Author: Cassandra Chandler
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The Merry-Go-Round
I finished editing Wandering Soul recently. Again. When I reached the end, there were a few concerns I needed to check (such as, I thought I might have removed too many dialogue tags – nope, it’s all good). During that final check, I noticed more things I could fix. A very dangerous thought presented itself.…
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Autumn
Autumn is my favorite season for writing. There’s a heady mix of activity and introspection as I get ready for the year’s end while looking ahead to the winter. The steel gray of the sky contrasting with the brightly colored leaves holds a particular creative magic. The weather is cool and crisp, perfect for activity…
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Those We Love
When I wonder what to work on next, I usually look to my characters for the answer. Which of them is in the worst state right now? Who is enduring the most emotional turmoil? Is anyone in mortal danger? What I’m really asking is, who has the most at stake? At the moment, I have…
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Letting Go
The first novel I wrote that had a beginning, middle, and end was a dark fantasy romance novel. I rewrote it seven times. Each draft was about 100,000 words long. I designed a cover, wrote the back-jacket blurb (I can still recite it without missing a beat), and filled page after page with back-story and…
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The Magic Pencil
I sat down to write the other day, and couldn’t find my pencil. I specifically bought this pencil for my writing. While allowing myself to search for a few brief moments, I realized what trouble I would be in if I had turned this basic tool into a Magic Pencil, an indispensable tool that was…
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Behind the Curtain
When you start to study the craft of writing, to really roll up your sleeves and dig into the guts of the matter, you have to let go of something. You have to let go of being surprised. Sure, there will still be moments and pieces that catch you off guard, but they’ll be fewer…
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Time
The most insidious form of procrastination for my writing hides in plain sight. “I don’t have time to write.” And yet, I have time to check my email, play a video game, or look at cute cat pictures on the Internet. I think we’ve all slid down this rabbit hole before. I’m doing my best…
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The Call
Many famous authors talk about their rejection letter collections, and thinking about it that way is how I’ve handled mine. When I send out queries, I’ve armored by writer’s heart by thinking of rejections as additions to my collection. There was always hope alongside that shield that someday I’d get some amazing news instead. That…
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Trust
There is a tiny voice inside every artist that tells us what to do with our works. “Change that line. This isn’t in character. This scene doesn’t belong here.” The more we create, the more we listen to that voice, the stronger it becomes. The easier it is to hear. I first became aware of…
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The Process: Part Two – Beta Readers
When I’ve edited a piece and polished it to shiny brilliance, I send it to my beta readers. Some are selected for their linguistic skills, some for their knowledge of genre, all for their love of words and story. And all are trusted individuals. Deeply, deeply trusted. My beta readers can only read the book…
Cassandra Chandler 