Once upon a time, I briefly wrote about perfection vs. instinct when it comes to writing professionally. Now, there’s not really a designated amount of time for how long it should take a person to write a book. For many authors it generally takes about a year; some can whip a book out in an…

Tonight (or “several days ago,” by the time this blog is scheduled), I went through my usual Sunday routine: an early, but not too early, rise; a few hours in the bookstore where I work; and then an enthusiastic dash to the restaurant a few doors down, where I sit at the bar and drink…

Once in a creative writing class, my instructor described story ideas like they were some form of spiritual entity, floating around from person to person and looking for just the right artist to catch hold of them and make them real. And he warned us that if a story latches on to us, and we…

I have been struggling to find the will to be creative recently. Actually, it’s been quite a long while. Maybe since reaching adulthood; definitely since trying to make a business out of writing. The thought that I keep coming back to is, “What’s the point?” What’s the point in putting something new out there when…

Hello again, December!   Yes, the time has come for another winter break. A chance to slow down for a bit, get our bearings, and hopefully enter the new year feeling energized and ready to meet whatever new catastrophe comes our way. (Just kidding. But not really.) On behalf of the Night Crew, I’d like…

In 2002, film critic Roger Ebert sat down with animation director Hayao Miyazaki to discuss the North American release of his film “Spirited Away.” When Ebert commented on the “gratuitous motion” of Miyazaki’s films—the moments when the characters would “do something extra, not to advance the story but only to give the sense of time…

I have been thinking a lot about happy endings these last few weeks. Particularly due to this one book I recently finished reading, which had a somewhat fluffy, cheesy, character-grin-y, slappy-on-the-back-y kind of ending. Nothing was lost, everything was gained, and they all went home happy. And I loved it. Now, I’ll be honest here:…

I love music. But, then again, who doesn’t? Like a good story, music has the ability to touch upon our emotions. Music can uplift and inspire us, or it can fill us with dread. It can even make us cry. As is often the case with art, just the tiniest little details placed with great…

Tonight, millions of homes around the world will be preparing for an invasion—one spurred on by tiny armies of goblins, ghosts, monsters, and a plethora of Marvel Cinematic Universe characters. Come October every year, and sometimes even before the last week of September has fully passed, we engage in a slow-burn ritual which celebrates all…

This topic has come up semi-recently within my writing circles, and so I thought now would be as good a time as any to cover the subject. First of all, just what exactly is editing? Anyone who has ever written anything for school is familiar with the process of getting marked down for spelling /…

When I was in middle school, there was a rumor floating around that the girls’ locker room was haunted. However, there was no story in particular for the haunting, and no specifics on exactly how the place came to be considered “haunted.” And while I am by no means the fearless type, secondary rumors with…

You have banned and challenged To Kill a Mockingbird due to offensive language and racism. But what have you done to discourage offensive language and racism from being tolerated in our country? You have banned and challenged The Giver because it normalizes violence. But what have you done to help prevent violence in our everyday…

I once saw this question being posed to the online community, and I honestly wasn’t quite sure how I’d respond to it then, and I’m not quite sure how I would respond to it now. I’d thought that as far as literary studies go, there were a number of specific styles of “reading,” but when…

I always thought there was this kind of “love triangle” between Reading, Writing, and Acting. For instance, in order to gauge a character from a script you need to know how to Read; in order to provide readers with a convincing character you need to know how to Write; in order to write effectively, you…

(Major SPOILERS ahead for the movie KPop Demon Hunters)   It takes a special kind of person to kick demon butt—especially while singing and dancing. But it takes a whole different kind of special to face your own demons. Along with her two friends and fellow pop stars, Mira and Zoey, Rumi is a demon…

Once upon a time, I wrote about close-reading and finding the story behind the story. One thing I’ve learned since going off to college and experiencing new people and places is that a lot of the story beneath the surface is dependent upon our perspectives as well. Not only as individuals with different backgrounds, but…

I have a confession to make. For the longest time, I was a reading purist. And by that, I mean if I heard that you listened to audio books every day, I would not have considered you a “reader,” or even a book lover by any means. To me, the act of reading was the…

