Scribes & Archers

I momentarily interrupt the blog’s summer hiatus to celebrate that Scribes & Archers had its 8-year anniversary on Saturday! I asked my newsletter subscribers what I should do to celebrate and a Q&A was the top-voted option, so here’s this year’s celebratory Q&A post! Thank you to Amelie, Jocelyn, Cate, and Aaliyah for sending in questions!

Writing Questions

Do you use block scheduling? A planner where you do a little each day? Or how do you organize your schedule for maximum productivity?

I’ve tried block scheduling before and it’s never worked for me because I personally need a more flexible system that can adjust for differences between days and between larger seasons in terms of energy levels, other activities, what projects I’m interested in, etc. I’ve found that it works best for me when I can work with the natural ebb and flow of my energy and attention as much as possible instead of trying to force it onto certain things at certain times–which I find also makes it easier when I do need to exert a little bit of extra energy toward diverting my attention to a specific project when it’s on a deadline, work for someone else, etc.

I do have a day planner for making sure tasks get done–especially platform tasks, back-end to-dos, and housework–and I have assigned some weekdays to certain top priorities, but I don’t have a strict schedule. I mostly work on whatever is the next necessary step for whatever projects I have in the works, prioritizing whichever projects are holding my attention on a given day (unless I’m on a close deadline or editing for a client), and do as much as I can on that before moving on to the next thing. When I have a task list, I generally do my best to work straight down so that everything gets done, but, again, nothing is completely set in stone.

Over the spring, I started using Notion to keep track of current and upcoming projects and tasks–and the next steps within each one, as applicable–so I have a very clear view all in one place of what I’m working on and what’s next; that has helped to streamline things, since my notes and thoughts were functional but a lot more scattered before. (If anyone’s curious, I may post about my Notion setup in the future; comment below if that’s something you’d be interested in seeing!)

If you’re interested in reading more about how I get things done and keep all (or at least most) of the plates spinning, my 7 time management tips for authors are all drawn from my own practices.

What is your primary source of inspiration?

I referenced my on-the-go notes to identify the answer to this question and I came away with: my surroundings. I keep names from street signs, snippets of description based on things I see when out and about, lots of different descriptions of the sky, story concepts that have sprung from interesting settings, etc. I guess it’s no surprise that my interest in settings/worldbuilding extends to ideas from real-world settings (even if I usually spin those ideas into fantastical settings).

How long have you been writing?/When did you first start writing?

I’ve been writing for about 16 years. But my grandma recently showed me a document she found that was a “story” I wrote before I understood words (composed of keyboard smashing), so I suppose it wouldn’t be inaccurate to say “forever,” either.

The first story I remember writing was when I was six or seven, and it was a mystery story that stole the characters from all of the mystery books I enjoyed reading (Nancy Drew, The Boxcar Children, maybe the Happy Hollisters?). It was awful and no longer exists anywhere except my brain, as far as I know. I promptly decided that the mystery genre wasn’t for me, as a writer, and I pivoted to a very DnD-esque fantasy story (which was… slightly less horrific). While my start in the genre wasn’t spectacular, I definitely enjoyed fantasy quite a bit more than writing mysteries!

How much research do you do for books with worlds based on other cultures?

It depends. Some of my fictional cultures are more or less heavily based on real-world cultures, so some simply require more or less research; but it also depends on the needs of a story, whether there are particular areas I need more help developing ideas for (food, for example, doesn’t come very easily to me, so I tend to research ethnic cuisine for inspiration), and what the priorities of the fictional culture are.

I try to take as much inspiration from real-world cultures as I need to color my own setting, while still honoring the real culture and creating something unique for my own world. It’s generally helpful, in my experience, when I can draw inspiration from real cultures that share values in common with the cultures I’m trying to build; it’s easier, then, to maintain the heart behind the details I draw on and avoid twisting real-world cultural details into something that would be entirely foreign to someone from that culture (at least, that’s the intention).

What is your favorite part of the writing process?

