A friend who has been very busy with some bigger things life has thrown their way in recent years is finally taking a deep breath and sitting down to write. They recently asked me a couple questions and gave me a compliment that made me smile: I … [Continue reading]
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 … [Continue reading]
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 … [Continue reading]
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 … [Continue reading]
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 … [Continue reading]
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 … [Continue reading]
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 … [Continue reading]
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 … [Continue reading]
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 … [Continue reading]
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 … [Continue reading]
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 … [Continue reading]
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 … [Continue reading]
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 … [Continue reading]