A. D. Lombardo

Every great novel begins long before Chapter One. Writing advice is everywhere. Plot your novel. Don't plot your novel. Outline. Don't outline. Follow the muse. Trust the process. After writing and publishing seven novels, and preparing to finish my eighth, I've learned one important truth: every book teaches me something new. I've been fortunate to learn from author friends, mentors, editors, and readers over the years. Every project leaves me with lessons I'll carry into th

Balance Structure with Soul Every book begins as a spark, an idea, a feeling, a character who refuses to let go. But turning that spark into a full story is something far more layered. It is part art, part science. When I get lost, I talk to friends, and after a conversation with my friend Meredith, a fellow author, she reminded me: The process is the scaffolding. The tools we use, like tropes, are just the materials. Instinct is what shapes the story. Instinct is what decide

September Notes from North Carolina I don’t know about you, but here in North Carolina the weather is still clinging to summer—hot, dry, and determined. Even so, the promise of cooler days is just around the corner. Pumpkin spice has officially re‑entered the chat, and the trees are starting to show their true colors. They’re beautiful in that quiet, early‑autumn way. Life in boxes, however, is not beautiful. I spent three hours the other day looking for my can opener. Three.