Y’all are going to get really tired of “it depends,” lol. Different stages are more or less fun for different projects. But my most common favorites are the worldbuilding (of course) and editing. I enjoy getting to polish what’s already written and make adjustments that bring the messy draft closer and closer to the story as it’s “supposed to be” in my head.

What is your least favorite part of the writing process?

I suppose formatting doesn’t count because it’s really more part of the publishing process, but if it did, definitely formatting.

In the actual writing process, I guess it would be either outlining or drafting. Not because I really dislike either (though sometimes I do); I just don’t always enjoy them as much as other stages of the process.

What are some of your favorite themes to incorporate in your books?

Community and family come up quite a lot. Forgiveness and reconciliation are pretty common, too. Those are probably the top four that I tend to incorporate over and over.

At what stage in the writing process do you generally decide on a theme?

Usually after the whole first draft is written, because I usually don’t have a theme in mind until it works its way into the story organically and I’m able to see it after the fact. Sometimes I have an idea for a story with a very particular theme from the outset, and sometimes I have to work in a theme more intentionally during edits, but the theme usually arises during the drafting process and just needs to be highlighted more in edits to some degree or another.

How much time do you usually spend writing each day?

This is another thing that changes from season to season. Sometimes just a few minutes, sometimes a few hours, depending on my level of time, energy, and inspiration; and depending on how intently I’m working to get a project finished and/or whether I’m participating in a writing challenge/event.

I do consistently write more on days that I have writing sprints scheduled in my Discord server, especially when there’s a lot of engagement from other authors as well, but I’m not always working on book projects; sometimes I use that opportunity to knock out blog posts or newsletters, too.

Who is your favorite character (from your books) and why?

Let me limit this to characters from my published or ongoing books, because there are way too many otherwise. So from Lost Girl, The Mirror-Hunter Chronicles, Short Story Collection vol. 1, Calligraphy Guild, and the Lightning duology…

I still had to sit here and deliberate for quite a while, lol. I like so many of my characters, and for such different reasons. But four come to the top of my mind–Makio, Zen, and Sairsha from Calligraphy Guild, and Nyla from the Lighting duology–and they essentially break down into two character types that are often my favorite: strong, protective, thoughtful men; and compassionate, creative, enduring women.

In terms of fun to write vs. characters I like on a personal level, there’s also the category that Erika falls into in the Lightning duology, which is the snarky, calloused, isn’t-really-quite-as-tough-as-she-thinks-she-is woman. Tora from Calligraphy Guild is also in that category. I find that those characters come very naturally in terms of their voice, but they’re not always the characters I would want to hang out with all the time. (I would probably hang out with Tora, but Erika and I would not get along very well, lol.)

Which of your characters do you think is most like you?

Duyên in Calligraphy Guild was initially based on me before coming a bit more into her own character, so she has a lot of similarities with me, but I don’t know which character would be the most like me, because I do feel like there are some distinct ways in which I’m not so much like Duyên. (Being fictional, she has the freedom to be a little more perfect than I am, lol.)

I don’t know. I see aspects of myself in many of my characters, but it’s hard to determine which one has the most of me in them. Duyên is as close an answer as any, I suppose.

What are some of the best lines you’ve ever written?

Readers seem to like, “It seems you have saltwater and stardust in your veins,” from Lost Girl. (I like it too.)

A lot of my favorite lines aren’t in published works yet, lol. Like this one from my phone notes: “There’s a reason they call it a golden age. The years are beautiful and prosperous… but also soft and easily wasted.”

Or this opening line from a project I might not ultimately pursue (shared previously in a post about precise prose): “Darkness descended on the city. The sparkling lights of the towers tried to resist, but still it pressed down, as thick and vile as the blood coating Vix‘s knife.” I also like this one because I wrote a complementary closing line for if I did pursue the project, and I enjoy how they describe very similar details with very different tones.

As for published lines, I like these from Calligraphy Guild:

“I will love you whether hope or fear wins out.”

