Write Your World presents:

Learning the Art of Writing

Author 1:1 Mentorship

The Fantasy & Science Fiction Author's:

"Write Your (Fantasy/Science Fiction) Book"

Fantasy

Science Fiction

Faith

Want to learn more? Read on!

Write Your World™ Presents

Write Your Fantasy/Science Fiction
Author Development & Consulation

"Fantasy is the creative exploration of the imagination". ~ C. R. Murugiah

Friend, are you interested in writing a fantasy and/or science fiction book or series?

So – you heard writing fantasy was easy, the easiest genre to write, did you? I hate to break it to you, but you’ve been lied to – at least in part.

It’s true, fantasy is the easiest if you’re writing bad fantasy.

Good fantasy is hard. Perhaps the hardest. Good fantasy takes time. So does good science fiction. Both genres are overlapping umbrellas with multiple subgenres housed within them.

Why?

Because good fantasy, good science fiction requires worldbuilding. Whether it’s a single room, whether it’s a plethora of dimensions and galaxies, whether it’s a spaceship with planets, or one world with a single continent, all of it requires well-constructed, well-thought out worldbuilding.

But you knew that already, or you should if you’ve ever picked up a book.

There’s something else that’s needed for good fantasy, good science fiction as well –

Good – or great – characterisation.

How many stereotypical cardboard cutouts can you name before you realise that the collection of tropes that have been mismatched and patchworked together grows stale and old?

Maybe you like that, it’s comforting, cosy, familiar –

Well, that’s all good, if you want to write that.

But even if you do, there is another component that is so often overlooked, so often neglected, so often abused and misused.

What is it?

The presence of the Lord. His breathe in the works you read. The way the Lord is represented, either by His ‘guest starring’ cameos, or His absence.

But it’s fantasy, right?

It’s science fiction, right?

Except…

That’s not really an excuse, not if we’re being honest. Everything on, and in, creation is the Lord’s. It all belongs to Him. That includes your works. That includes all fantasy, all science fiction, it includes everything.

Sounds obvious, right?

So are you truly giving Him your best? No really, honest question. Are you actually giving Him the reverence He is due in your works? Is He even a part of those works? It’s a fair question – the answer may be a legitimate ‘no’ and that’s okay if He’s not intended to be there. But what if He is? What if you want to include the Lord, His principles, or some form of Truth, Life and Light that honours Him?

Are you satisfied with that? If you are, that’s fantastic! Truly. We desperately need more works that demonstrate the glory of the Lord, present Him well, and I will cheer you on, brother-sister-mine-in-Christ.

What happens if you’re not satisfied though? Who do you go to? (Or if we're being formal: to whom do you go?) The obvious answer is ‘The Lord’. Yes, the Lord first. Not your pastor, not a writing coach, not your spouse or your parents. Go straight to the Lord. Have you asked Him for wisdom? Have you checked out what the Book of James says? Or Proverbs? Or Ecclesiastes, Song of Solomon (yes, I did go there); the Gospels, the Epistles, the Books of Daniel, The Revelation, Genesis and the rest of the Word? Jeremiah, Isaiah, Ezekiel?

If not, may I humbly advise you begin there. If you have, and you’re still struggling, find someone who knows what it’s like to walk with the Lord and how to write. If your pastor knows how to write science fiction, talk to him; if your dad knows how to write fantasy and loves the Lord, talk to him. If your cousin, auntie, sister, or whoever, has no idea how to write fantasy but hears from the Lord, go talk to them, and then find someone who knows how to write and walks with the Lord.

If you want to write a book where you desire to include the Lord, find someone who knows how, who has trodden that path, is still treading that path, who loves the Lord as much, or more, than you do, someone who knows what it is to write.

If this is enough to pique your curiosity, feel free to drop me a line and let’s have a chat. If you’d like to read on, you’re welcome to.

Dear Aspiring Author, Stalling Author, burnt-out-Author,

Do any of these titles apply to you?

Let’s cut to the chase here. No really, let’s have a perfectly frank and brutal conversation.

If you’re here, and one of those titles fits where you’re at, then the chances are that the following statements are true:

You aren’t writing.

You should be writing.

Why aren’t you writing?

Correct me if I’m wrong. It is entirely possible you checked out this page just to see what it’s about. But let’s assume for one moment that the Lord has placed a seed of a dream within you; maybe you have been working on it on and off, working at it tirelessly, or maybe you’ve just burnt out and your inspiration is all dried out.

Maybe you don’t know where to start. Maybe you’re overwhelmed.

Maybe you just need a helping hand.

Maybe it’s none of these and there’s something else that’s pressing.