One of the things I’ve come to notice about my favorite stories is their ability to take contrasting subjects and make them mingle and harmonize. This can be found in characters we’ve seen for decades: the good girl with the bad boy; Beauty and her Beast; the average IQ tagging along with the renowned genius.…

I recently had this question posed to me by a friend regarding a short story I have been writing: “What’s easier: the first draft, or the second draft?” And in pure C.M. fashion, my response was: “It depends on the day.” The first draft, I explained, is “you telling yourself the story”—a quote that is…

This is one of those literary devices that can really ruin the element of surprise once you get used to spotting it. Based on a writing philosophy observed and often practiced by Russian author Anton Chekhov, the law of “Chekhov’s Gun” states that a storyteller should never introduce a gun in Act One of the…

I was once part of a group of readers who would critique play submissions with the goal of narrowing them down to five pieces that would eventually be performed. During one of our sessions, a fellow reader scoffed at the “predictability” of one particular play. Now, I was there to judge the plays, not the…

I have been thinking more about AI art recently. And, no, my stance hasn’t really changed on it. I still think artificial intelligence takes too much away from both the creator and the audience; I still think art is only art when and if it focuses on the human condition, communication, and connection (and obviously…

There’s a certain kind of power that comes with being a creative. It’s not power in a physical sense of the word, but one might almost say it’s like magic. Painters, for example, take a bunch of colorful paste and transform it into a recognizable scene; writers create entire worlds just through words on a…

I’ve said this so often to so many people, fellow readers and writers both, that I can no longer remember if I previously mentioned this here or not. But it’s a thing that bears repeating, so I’m going to go ahead with it: good characters are everything. I don’t care how well you write; I…

Two different generations fighting for the same thing: the right to express and to be themselves. These characters prove that, no matter how old you are, you should always have the freedom to be your truest, most fabulous self.

As a writer, I often pick and choose from little fragments of my life and insert them into a story. I think it’s something all creators do, really. Firstly, because real life is such a grand mixture of beauty and chaos that it’s the perfect outlet for inspiration. And secondly, because we can’t help ourselves.…

It’s a bit more complicated than simply being frustrated by an interruption. So many times in my life, this has happened to me: I’m in bed, or on the couch, or in my comfy chair, or lying in a sunbeam; my reading glasses are on, and I have a book open in my lap. And,…

It’s a simple question with a complex answer. Or, maybe it’s a complex question with a simple answer. Either way, it must be contrary, as worthwhile endeavors tend to be. I’ve been asked this question a couple times before, by a couple different people. And each time it happens, a direct answer slips through my…

The greatest irony about the state of the world over the last decade or so is that, once upon a time, I would have been content to just stay quiet about my personal beliefs and political affiliations. I had previously held the opinion that the arts especially should be nonpartisan, thus enabling everyone from all…

Today, I want to introduce you to my absolute favorite plot outline. It’s my favorite 1.) because this outline tends to be the basis for epic fantasies, which I love, and 2.) because, contradictory to reason number one (contradiction being my signature style of doing things), I also love that it can actually be used…

When I was going to school I had a teacher, a realist, by all accounts, who once made the sarcastic quip when the focus of the class suddenly turned to musicals: “Hey, look: someone’s singing, and nobody called the police.” It was funny to those of us in the room. And it was understandable: not…

In the past I have talked about trigger warnings and my stance on them—not only as a writer, but as an audience member. And as of this blog post, I still—more or less—stand by those thoughts. And on a somewhat related topic (though, not directly related), I’ll add one thing more to the conversation: I…

I always thought a poem was something that came with a specific, repeated rhythm and a rhyming word every other line. At least, this was how “Poetry” was taught in every literature segment I’d ever experienced from kindergarten up through grade school. At that level, poetry was simple, but fun. I remember teachers going over…

I’ve been thinking a lot recently about Nocturnal Mind’s tagline: “Stories Never Sleep,” and I’ve been regretting it. I’ve been debating changing it, even with the grueling task of finding all the little places I’ve put it (even buried deep within the coding) on the website and removing them. The words just don’t seem to…

