• Challenge,  publishing

    Coaching… Getting Your Stuff Out…

    So I Finally Decided To Do This… I have been talking a lot, in a lot of places, with fiction writers who have for one reason or another trouble getting their work out to readers. And often when this builds up, it causes a slowdown in the writing itself. A form of writer’s block. Kris and I have had many discussions about this problem. It turns out, every writer seems to be stuck at a very different place. And the topic is so huge, it just can’t be covered in a few workshops or classes. Some writers are stuck right at the start, facing the seemingly massive task of learning…

  • Challenge,  workshops

    Still Going Strong On Challenge…

    A Short Post Here Tonight… Finished a weird Bryant Street story (they are all weird), then Kris and I watched a bunch of television. Then I read a wonderful new novella from Kris and along with two naps, a writer lunch, some walking, and a webinar, that ate up the day. Fun day. CRAFT IN THE 21ST CENTURY… This class on WMG Teachable is something Kris really wanted to do. She will be recording videos every week and they will come out on Monday some time. No assignments, just learning about how some craft things have changed in the 21st century. She has already recorded the first videos for Monday.…

  • Challenge,  workshops

    Story A Day Challenge Going Great!

    And I Am Still Having Fun! Tonight I got a few more stories spellchecked and ready for Kris to read, and then worked on a Bryant Street story.  The stories I got ready for Kris were a Poker Boy story and a Seeders Universe story. So I am all over the map. With luck, my new Shopify Store will be ready and I will have together and in the publishing process the first two or three ten-story collections. So going along with the writing just fine, slowly building up the publishing side. Got to have that publishing side or like the last time I tried this challenge, I will bog…

  • Challenge,  Kickstarter Campaign,  workshops

    Marble Grant Kickstarter Ends Today!!!

    Ends At 7 pm West Coast Time… Here is the link to it. Marble Grant Kickstarter Also the two workshops in this one might be the most fun workshops we have done. I know I am going to have a blast with them, since Marble Grant and Sims are both ghosts in Las Vegas who love to party, love each other, and love to help people. These two workshops will never be available again after today. Don’t miss these… — Workshop #1… HOW TO WRITE GHOST STORIES — Workshop #2… HOW TO WRITE PARANORMAL CREATURE STORIES Also we have hit all the stretch goals so you get an extra ten stories…

  • Challenge,  Kickstarter Campaign,  workshops

    Clocks Ticking…

    40 HOURS LEFT ON MARBLE GRANT KICKSTARTER We hit the special stretch goal and are close to another that also includes a free workshop. But just less than two days to go. Ends at 7pm Thursday night. Here is the link to it. Marble Grant Kickstarter Also the two workshops in this one might be the most fun workshops we have done. I know I am going to have a blast with them, since Marble Grant and Sims are both ghosts in Las Vegas who love to party, love each other, and love to help people. Here is the information from the campaign about the two special workshops… These will…

  • Challenge,  On Writing,  workshops

    February Story #10 And Workshop Updates…

    UPDATES ON IN-PERSON CLASSES Kris is starting to work on the reading list for the Gothic in-person workshop.  So thought I would give you all an update on the spots left for each one. Gothic                 May 5-8th, 2025… 2 Spot2 Left Time Travel         October 13-16th, 2025… 2 Spots Left Adventure           January 12-15th, 2026… Waiting List World Building    May 4-7th, 2026… 1 Spot Left Detectives.          October 12-15th, 2026… 2 Spots Left That’s it. Not Many spots left. The cost is $750. And we are thinking about a class before Licensing Expo in late…

  • Challenge,  workshops

    Craft In the 21st Century…

    Kris Lecturing On Craft Every Monday… CRAFT FOR THE 21ST CENTURY… This class is taught by Kristine Kathryn Rusch, New York Times bestselling writer and the most award-winning author still writing in mystery and science fiction and fantasy. — Class starts Monday, February 17th and runs for 9 weeks. No assignments or homework, just pure 21st Century craft lessons from Kris every week. Every Monday, Kris will ta;k about a modern craft issue in this new world for three or four videos. Just a couple of examples of topics are: — Depth for People Who Scroll All the Time — Modern Problem of Unclear Antecedents.  — Using Real Places in…

  • Challenge,  Kickstarter Campaign,  workshops

    Back to the Future…

    The Next Kris and Dean Show… That’s right, Kris and I are going to take apart on video the 40-year-old-movie BACK TO THE FUTURE. We watched half of it tonight and will watch the other half tomorrow and then record the three hours of videos on Monday and Tuesday and it will come out the next day. Wow does this movie still stand up perfectly. We are going to be talking about plotting, information flow (a lot), pacing, characters, and so much more. And I hope in an entertaining way. The Kris and Dean Show Does Die Hard is also still up. So until this launches on Wednesday, you can…

  • Challenge,  Kickstarter Campaign,  workshops

    Kickstarter Special Stretch Goal!

    SPECIAL STRETCH GOAL… Reach 125 Backers by Monday late… If this campaign reaches 125 Backers by Monday Night Late, every backer of any reward at $20.00 and above will get two free electronic short stories by Dean Wesley Smith. You will get “Cat Leading the Way”and “The Story of Jean.” For writers, since Marble Grant is a well-developed and a fun character, you will also get the CLASSIC AUTHOR VOICE workshop worth $150 to learn how to create a character such as Marble Grant. You can take it at any time and at your own pace. So pass the word and help us reach 125 backers by Monday night. Also…

  • Challenge,  Kickstarter Campaign

    Story Challenge and Storage Unit

    A Disruptive Day… Started off with Kris waking me up suddenly because the fire alarm people doing their regular checks of sprinklers and fire alarms were here. I am glad they do it, just wish early mornings would not be the case. Got a couple more hours of sleep before having to get up early for the cleaners to show up. So while the cleaners were here, I headed out to storage to look for author copies to bring to the office. Found a dozen boxes while only moving one massive stack. Also got a bunch of half titles from some old Venture magazines and also some 1960s Hitchcock Magazines.…