Rather than launch into a ‘Have I got news for you!’ – which, by the way, I have – let’s consider a few more questions.

Where are you stuck?

Why are you stuck?

Has the spark in your engine gone out? Are you having trouble setting the ignition?

Those are fine questions, but they’re a bit generic. Let’s be more specific.

Where are you in the stage of your novel? Did you start yet, are you at the midway point, did you finish and you realise that one, two, three, even four drafts in that it’s not working?

Are you writing one book or many?

How long is your intended wordcount?

If you’re working on the series, what’s the overarching theme? What’s the vision for your series, for each book?

Where’s your worldbuilding at?

How strong are your characterisations?

Can you pitch me your book concisely in one paragraph? How about two? Half a page? Six pages? That’s no good – let’s go back to one paragraph.

What are the main arcs for your protagonists? Do you have one or more protagonist?

Who is your antagonist, is there one?

What genre are you writing?

Why do you need help?

There are many more questions. We could start digging deep into your worldbuilding, your characterisation, your story outlining, your plotting, your themes, the pacing of your book, the pacing of your series; this is not even touching the very borders of what makes a ‘good read’.

Are you afraid of that dreaded word “C” word – no, not that one, the Writer’s “C” — ‘cliché’?

Are you ‘as white as a sheet’?

Did you begin your story with your character’s appearance?

Was it a dark and stormy night?

…Did it end with them waking up from a dream?

Did it begin with them dreaming?

Do you want to know how to make things work for you?

You might be wondering who I am, but more importantly, you’re probably wondering what I do. My ‘official’ title in this area is “Developmental Consultant and Editor” – that’s a bit of a mouthful. What I do is mentor you, teaching you to co-create with the Lord, talk with you about His Kingdom principles, how to integrate them into your writing, work with you to develop your world, your characters, your plot, your plot arcs, your story, your book and your book series if you have one. In many ways, I am like an architect: I help you design and build your book.

I have been writing fantasy and science fiction for over twenty years. As a writer my focus is on characterisation, on worldbuilding, on bringing stories to life, of putting that spark of life into them; as a believer, my focus is helping you learn to co-create with the Lord, establishing good practices and working with Him to so you can bring your story to where He wants it to be.

I take on a limited number of students each year for one-to-one Author Mentorship.

How do I do this? I teach my Storyweaving™ and Bookmapping™ methods.

What are those? You’ll have to “read and find out!”. Joking aside, these are two of my methods that I use to craft stories, craft worlds, and craft books. Every story is a journey, even when the character and/or setting itself is stationary because the story is a vehicle.

It is the journey that your reader embarks upon.

My unique methods help you utilise how to breathe life into your works. ‘Death and life are in the power of the tongue and those who love it will eat its fruit’ – Proverbs.

And in case anyone was wondering – this is not false scarcity. I really do only have a few students I can take on. My time is limited. Aside from running these different programmes, I am also working on my own writing, honing and refining my techniques, and serving the Lord in whatever He calls me to do and wherever He calls me to be.

So – if – and only if – you are a writer or someone hoping to write, and any of this speaks to you, then go away and pray about it. If you still feel like this is for you, that the Lord God has placed it on your heart, then here is my personal invitation to you:

Book a call today. Let’s have a conversation.

If there is a story on your heart, a story you feel called to write, let’s have a conversation. Maybe I can help. I won’t write it for you, but wherever you’re at, you can learn from my experience. I am very careful in who I take on, who I teach my methods to, but those I do, I pour my all into. I am rooting for your success, cheering you on from the sidelines and praying for and with you. I am here to help.

Time is one of the most precious gifts the Lord has given us. More precious as the seeds He has planted in our hearts. Part of my calling is to help my fellow brothers and sisters in Christ cultivate their writing.

Write your book, even if you've never written a page before.

I look forward to hearing from you.

"Do any of these titles apply to you?"

"You aren't writing"

"You should be writing"

"Why aren't you writing?"

"Overwhelmed"

"Don't know where to start"

"A helping hand"

"Stalled"

"Not good enough"

"Just not right"

"My characters don't work"

"My plot's stuck"

"My world's shallow"

"I need a fresh perspective"

"Writing advice is good but it's not personal to me"

"What are your hopes? Your dreams?"

"Who is your book(s) for?"

"How will you publish? Will you?"

"Do I need an editor?"

"How much will it cost?"

"What do I need to do?"

"Do I need social media?"

"Can I use AI for editing?"

"Can I use AI for a book cover?"

"Can I use AI for a coach?"

"Can I use AI to write a sermon?"

"Why do I need help?"

"Make things work for me?"

"Every story is a journey. Every journey is a story."

"What's your story?"