Just recently I was speaking with someone about my novel, and the subject of different points of view (or POVs, as someone more familiar with the jargon may put it) came up. And in the moment, I had to remember that not everyone went to school to study literature and writing like I did. So,…

I swear I’m not going to do this every time now, but hey, if I feel inspired to make a meme, I am going to make a meme. Anyway. Clearly I have been thinking about villains lately (and what better time to think about them than during the spooky season?), and it has come to…

I’m just going to put this here. Just to give you a general idea of the direction my week has taken.   Though, to be fair to my writing and to my characters, this is actually an amazing thing to happen. In fact, it’s something that I wish would happen more often when I’m in…

If you’re a reader that delves mainly into the fantasy genre, then you are aware of the many different types of magic that exist within the plethora of fictional universes out there. And if you are a writer that delves mainly into the fantasy genre, then (I would hope) you are aware of just how…

I know that at one point or another I’ve talked about how our creativity is fueled by the world around us. This is because a great deal of artwork focuses on human nature, meaning that part of any creator’s job is to frequently go out and observe that nature in action. But it is also…

With any creative endeavor there comes some amount of risk. For the most part there is not much I can name in the way of “dangerous” risks–especially not unavoidable ones–but every artist has a lot riding on their work, and they are frequently placed in situations that can lead to heavy judgement. When you share…

For most of us who went to grade school, typical instruction in creative writing has always involved the more basic and obvious concepts such as plot, three act structure, points of view, themes, clichés, etc. And while those are all well and good, by the time a writer really starts becoming serious about their craft,…

Every writer has a process. As we’ve mentioned before, some of us are pantsers, some of us are plotters, and many of us fall into a category in-between. Basically, there is no one “correct way” to create art. Part of the beauty of art is its subjectivity, and how artists reach the point of sharing…

For as often as I’ve heard it from peers, instructors, and fellow writers, I still to this day underestimate the power of “just writing.” Many writers out there will probably tell you at some point that this is, in fact, the number one rule: “Write every day.” Though, in the past I’ve argued that I…

I’m listening to “One Song Glory,” from the motion picture version of Rent filmed in 2005. And I’m thinking about what Douglas Adams said—about how “the idea of art kills creativity.” Last year I was fortunate enough to see a performance of Rent at the Oregon Shakespeare Festival. And don’t get me wrong, I enjoyed…

If you’re a writer, or even someone who took one creative writing class on a whim back in college, you’ve no doubt heard the question arise at some point: are you a plotter, or a pantser? Even within creative communities we’ve found the need to split ourselves into categories, and the way that writers write…

Yesterday I was watching Star Trek, and it hit me: writers really are the unsung heroes of life. Now, as a writer myself, I’m really not trying to blow my own horn here. There are thousands of writers throughout history that have written far more meaningful stories and even single sentences than I have. No—what…

I am currently reading a book called “The Summer Tree,” by Guy Gavriel Kay, and I was nervous about it. One reason being that it is an older, very high fantasy that has been described in a similar vein as The Lord of the Rings series. And while I love the fantasy genre, especially high…

I had a dream last night. I opened up Forbes Magazine (which makes no sense, for many reasons, but remember this is “dream logic”), and I found an absolutely glowing review of my children’s book, “Don’t Bully Buster” printed right in its center pages. The writer of the review was highly enthusiastic about the book’s…

As Banned Books Week 2023 draws to a close, the Night Crew and I would like to stress that we wholeheartedly support the writers and readers who stand up and speak out against the many book bans that are currently taking place in this country. We believe that stories and the knowledge / ideas /…

You’ve been hearing about it in bits and pieces for ages (and if you are subscribed to my newsletter, you’ve heard a lot more about it in recent months), but now it’s finally here! My debut novel is getting ready for publication. Pending any issues with printing, it will be available for purchase on September…

No, we are not about to disappear for another year…. Most likely…. But for anyone keeping up with our newsletter or our videos, it might have become apparent that things are missing. This is mainly because we have recently been caught up in a big project that needs finishing before we do much else (more…

