Notes from the Ledger
Welcome to Notes from the Ledger, a little corner of the realm where stories, craft, and curiosity meet. Here you'll find updates from my writing desk, behind-the-scenes glimpses into the worlds of Wondrous Legends, practical editing insights, and the occasional exploration of the strange (and often magical) intersections between creativity and clarity.
Whether you’re an author, a reader, a fellow word-wrangler, or someone who simply enjoys peeking behind the curtain, I’m glad you’re here. Dip into any post, follow the threads that interest you, and make yourself at home among the pages.
Blog posts will typically be posted the 2nd and 4th Friday of the month.
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Blog posts will typically be posted the 2nd and 4th Friday of the month. *
The Myth of Creative Chaos
Creative chaos sparks ideas, but structure finishes books. Why writers need systems, revision, and architecture to build lasting stories.
Hectoring: When Heroes Become Bullies (and Other Linguistic Surprises)
I learned the word hectoring from someone who doesn’t read much fiction—and immediately assumed it couldn’t possibly be real. It turns out it is. And its journey from heroic epic to modern bullying says a lot about how language, authority, and power evolve.
AI and Indie Authors: A Useful Tool With Real Trade-Offs
AI can be a powerful tool for indie authors — but it comes with real tradeoffs. From creative ethics and environmental cost to reader trust and industry impact, here’s a clear-eyed look at when AI helps, when it harms, and why choosing to use it should be intentional, not automatic.
What Kind of Edit Do You Actually Need? A Simple Guide for Writers
A simple guide to understanding the four main types of editing — developmental, line, copy editing, and proofreading — and how to choose the right one for your manuscript.
Secular or Sacred? Writing Holiday Stories Without Losing Your Audience
Holiday stories are powerful—but choosing how sacred or secular they should be isn’t always simple. In this post, I explore how belief, tradition, and audience expectations intersect—and how to write seasonal stories that resonate without unintentionally narrowing your readership.
Writing Holidays: What Works, What Doesn’t, and Why Seasonal Stories Matter
A craft guide to writing holiday stories — what works, what doesn’t, and how to build authentic seasonal traditions in fantasy worlds. Includes a special holiday short story giveaway!
The Cosmology of the World in Draft
Every universe begins somewhere, though the Seven Forgetful Gods may not agree on where. Step into the cosmology of the World in Draft and discover how magic, chaos, and a slightly unreliable pantheon set everything in motion.
The Fire Has Sparked — We Didn’t Start the Phire is Now Available!
My debut World in Draft novel, We Didn’t Start the Phire, is officially live — and the adventure begins.
