Author: Kristyn J. Miller

I'm a historian, essayist, and fiction author with a passion for Germanic literature and linguistics. I earned my B.A. from University of Redlands and am currently pursuing an M.A. in history and archival studies from Claremont Graduate University. Big fan of beer. Casual collector of antique books and prints.
writing

Santa’s Secret Pen 2021

Kristyn J. Miller

Definitely participating in this! If you (like me) are experiencing writer burnout as we approach the end of yet another stressful year, this might be a fun distraction!

A.R.Frederiksen

Lately I’ve witnessed a lot of my writer friends on twitter feeling trapped in an “end of year” blues, finding no joy in writing as they’re either stuck in the query trenches or on submission.

I’d love to change that—and I hope you’ll help me!

Let me present to you…

SANTA’S SECRET PEN 2021

A story prompt event!

The concept is shamelessly stolen from the fanfic community, but is applied to original fiction. Your fiction. Fiction from writers in the #writingcommunity. A secret santa event for writers.

Call it whatever you will, but here’s how it’s gonna work.

I’ll be your organizer for the event. You GIVE a story prompt and you GET a story prompt, meaning my holiest function during this event will be to administer the prompts. If you want to join, you fill in the form below at the bottom of this page. Please keep your story…

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literature, writing

What Does Publishing Mean by “High Concept,” Really?

Kristyn J. Miller

If you've done much research on getting your writing published, chances are you’ve come across the term “high concept.” Agents and editors sometimes use the phrase "high-concept fiction" when taking about the sort of writing they'd like to acquire, and you'll often hear it touted by writing blogs as a surefire way to make your… Continue reading What Does Publishing Mean by “High Concept,” Really?

literature, writing

The Power of Specificity in Fiction

Kristyn J. Miller

The internet is rife with tips and guides that tell aspiring writers how to write. Many writing "rules" are generally agreed upon (i.e., avoiding excessive use of adverbs, and the whole showing rather than telling issue). But from everything I've seen, one of the most overlooked and undervalued pieces of writing advice is "be more… Continue reading The Power of Specificity in Fiction

writing

7 Basic Query Letter Tips for Aspiring Fiction Authors

Kristyn J. Miller

Back in December, when I started offering an editing service on Fiverr to help fellow writers fine-tune their query letters, I anticipated that most of the work would revolve around refining their pitch so that it sounded as interesting and marketable as possible. Instead, I found that a lot of people are missing out on… Continue reading 7 Basic Query Letter Tips for Aspiring Fiction Authors

history, travel

A Visit to Keldur, Iceland

Kristyn J. Miller

Anyone familiar with Iceland has likely heard something about turf houses, the iconic grass-roofed houses that grace the countryside, carried over from insulation methods in medieval Norway. I wrote once before about Rútshellir, a famous old cave guarded by a turf-covered barn. But while the cave itself might be the oldest man-made residence in Iceland,… Continue reading A Visit to Keldur, Iceland

history, linguistics, literature

Dragons and Sin in Medieval Germanic Literature

Kristyn J. Miller

Dragon-like figures feature prominently in folklore from around the world. They often hold---or once held---special significance to their respective cultures. Chinese dragons historically symbolized good luck and imperial power, and were used in iconography surrounding the emperor. The founder of the Han dynasty went so far as to claim that his mother dreamt of a… Continue reading Dragons and Sin in Medieval Germanic Literature