 

Duyên watched Lonpaia’s deft fingers work for a moment. “Why are the gods so fickle?”

“Why are men so fickle? It’s simply the way of things.”

“But shouldn’t gods be better?” Duyên looked back up at Lonpaia.

Lonpaia paused her work and turned toward Duyên. “That is what we all wish for. And yet I can’t help but think they’re simply men with the powers of the universe at their fingertips.”

Reading Questions

What are your favorite books?

I started with a very long list here and was able to whittle it down slightly… I do have a full list of recommendations available–and set up to sort by genre, content level, etc.–available to newsletter subscribers, so check that out if you’re interested in more!

(Links to my reviews, including content notes when relevant)

Fantasy: The Lord of the Rings by J.R.R. Tolkien, the Truth series by Dawn Cook, the Scorch trilogy by Bethany Meyer, A River Enchanted by Rebecca Ross, Mistborn by Brandon Sanderson, Just Stab Me Now by Jill Bearup, Sing to Me of Rain by E.B. Dawson, The Wingfeather Saga by Andrew Peterson, the Beaumont and Beasley series by Kyle Robert Shultz, Phantastes by George MacDonald, Harbinger of the End by Nicki Chapelway

Sci-fi: The Space trilogy by C.S. Lewis, the Renegades trilogy by Marissa Meyer, The Lunar Chronicles by Marissa Meyer, the Whispers of White duology by Miranda Marie, the Fire Rain Chronicles by Miranda Marie

Dystopian: Fahrenheit 451 by Ray Bradbury, The Giver by Lois Lowry, the Out of Time trilogy by Nadine Brandes

Nonfiction: Adorning the Dark by Andrew Peterson, The God of the Garden by Andrew Peterson, The Surprising Imagination of C.S. Lewis by Jerry Root and Mark E. Neal, Structuring Your Novel by K.M. Weiland

Other: The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde by Robert Louis Stevenson, Around the World in Eighty Days by Jules Verne, The Scarlet Letter by Nathaniel Hawthorne

Which books most influenced your writing and/or desire to become an author?

The Shannara series by Terry Brooks really kicked off my interest in fantasy and contributed a lot to my early series/first major fantasy world, which I still intend to revisit and publish in the future. I consider the Shannara series my “origin story” as a fantasy author–alongside the Link’s Crossbow Training Wii game that got me interested in The Legend of Zelda and the worldbuilding behind Hyrule.

Beyond that, I was particularly influenced by Faye Fite’s Terebinth Tree Chronicles, The Maze Runner series by James Dashner (albeit in a different way), and The Lord of the Rings.

What is one fiction book you think everyone (and maybe specifically young adults) should read?

Probably The Lord of the Rings, if only because it’s hard to find another fiction book that I think is of such universal value. There are many other books that I think have great themes, stories, characters, etc., but almost all of them have much narrower appeal/applicability than LotR.

For young adults specifically, though, I might add the Out of Time series by Nadine Brandes, because I think it does such a good job of addressing the themes of purpose and identity.

General Questions

How are you doing?

I’m doing well; thank you for asking! My daughter was born in June, so I’ve been adjusting to that change in our household dynamics and enjoying watching her grow. And I’m taking advantage of this last month before my hiatus ends, especially as my husband just went back to work and that’s presented additional an additional challenge and adjustment.

If you could only listen to one musical artist for the rest of your life, who would it be?

Probably Andrew Peterson. The Arcadian Wild would also be a contender, but Andrew Peterson probably wins out.

Do you have any pets?

Not presently, no. My family had cats for most of the time I was growing up, but my husband and I haven’t had any pets.

Are you a coffee person or a tea person? If so, which kinds?

I love the smell of coffee, but I’m firmly a tea person when it comes to taste. Black teas are my favorite, my go-to at home is Bigelow’s vanilla chai, and when I go out my default is a chai latte (which led me to develop a homemade chai latte recipe so I didn’t have to spend $5 every time I wanted one, lol).

