Hi Folks, Note: This post was originally published in slightly different form on my Journal a week or so ago. “Seven Minutes in Belfast” is my most recent short story, one written in the Blackwell Ops world of the series by the same name. As I was adding that story to my inventory, I realized I didn’t publish anything at all during August, September and October of this year. That’s the longest I’ve gone without publishing … Read more
Hi Folks, A couple of weeks ago, I figured out a few things that will help me immensely in my personal time and in restructuing my business. I mention them here because they will also affect you to one degree or another. To restructure and make the most of my personal time… 1. I’m climbing back up on Heinlein’s Rules. To that end, I’ve set a daily word count goal . It worked for me in … Read more
Hi Folks, In an earlier post over on the Daily Journal I talked a little bit about the stages of a fiction writer, a topic Dean Wesley Smith has covered thoroughly in his book on the topic and in a lecture and online workshop. When we talk about the “stages” of a fiction writer, we’re talking about professional fiction writers. As with any profession, pro fiction writers progress through various stages or levels as they hone … Read more
Hi Folks, I get depressed a little when I think of all the talking I do and have done about writing over the years. Has it mattered? Sure, to a few writers here and there. But what I see as silliness and BS was around a long time before me and it will be around long after I’m gone. Still, I talk about writing here and on my other blog. I’ve talked about writing in presentations … Read more
Hi Folks, I am constantly amazed at the smug duality of some writers, especially those who see “writer” as some sort of elevated calling. I can spot them within the first few minutes of listening to them talk. They are somehow filled with both self-doubt and overconfidence. At the same time. On one hand, they doubt their own storytelling ability. They actually brag about their critique partners or critique group. They brag about the number of … Read more
Hey Folks, Recently much has been written over on Pro Writers Writing about word choice. I decided to add a few of my own thoughts here. First, my own rule of thumb: When writing fiction, I try to never put anything on the page that will call attention to itself and thereby distract the reader from the story. That includes unnecessary or misused punctuation, archaic or pretentious words, archaic constructions, and clichéd words or phrases. Distracting … Read more
Hey Folks, Before you read this post, see Dean Wesley Smith’s “Dumbest New Myth In Writing” at https://www.deanwesleysmith.com/dumbest-new-myth-in-writing/. It’s important. I also recommend you read the comments that follow the post. Tons of very useful, practical information there. After you’ve read it, here’s my take on the topic of what it costs to indie publish a book, step by step: Step one: I agree. Duh. Step two: If you have a good grounding in the rules … Read more
Hi Folks, A very short post this week. Nothing about my own writing or writing techniques or any of that. In this time of weird events and self-absorption, I thought I’d share some info about a truly great organization: Team Rubicon. This outfit provides disaster relief without regard for politics, race, gender, nationality etc. Members are dispatched to trouble areas (mostly natural disasters) to help clean up, rebuild, comfort survivors and do whatever else is necessary. … Read more
Hi Folks, A couple of weeks ago I read a blog post that warns writers away from publishing author newsletters. The blogger included a couple of quotes from writers who advocate not using an author newsletter. She even referenced Anne R. Allen’s recent blog post about readers not wanting a “personal relationship” with authors. Finally she wrote “News flash: Not every reader is a groupie. As a matter of fact, most don’t want their privacy violated. … Read more
Hi Folks, First, everything you write, including blog posts, is automatically protected by copyright the instant it’s “in fixed form.” You don’t have to register your copyright. It’s there whether or not you choose to register it. In other words, the instant your short story, novel, novella, essay, memoir or blog post (or any other writing) is finished, it’s protected by copyright. If you use or are thinking about using the free (or paid) WordPress.com to … Read more