Welcome!
I am an author and blogger. My latest short story, The Misadventures of Montoya and Rose: The Stolen Dagger, is available to read. This site is where I journal my thoughts and experiences.
All Latest Posts
The worst writing advice I’ve heard
Some of these are a bit pettier while others are more serious, but I’ve heard a lot of advice in my time, and not all of it is great.
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The “Cursed” Amulet
A Misadventures of Montoya and Rose short story “This is not the amulet, Rose,” Montoya hoists up a necklace with chunky turquoise beads and a centerpiece of a carved flat stone. “This is the amulet of protection,” he purses his lips, “if the name were to be directly translated…” Rose sniffs, crossing his sweaty arms.…
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The Cost of Improvement
Recently, I made an Instagram post comparing my writing from 2019/2020, to 2022 to serve as encouragement, to show how I’ve gotten better, but it ended up making me melancholy. Objectively, I got better: my descriptions are more vivid, my dialogue has nuance, and my characters are deeper, yet something is missing. I improved, but…
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“Write in Your Lane” Made Me Quit My Series
Act 1 May 26, 2021, at three in the morning on a stormy night, lightning struck and I was lying awake in bed. Thunder boomed and my mind was alight with a new story. I had just started writing a Romcom, but this new idea was beyond alluring. It was of adventures and action, love…
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Interview With Anon: An Honest Critique of Writergram
Think about why they’re doing what they’re doing. Think about how long they can keep it up. And think about what they could change. Because as storytellers, change is what we’re all about.
Keep readingDear Reader,
We are in a graveyard. My posts sit under the shade of ancient willow trees, freezing to the touch. Sometimes I wander about, making promises to tend to the weeds, to make things better, to return more often. There are always reasons and excuses and words—so many words—I can use to explain. You know. You…
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J. V. Montague 