I am an advocate of research for any book genre. Fiction is no exception. I can not think of a form of fiction where research is not desirable, even for works in which the entire content is a figment of the author’s imagination. Any story must be plausible. Most readers desire to connect the dots … Continue reading The Importance of Research in Fiction
writing techniques
My Readers – My Heroes
What will you be reading tonight? Readers navigate a maze of possibilities in order to find just the right, comfortable read. It's rather like selecting a TV show for the evening - the search can take longer than the show. Some readers when settling down with a book for the evening have no such choice … Continue reading My Readers – My Heroes
Publishing Patience
Marketing your book is like driving with your foot on the accelerator and the brake at the same time. One must have patience while waiting to see and understand results from Social Media advertising, waiting for readers to write reviews (or not), waiting for reviewers to read the book, waiting as the sales algorithms at … Continue reading Publishing Patience
A Novel Cycle
While involved in random research I followed a thread to Joseph Campbell's The Hero With A Thousand Faces and his A Hero's Journey, wherein he outlines a path the lead character will take in hero myths and stories from around the world, demonstrating the commonality of these specific stages for all heroes. I'm not one … Continue reading A Novel Cycle
Writing “SAND”
It is true the sand of the Mojave Desert hides treasures. There are storied treasure hoards, such as a ship laden with pearls, an underground river bed of black sand laced with gold, a shaft of gold ore behind an iron door, lost and never relocated. Then there are the real underground treasures … Continue reading Writing “SAND”
Four Things I Learned In 2014
The holiday Season is upon us. Little is left of 2014 but the memories. I will build my New Year resolutions for 2015 upon the backs of my mischances and lost opportunities of the prior year, and shape them by my successes. My learning curve was influenced by several experiences over the past year. Allow me to share … Continue reading Four Things I Learned In 2014
The Value of Writers Conferences
Having just returned from my second writers conference in six months, I find it natural to contemplate the value received versus the fiscal drain. Most conference attendees , at least those to whom I speak after their conference is done, tend to evaluate the experience in terms of useful gain. That is to say, what did … Continue reading The Value of Writers Conferences
The Five Layers of Great Writing
I have learned to see writing in layers; that is, layers of growth. Starting out, all writers must believe we have better than average abilities to express ourselves on paper - otherwise we might not begin to write at all. I see this as the first layer of writing. I should note here that one … Continue reading The Five Layers of Great Writing
Do You Know Your Market?
For those of us who got into this business because we want to write, marketing is a huge unwelcome distraction. It presents conflict, and not just because of the time it consumes. There are other, more disconcerting conflicts as well. For instance, market expectations. I was recently told by an agent/publisher that my new novel is … Continue reading Do You Know Your Market?
Inside your Book
One aspect of the physical appearance of the book we write that many of us might not consider is the interior. We spend a lot of time on the cover, particularly for ePublishing, and the back matter, of course. But the physical appearance of the pages? Even as a reader, I'd not considered it. But … Continue reading Inside your Book
