Choices, and a Toast

Hey Folks, Well, here’s another interim blog post. Part Two of the writing setting posts will be here on November 11. In the meantime, two quick notes: Dean Wesley Smith, in the Topic of the Night in his Blog Post From Yesterday, which I finally found early this morning, wrote an excellent, brief article about making choices. In addition to talking about making choices, he provides a technique that really works to help you find “extra” … Read more

A Flash of Genius

Hey folks, This is one of those interim posts. This one is on continued learning. Plus it contains a news flash regarding Amazon. I even moved it up one day to get it to you a little sooner. One hallmark of a professional writer is that he or she continues to learn. Always. Often at the least likely moment, a blast of insight smacks you right between the eyes. This morning, as I write this, was … Read more

The Importance of Setting (and How to Write It): Part One

Hi Folks, This might well be the most valuable post you’ve read about writing fiction. I am not joking. I even put a picture on here so you could share it to Pinterest if you want. (grin) Okay, first, the necessary preliminary stuff. To start a story of any length, you have to write an opening. The opening most often will consist of 300 to 500 words. In the opening, you introduce a character, give him … Read more

Brave New World of Publishing

Hi Folks, Man things change quickly in this new world of publishing. On the first of this month, so just over two weeks ago, I devoted an entire blog post to telling you why I was no longer going to publish and distribute my books through Smashwords. And then this morning, I uploaded and published ten new titles to Smashwords. It seems Smashwords recently signed a contract with Gardner’s, a massive book distribution agent in Great … Read more

The Infamous Gave

Hi Folks, Note: Many  beginning writers still believe they can publish a novel and make a living. Nope. Not even through traditional publishing. One of the best quotes I’ve ever seen on the topic is from Dean Wesley Smith: “Here is the thinking if you expect to make a living from one book. Put $2,500 in the bank and then wonder why you are not living off the payment from the interest.” Think about that. Okay, … Read more

Are You a “Real” Writer? (Humor)

Hi Folks, This topic doesn’t really fit with the current series of how-tos I’m posting here, so I thought I’d slip it in as a bonus. Just some things to think about. A couple months ago on Facebook, which as we all know is a fount of absolute wisdom, someone posing as a professional fiction writer posted that writing is a “deliciously tedious travail” or some such nonsense. Yeah, I’m not kidding. Being who and what … Read more

Farewell, Smashwords, and Why

Hi Folks, First a couple of announcements— 1. On September 23, Author Earnings released a new report that ALL writers should see. Especially if you’re locked into traditional publishing or if you’re on the fence. The previous report I mentioned talks about market share in ebooks from traditional publishing vs. indie publishing. So it was kind of abstract. But this report shows the actual distribution of income to individual authors who choose to publish traditionally vs. independently. This probably … Read more

The Journal, Wednesday, 9/30: On Being Organized, and a Major Change

Rolled out a little before 3. I had forgotten how much “little work” would be necessary to create a new publisher website. This morning I created folders for covers. I filled one with covers that are 150 x 225 pixels, another for 180 x 270 pixels, and another for 300 x 450 pixels. That and sorting them took three hours, but it’s necessary when you have to upload covers for 9 novels, 20 short story collections, … Read more

The Journal, Tuesday, 9/29: Collections, Box Sets and Other Non-Writing Stuff

Okay, coming to you a little earlier again. This one is set to go out at 6 now. My short story of the week will go out at 5 every Monday from here on out. Well, I didn’t get up this morning. Wide awake, I looked at the clock and thought it said 1:45 a.m. That’s close enough to 2 to start a normal day (for me) so I got up. But in actuality, it was … Read more

The Journal, Monday, 9/28: How I Write

The Journal, Monday, 9/28: How I Write Rolled out a little after 3, having stepped outside to watch some of the lunar eclipse last night. More than likely I won’t get a lot of writing done today, at least on the novel. I do have to write the short story of the week. It posts tonight at 6 p.m. But I also have to take my pickup to Sierra Vista again to finish the repair I … Read more