There is a point between bigger projects when I decide to not actively write. It is a time to gather pieces of the next bigger story; it is a time to let new ideas bubble up. The Rush When I chat with people about their day jobs — whether they work outside, in warehouses, or […]
Gathering the Pieces
Before I became a technical writer, I was a billing analyst. The best thing about the job was having constant access to adding machines with long rolls of paper. (Although my wife would disagree…more on that in a moment…) If I had a thought about a story at work, I wrote it on adding machine […]
A Brief Spring
There is a brief time in North Texas when the world is crisp and green. If you ignore all the allergens, you can kid yourself you live in paradise. But as quickly as spring arrives, it gives way to Texas heat. The seasons affect my writing schedule. While most people I know are excited for […]
On Criticism
It’s not uncommon in corporate America to be in a meeting and hear the dreaded, “Let’s go around the table and see what everyone thinks.” Soon, an otherwise good idea is watered down or killed by committee because everyone has a say–even those who are anything but experts about the concept or product. I suppose […]
In Between
With the latest novel complete, I’ve hit that in-between stage of things where I became so used to waking up and knowing there was writing to be done. Then, after writing, I woke up knowing there were revisions to be completed. Finally, I did those last tinkering read-throughs, fixing the tiny things nobody may ever […]
First Drafts
I’m not one to make many sweeping proclamations. Anything I write about here always comes with a sense of, “This is just what works for me, and if it helps others: great!” Like any kind of advice, writing advice can be a hit for some and a miss for others. One thing I see touted […]
Reading for Pleasure
It’s a strange thing, reading a novel you’ve put years into making something once only imagined. In your head, you have this vision, and while every writer works differently, I think we all work until that vision becomes a solid shape we know is right for the story. Getting there can take time for some. […]
Standing at the End of Another Year
And so we close the door on 2018… We’ve all seen more than our fair share of year-end lists, I’m sure. I won’t add to that. Instead, I’ll just say this: During a time when layoffs at work resulted in me taking on another writer’s job, I swore to myself, “I will not work overtime […]
Fast Fiction
Around Christmas, 2017 — I released an episode of my fiction podcast in which I shared a handful of very short fiction, instead of the usual single story for the episode. This year, I continued that tradition, releasing three stories last Sunday. With the rush of year-end work, polishing a novel, and a general busy […]
In this Waking Light
I usually go to bed at a decent time and sleep through the night. But there comes a point near the end of a draft of a novel when my sleep pattern changes. My sleep also changes with the seasons. I think one of the many reasons I prefer autumn and winter to spring and […]
A Nice Week
Last week was Thanksgiving in the United States. Because many companies give employees Thursday and Friday off, I usually add to the days and arrange to have the entire week off. Last week was one of the best weeks I can remember. It’s not that we went anywhere special or did spectacular things. Rather, we […]
Before and After
I’ve seen many would-be writers read a favorite author’s work, throw up their hands, and say, “I give up!” Comparing your own rough work to your favorite author’s best work — work rewritten many times at the guidance of friends and agents and editors and proofreaders — is a sure-fire way to feel inferior. I’ve […]
Diving In
Today I started diving into the novel. I’ve obviously read much of it along the way, but there are parts I’ve only written that have not yet been read. This will be the first time I read the latest novel as a whole thing. Remembering… It’s always a good sign when you get back to […]
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