Not a question, but thank you so much for all the work you’ve put into growing your platform and blessing us with your research, tips, and wisdom!

Aw, thank you, Amelie! I’m glad it’s been a blessing!

And thank you to all of you reading, whether I see you comment, send in questions, etc. or whether you read quietly. Your support helps keep me going and contributes a great deal to my being able to continue building Scribes & Archers and Worlds with a View Publications* as the years go on. <3

*More on this momentarily

Plans for the Next Year

Over the next year, I intend to continue blogging on my usual every-Tuesday schedule, focusing particularly (but not exclusively) on posts that cover worldbuilding and indie publishing. Scribes & Archers is a well-oiled part of my writing sphere, so I don’t intend to make much alteration to it. I did make some adjustments over this past year, especially over the spring, in terms of cleaning up organization and making things easier to find. I adjusted my menu setup, endeavored to make my additional writing resources easier to find, and streamlined my post categories. In short, I tried to minimize the clutter.

The bigger changes in the coming year will relate more to my publishing and course-offering efforts. I mentioned Worlds with a View Publications a moment ago; this is a new name I’ve adopted to encompass all of my work moving forward, including books, courses, and this blog. “Worlds with a View Press” is what I hope to use as the “publishing house” for my books in the future, with imprints for nonfiction and for my NA/slightly less “clean” fiction, so that it will be clear at a glance what’s what–especially in terms of content level. “Worlds with a View Academy Press” will be the imprint used for books like Building a World with a View; the imprint name for NA like the Lightning duology is still pending.

The hope is to release Building a World with a View by this time next year, with Lightning and Thunder following in the fall and winter of 2026. Additionally, my hope is to launch the Worldbuilders Guild to a broader audience (vs. its waitlist alone) early next year!

Support the next year of content

If you’re interested in supporting my work further in the next year, there are a few ways you can contribute–whether tangibly or intangibly.

1) Comment, email, etc.

This helps me to know what’s most helpful and encouraging, and gives me the opportunity to get to know you better! If you’re interested in helping shape the direction of my content, this is the most direct way to do so.

2) Subscribe to the newsletter

This is where you’ll get the most content and updates from me, the best resources, and the most information about my projects, available books, and courses. Subscribing will also give you the opportunity to share your input on projects, blog posts, etc. when I’m crowd-sourcing (like I did to choose the topic of this post), to help steer my efforts more indirectly.

3) Buy a book or enroll in a course

If you’ve been eyeing one of my books–for yourself or a friend–or you’re interested in tools to help strengthen your worldbuilding skills, now is a great time to check out the shop! What I make off of these sales (aside from a tithing portion) always goes right back into operating costs so that I can continue to do what I do.

This is also the last month you’ll be able to join the waitlist for my upcoming mentorship program, the Worldbuiders Guild, if you’re interested in joining early and gaining access to a membership discount.

4) Review a book or share a testimonial

Already read one (or more) of my books, taken one of my courses, or made use of my editing services? Sharing a review or testimonial helps others find out about my work and determine whether or not it’s the right fit for them! You can review my books on Amazon and Goodreads, and testimonials can be shared via social media or sent to me for use in sales pages, quotes, newsletters, etc.

5) Support me through Ko-fi

Ko-fi is a platform that allows followers to support the creators they appreciate with small, “coffee-priced” donations. These, too, go directly to the costs of overhead and project expansion.*

*New releases, educational resources, tools like World Anvil and Aeon Timeline, etc.

6) Book an editing slot

Self-publishing or querying in the next year and interested in getting a professional set of line edits on the manuscript beforehand? I’d love to work with you! Line edits tackle the readability, flow, and consistency of your project, ensuring your writing excels at connecting your readers to your story. Slots will re-open in mid-September, but you can go ahead and get your query in now if you don’t mind waiting for a September sample.

Submit your query

---

Again, thank you all so much for your support and interest in what I do! Have more questions that didn’t get answered in this post? Comment or send me an email! I’d love to hear from you!