I’ve been thinking about trigger warnings recently. More specifically, I’ve been wondering if I should put one at the beginning of my young adult fantasy novel. It’s fortunate that our society has finally evolved far enough to realize that mental health is a big and important issue. And I know that means, in some cases,…

It’s official! I am a published author 🥳🎉 “Don’t Bully Buster” is available to order through retailers, and also right here through Nocturnal Mind! Admittedly, it was quite a surreal experience the first time I saw it there, under both my name and “Barnes & Noble” in an online search. I think that was when…

Have you ever struggled to write a scene because you were afraid to? Not that the scene you’re trying to create is terrifying, or even part of the horror genre at all. But for some reason, just the thought of delving into it makes you hesitant? I’m trying to write a scene for a standalone…

I know I’ve mentioned before that there is a definitive mindset for the business of writing versus the actual creative act of writing. But the last couple of weeks have been such that I’m noticing a physical difference—like, I’m literally feeling it in my brain. And becoming aware of this difference so clearly, I think,…

If you happened to check out our latest video, you are probably aware by now (if you hadn’t been already) that the topic of AI generated art has recently become a worrisome one among creators—particularly those of us here in Nocturnal Mind. In fact, you might say that the very thought of computers taking our…

Those of you who read the Nocturnal Mindings newsletter or follow us on social media are already familiar with this news, but here it is for the rest of you: for the last couple of years I have been working on a children’s book in collaboration with my brother Corey, who is a professional illustrator.…

She is the Slayer… And an icon. Despite some outdated imperfections, “Buffy the Vampire Slayer” helped show a generation of girls that you can be strong, capable, and absolutely fabulous, no matter what the world throws at you.

— C.O.

I am currently out of the office for the weekend at a Tango festival…and am therefore not very much in a “work” mindset (though I have  been brainstorming and scribbling in my notebook in my spare moments). So, I figured now is as good a time as any for a WIP update. I have just finished…

I think we’ve made it clear by now that New Year’s Resolutions are not really our thing here in Nocturnal Mind. In fact, personally, I’ve always kind of disliked the concept. For starters, it often puts a lot of pressure on people to suddenly turn their lives around and become something completely different from who…

Between this website and my social media posts, you may have noticed that things have become a little scant in recent weeks. Mainly I’ve been slowing down because my family and I have entered a pretty busy holiday season, and between preparing to host for Thanksgiving, hosting Thanksgiving, and now prepping for yet another major…

A short while ago I was able to get a little “writing office” set up in the back room of a local business that I am familiar with. And so far, it has been the perfect remedy for the unbearable cabin fever that COVID and lockdowns have slowly but diligently introduced me to over the…

If there’s one thing the pandemic and lockdowns have taught me, it’s that no matter how introverted I am, I absolutely cannot stomach being cooped up in my room all the time. Maybe if I had my own home, with even just a small backyard, instead of a cramped apartment space split between two people, I’d…

Good guy? Bad guy? A tortured soul, either way; might as well be the poster child for the phrase: “The road to Hell is paved with good intentions.”

— C.O.

My latest submission to a magazine just came back with a rejection the other day. And, as usual, my response to the news was not quite… positive. In fact, I basically went through my typical motions: the immediate Here it comes rolling through my brain as soon as the telltale email popped up in my…

Here at Nocturnal Mind, we’re all about quotes. Not only do we have a whole file of quotes on hand about art and creativity, but we also have our own personal collections of statements, lyrics, and questions that strike us as inspirational, charming, or reassuring. These quotes have accumulated over the years from various sources,…

Today I spent some time thinking about the notebook conundrum. My fellow writers probably already know where I’m going with this. And for those that don’t: the notebook conundrum is something every author comes to face over the course of their life. Basically, apart from books filled with words, our favorite things are books without…

Today, my thoughts went off on a weird tangent—as they so often are prone to do. I cannot specifically remember what triggered the tangent, but I remember wondering how everyone around me would respond if we had suddenly been caught on the outskirts of a natural disaster. Not in the midst of it; just close…

In the summer of 2016 we wrote about a topic that was very important to us. Back then, it was nearing the 50th Anniversary of one story’s origin; yesterday marked the 100th birthday of its creator. Today we decided to get together and rework that old post, taking another look at what this story means to us–especially now, more than ever.

