends, deciding which publishing method is right for which of my books. Publishing has come a long way since then. It’s come a long way since I studied publishing in college, which was a course I took for my degree. (Officially, I have a BA in History and a Minor in Creative Writing, though I have enough credits to count for a second BA in English/Creative Writing, though it is unofficial.) And that’s only my college education. This doesn’t account for the multiple classes outside of college I’ve taken hosted by conferences and online colleges leading up to this point.

Suffice it to say, I know a little about the publishing industry and have seen trends come and go, as well as pervasive fears about what publishing can look like. And here I am, your resident overthinking author, to give you a little calming moment Continue reading “Addressing the Fear of Traditional Publishing – Guest Post by K. Orme” →

What is Your Cover Saying? – 4 Keys to Quality Cover Design

Posted on March 18, 2025February 26, 2025 by R.M. Archer

Adapted from “Clean Fantasy and Boring Cover Syndrome,” originally published Nov. 28, 2017

Since subscribing to a number of clean fantasy authors’ newsletters, I’ve come across a disappointing trend. A lot of clean fantasy books have really unimpressive covers. The same is often true of indie authors, as a whole. You know the old adage “don’t judge a book by its cover,” and that’s great in principle, but when it comes to books, readers really do judge books by their covers. As a reader myself I can attest to this. Heck, it’s why I’m writing this post.

The fact is, that’s not a bad thing. Cover art should Continue reading “What is Your Cover Saying? – 4 Keys to Quality Cover Design” →