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Writing and Walking – Beating Writer
Published on Wednesday, September 23, 2009 by Essays Writing and walking are a seemingly odd mix of topics for an article, but they go well together. Particularly if you write during breaks in your walk. Writing Journals Whether you are writing articles or the great American novel, you will inevitably suffer from writer’s block. A good way to defeat the block is to go for a walk or hike in a park or open local a... Read More »
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What Grabs Your Reader?
Published on Sunday, September 6, 2009 by Essays It is the dramatic question that grabs your reader and holds him or her. It creates a narrow path that forces the reader into suspense that won’t let go. It moves the story forward. All bestseller-kind-of novels have it. Have you noticed that untrained eyes want you to explain everything in that first line, first paragraph. But it is the “Dramatic Questio... Read More »
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Scams, Schemes, And Shams: Who Can An Author...
Published on Thursday, November 27, 2008 by Essays Authors in their quest to get published can fall victim to scams. Here's a few tips to help you avoid the traps. Online Matching Services and Email Blast Programs These services, for a fee, put your query letter, synopsis and first chapter online. Acquisition editors and literary agents then have the opportunity to peruse the offerings. You have to ask yourself i... Read More »
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What Do Bestselling Authors Have In Common?
Published on Saturday, November 15, 2008 by Essays Nine Characteristics That May Surprise You. In writing "The Making of a Bestseller: Success Stories From Authors and the Editors, Agents and Behind Them," (Dearborn Trade, 2005), we wanted to find out what separates the publishing industry elite, the bestselling authors, from all the thousands and thousands of writers who aspire to someday make the bestseller lists. ... Read More »
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Editorial Advice: To Listen Or Not To Listen?
Published on Sunday, July 20, 2008 by Essays Whether you're an author publishing through traditional means or delving into self-publishing, you are going to want the feedback of a good editor or perhaps more than one. The difficulty for authors, especially those choosing self-publishing is when do you take an editor's advice and make changes and when do you determine you've gotten enough feedback? This can be a ... Read More »
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Pop Culture, Slang, And Day-Old Sushi: Things...
Published on Saturday, July 19, 2008 by Essays (And How To Keep Them From Fouling Up Your YA Fiction) In 10 years, will anybody understand you if you say "fo shizzle?" Will they stare blankly if you mention Britney Spears' buzz cut or Paris Hilton's jail time? They might, they might not, but the point is this: If you're a writer of young adult fiction, you can't afford to pepper your prose with slang and cultural... Read More »
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How To Write A Strong Start For Your Novel
Published on Saturday, June 28, 2008 by Essays I revised my Civil War novel Hearts of Stone many times before selling it to Dutton Children’s Books. My editor only had one major suggestion: Consider a new beginning. If you’re revising a novel, considering the first scene should be one of your last steps. It’s hard to know how best to begin until you’re sure how the story ends. And alth... Read More »
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Confessions Of An Erotic Romance Writer: Gett...
Published on Wednesday, April 9, 2008 by Essays Few people understand the importance of a ROUTINE when making a pittance...er, I meant a living...as a writer. Where do you work? How do you work? When do you work? These are all questions a selling writer fields with every interview. Here is the usual answer: I work wherever I am, as diligently as possible, as often as possible. This is my job and I must treat it a... Read More »
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From The Battlefield To The Bookstore
Published on Friday, January 25, 2008 by Essays For many reenactors, military and civilian, one of the pleasures of a weekend spent in the field is that elusive moment when everything works. I’ve heard the sensation called “the bubble,” or simply “the magic.” There’s no way to predict exactly when it will happen. The feeling may last only seconds. But once you’ve experience... Read More »
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Don’t Give Up On Writing That Novel
Published on Monday, January 21, 2008 by Essays Think it's hard to get a novel published? For most writers, it is - but it's certainly not impossible. I've had two hit the shelves-in 10 countries, and with book club and movie rights picked up. People often ask me how I did it, and the truth is simple. All it takes is, 1) talent, and 2) actually writing the thing. As much as I hate to admit it, the second is the mo... Read More »