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Finding time to write
At a recent guest lecture on self-publishing, a fellow attendee asked the featured speaker if she had any advice for someone who is working full time and doesn’t have four to six hours a day to devote...
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In defense of the dabbler…or…why getting published might not be all it’s...
Warning: This post is very long and probably of little interest to most people. In an earlier post, I defined a dabbler as someone who has yet to write one million words while simultaneously implying...
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When it comes to writing, how much planning is too much?
I might be one of the few writers who look forward to editing a rough draft. I won’t deny there’s something invigorating about the first trip through a story. Even with the requisite chapter outline,...
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Don’t let minor characters usurp your MS
At a recent Allied Authors of Wisconsin meeting, I was thrilled to receive unanimously positive feedback on a particular character in the chapter I read. The only problem is all that praise went to a...
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Storytelling can take many forms
Some of the characters I’ve enjoyed writing about the most are an inch and a half tall. I’m not referring to pixies, although my early fantasy fiction did contain a few fairies. No, the vast majority...
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What’s in a (brand) name?
When one first decides to become a novelist, many important questions come to mind: What kind of stories should I write? Should I use my real name or invent something better? Can I pull off the pipe...
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Stories, songs make beautiful music together
While working on my third novel, I listened almost exclusively to The Royal Tenenbaums soundtrack. Given the idiosyncratic nature of the album’s songs — not to mention the idiosyncratic nature of the...
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Building a better book title
I’ve stumbled upon something more challenging than writing an ending: choosing a title. Titles represent anywhere from a few hundred to hundreds of thousands of words. They have to be worthy of all...
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Dissecting the difficulties of writing a sequel
Writers tend to be their own worst enemies. Sure, some amateurs might cast aspersions at agents and publishers who reject their works. And maybe published authors occasionally gripe about critics and...
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Should you care if readers care about your characters?
Once upon a time, I described my fiction as character-oriented. I’d bandy about that phrase in conversations with friends (or anyone, really) who asked about my writing. I used it in query letters to...
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It’s important to look back occasionally while on the long road
Yesterday morning, WordPress congratulated me on my blog’s third anniversary. There was even a fancy little trophy icon by the announcement. Never mind that I hadn’t posted an article in nearly three...
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Living (and writing) the dream
Hi, my name is David. Remember me? I used to write articles about writing on this website. I’ll spare you the clichéd “Sorry I haven’t blogged in a while, but I’ve been busy” post. (Snore.) I’ve never...
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Celebrating a writing milestone? Listen up!
When a writing project spans years, it’s important to acknowledge milestones along the way. Earlier this week, I completed the heavy edits (read: rewrite) of my most recent novel, If Sin Dwells Deep....
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Pondering my next writing project
My favorite questions tend to start with “what if.” Lately, however, this writer has been asking himself, “What now?” Source: Ernie & Katy Newton Lawley,...
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One Million Words…and more
I’ve written some pretty strange things over the years. Just last week, I wrote the text for a sell sheet that compares website services to automobile maintenance—despite knowing next to nothing about...
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A different class of writing
Spending time with young people can make you feel old, but it can also make you feel young, too. I had the pleasure of talking with students at Waupun High School yesterday. My mission: to share my...
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Infrequently Asked Questions
Writers spend a lot of time talking to themselves. “Are you ready for the interview, David?” “Yes, David, I am.” | Photo by Jaime Lynn Hunt We invent conversations between imaginary people, imagine a...
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Reblog: Pantsers vs. Plotters
Once upon a time, the stories poured from my fingertips. Back in the early days of my Quest for Publication, I was equipped with naught but a trusty Pilot pen, a five-subject Mead notebook, and a...
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A glimpse into the (possible) future of augmented reality
Pokémon GO is only the beginning, people. While Google Glass never really caught on, cell phones are finally poised to bring augmented reality (AR) into the mainstream thanks to a certain catch-’em-all...
View ArticleReturn to the dreamscape with If Sin Dwells Deep
You don’t have to be a dream drifter to enjoy the collective unconscious. As of today, If Sin Dwells Deep is available in paperback and Kindle edition. Continue reading →
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