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N.A. Ratnayake
engineer ~ educator ~ writer ~ adventurer
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novel

#IWSG: Conflicted Writing

August 2, 2023Nalin 3 Comments

On the first Wednesday of every month, members of the Insecure Writer’s Support Group (open to anyone and full of great resources and information for writers) post their answers to a monthly prompt on their blogs. Authors benefit from getting… Continue Reading →

Writing draft, writing, red soil, revision, novel

A New (Longhand!) Project

April 30, 2023Nalin 3 Comments

Last year, I made it about 25,000 words into a novel project (tentatively called Rassam’s Eye) and stalled out. I don’t think that project is dead – there were some good ideas there. However, I started to feel that working… Continue Reading →

Writing seasons, pen, notebook, draft zero, longhand, projects, first draft, drafting, novel

#IWSG: The First Book

April 5, 2023Nalin 2 Comments
This entry is part 11 of 11 in the series Insecure Writer's Support Group

On the first Wednesday of every month, members of the Insecure Writer’s Support Group (open to anyone and full of great resources and information for writers) post their answers to a monthly prompt on their blogs. Authors benefit from getting… Continue Reading →

Writing nanowrimo, novel, writing career, iwsg, author, drafting

Plantsing With the Three Eggs

August 1, 2021Nalin 2 Comments

Many years ago, I was living in Boston during the time I first began intentionally trying to move from “hobby writer” (which I think I’ve been rather continuously since childhood) to something more like “semi-pro” (that is, try and get… Continue Reading →

Writing three-act structure, writing, revision, plot, drafting, novel, structure

Review of “Exit West”, by Mohsin Hamid

November 25, 2018Nalin Leave a Comment

Rating: 3/5 stars. When Saeed and Nadia finally had coffee together in the cafeteria, which happened the following week, after the very next session of their class, Saaed asked her about her conservative and virtually all-concealing black rode. “If you… Continue Reading →

Reviews tone, civil war, middle east, review, mohsin hamid, exit west, characters, literary fiction, novel, style

On the Finances of Self-Publishing

July 21, 2016Nalin 1 Comment

Almost exactly two years ago today, I finished the first draft of Red Soil Through Our Fingers. As I talk to friends and family about my novel, I’ve encountered a recurring set of misconceptions around the finances of self-publishing a… Continue Reading →

Writing author, ebook, book, epub, nook, kindle, kdp, amazon, self-publishing, writing, smashwords, publishing, novel

First Draft Novel Complete!

August 7, 2014Nalin Leave a Comment

One week behind schedule for Camp Nanowrimo, I have finally completed a first draft novel, tentatively titled Red Soil Through Our Fingers! This is a major milestone for me. I’ve tried many times, via Nanowrimo and otherwise, to finish even… Continue Reading →

Writing structure, camp nanowrimo, revision, plot, first draft, #amnotwriting, drafting, amwriting, novel, nanowrimo

2014 Hugo Ballot

August 3, 2014Nalin Leave a Comment

Three days ago, I submitted my votes for the 2014 Hugo Awards. If you’ve never voted for the Hugos before, I highly recommend it. For $40, you get: nomination and final voting for the current year’s Hugo Awards nomination for… Continue Reading →

SFF Genre hugo awards, samatar, kowal, stross, leckie, novella, novelette, ballot, 2014 hugos, novel, short story

Summer Writing Plans

June 30, 2014Nalin Leave a Comment

I’m back from a very refreshing week in Vermont and Maine, the latter with other writers (and a lot of fried clams and beer on the beach). Compared to the day to day survival stance that first-year teaching forces on… Continue Reading →

Updates, Writing summer, amwriting, novel, nanowrimo, camp nanowrimo, rough draft

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