— The Night Crew

So, a year ago today I officially launched Nocturnal Mind. It had been a work-in-progress for a while before then, actually starting out its life as a single page website where I could post work for a photography class I was taking. Since then, its transformation has been a dramatic one–and every day this tiny corner of…

Yes, we know there have been quite a few of these lately. But this post could not wait, seeing as how this coming Sunday marks the 35th anniversary of our most favorite movie of all time! So, get over it.

— C.O.

Recently, those of us here at Nocturnal Mind have wanted to start a discussion about rewriting history for the sake of entertainment, and whether doing so would be more helpful or harmful to society in the long run. And while we have our own thoughts on that topic, we are also aware that our perspective…

Here it is: the final chapter of our analysis of Aslan the Lion from the beloved (but controversial?) Narnia series.

— C.O.

I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again: writing is hard. I know that to anyone on the outside it might look as simple as sitting down at a desk and getting lost in your imagination for a few hours. But there are actually a million different things you have to take into consideration…

Here it is: the continuation of our analysis of Aslan the Lion from the beloved, but apparently controversial, Narnia series. Part three will appear at some point next month…

— C.O.

As May rolls by at its staggering pace, our thoughts often turn to the coming summer. Students are stressing over finals, teachers are holding their breath as they prep report cards, and a sense of freedom and excitement looms overhead with the brightening sky. But before our thoughts turn completely toward June, there is a…

I have always preferred to write by hand. Ever since I was in school, unearthing my notebook from my backpack while waiting for class to start, or else freeing a solitary piece of lined paper from a binder in order to keep myself occupied after finishing an assignment. But the habit really peaked for me…

I have been on this earth for twenty-eight years, and I am still learning more about myself all the time.   For instance, after going down a rabbit hole on Instagram the other day, I found myself taking a personality test which would identify my position on the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator. And while I had…

Here in the States, and in much of the rest of the world, we keep track of the passing year through use of the Gregorian Calendar, which is marked by the approximately 365 days it takes the earth to complete one revolution around the sun. This means that the majority of our holidays and celebrations…

Flashback Friday: This is actually an old post we recently unearthed from our early days of blogging. The original post had unexpectedly turned into a sixteen-page analysis on the frequently over-looked pagan ideologies that are scattered amongst the more widely-accepted Christian imagery within the Narnia series. (BTW, it was our resident thesis writer who helped me with the needlessly lengthy title, so blame her for clogging your screen)

— C.O.

The other day I was scrolling through my Instagram feed when I came across a TikTok video of people dancing. Not a very unusual sight: there are millions of TikTok videos out there that feature people dancing. But after watching the video for some time, after getting involved, smiling down at the lives of these…

The beauty of America is that it is a diverse country with a rich mixture of cultures, traditions, legends, myths, and artistic expressions. Here in Nocturnal Mind, we love art, beauty, and the many forms they take, and we admire those who weave their voices and their stories into the elaborate fabric of society. No…

Hello.   This post is not the one we intended to write today. We almost didn’t post it altogether because myself and the rest of the Night Crew wanted to make sure we did it justice… and we’re not convinced that we have. We’re not convinced that we ever could. Because we know that as…

She may be just a girl from Arizona, but this bench has a lot to offer in lessons of friendship, leadership, personal growth, and more!

— C.O.

Every February, most people turn their attention to the holiday with all the candied hearts and the expectations of either flowers or chocolates, or both. But starting February 1st and continuing throughout the month, every February of every year, is another celebration. It is one that has come and gone for decades over the course…

There’s no specific way to write a romance. There’s really no specific way to write any other genre as well, but as it is the month of Valentine’s Day, we might as well stick to the subject. While there’s no right or wrong answer to the hows, whens, and whys of your love story, there…

He’s charming and mysterious, but so are a number of serial killers… Whether you’re a fan of the musical, the black and white film, or the original book, you still have to admit the Phantom is not partner material.

— C.O.

One thing I’ve recently learned since launching Nocturnal Mind is the joy I get from seeing how my work inspires others. This artwork, for instance, was created by the talented Cassie Levy–a great friend and excellent beta reader for my current work in progress. For those who are not currently beta readers (or recipients of…

For many avid readers, the start of a new year means prepping the ever important “To Be Read” selection for the months ahead. Which makes sense: readers read. But writers should also read. Just as directors and screenwriters should watch movies; just as actors should go see plays. William Faulkner was once known to comment:…

Happy New Year, Night Owls! Let’s be frank: we’re all happy to finally be saying goodbye to 2020. But whether or not the previous year was collectively the worst year of all our lives, every January 1st offers us a chance to reevaluate ourselves. Most notably, the goals that we have for the coming year.…

Fellow “Die Hard” enthusiasts: what do YOU love about John McClane? And IS “Die Hard” a Christmas movie? Tell us why or why not.

For many people around the world, December is a time to reflect on colored lights and bright wrapping paper; candles, snow, the smell of baked cookies, family and friends, and the spirit of giving. But while December is most often dedicated to the many holidays that inhabit it, there is one particular day of the…

You’re probably going to call me crazy, but I miss school. I mean, technically I’m still in school, but as far as getting my Master’s degree is concerned, all I need to do is sit on my butt and finally finish that thesis. But the last time I attended an actual class was maybe a…

Tonight, I took a moment to look back through some of my old writings—nothing special, just some shorts I whipped up in record time for this writing contest or that literary magazine during my first years away at college. None of them made it. And I can see why: they’re not great. They’re mostly cheese,…

Last month, our poll for favorite plots ended with a tie between “Overcoming the Monster” and “The Quest.” Upon reflection, these are two of the most likely candidates for adventure storylines, as they hold a lot of potential for excitement and tension. When our characters overcome the monster, their journey often includes an inner struggle…

I’m sure many of you already know where I’m headed with this. It’s probably the same affect a number of us have experienced on and off for the past few months. As creatives, we sort of live in a hostile environment. Unless you’re a professional inheritor of mommy and daddy’s money (which, let’s face it:…

English philosopher and statesman, Francis Bacon, is known to have coined the phrase: “Some books should be tasted, some devoured, but only a few should be chewed and digested thoroughly.” I’m of the impression that he was speaking more to the philosophic/scientific side of reading—in that some books are valuable for scanning and sifting through…

Just what is it about these characters that leaves us wanting more? Let’s take a look!

— C.O.

Confession time: the book I am currently in the middle of edits for is not my first completed novel. I had a full draft of my own retelling of Beauty and the Beast as far back as fifth grade. Want to know what happened to it? I erased it. All of it. To this day,…

I’ve found myself struggling through a bit of a dry spell with my writing recently. Call it what you will: COVID stress, cabin fever, writer’s block, etc. The fact of the matter is lately I’ve been feeling unmotivated, uninspired, and even a little nauseated by the idea of spending one more afternoon sitting in front…

Thanks to all who voted in our last poll! Let’s take a look at the results…

Several years ago, I caught myself getting wrapped up in, of all things, a sitcom from the early 2010s. Not one to quickly get involved in a new show—particularly a sitcom, particularly post-millennium—you can imagine my surprise when my immediate attention kept drifting from my spaghetti prepping to the TV screen. It was something my…

In Kelsey Grammer’s autobiography, So Far…, a moment of terrible tragedy sparked feelings of self-separation within the actor that he found himself unable to come to terms with. Years later he would discover some comfort within the pages of John Gunther’s Death Be Not Proud, in which an explanation arose: his inability to react in…

Come on over, sit by the fire. Look up at the stars. This is Nocturnal Mind. A sanctuary of sorts, for myself and other creatives who believe the true path to happiness lies in doing what we love. And what we love is stories and storytelling, art and beauty, mystery and magic. We call this…