-
Editing and Reading Observations… Part Two…
Editors Are Super Readers… Our job as editors is to try to figure out which stories the readers of our publications will like. But if you are putting your stories up indie and not many are selling, you might want to pay attention to some of these points I am making from an editor perspective. I find it fascinating how many writers have no understanding of the advanced levels of craft in fiction writing. They often think that major bestsellers who sell hundreds of thousands of copies of every book are just marketed better, or lucky, when actually those writers have learned the craft of grabbing and holding readers. But…
-
Editing Observations…
Just a Few Things I Wish I Had Known… At the moment, I am reading a lot of stories for Pulphouse Fiction Magazine. Pulphouse is never open for submissions, but these were rewards in the Pulphouse Kickstarter. Backers could write a story to a different topic, one per month. I had planned to read them as I went along, but running too fast in a 5K fun run and a crash and burn and then a new shoulder set back my reading. And since I like to give as personal a comment as I can on each story, I had to wait until I could once again type with both…
-
My Writing Off to Slow Start…
Real Slow, But That’s All Right… I got started on the first few days of the new year on a new novel, even though it was a rough start putting the world back in my head. And Mary Jo, the main character. I was barely typing with two hands and the PT was knocking me down. Energy still fairly low overall as I continue to recover. And I took stock and realized after two months mostly gone how far behind I was on recording some workshops, and on reading for Pulphouse. And other things. So I just sort of decided I wouldn’t push the writing for a few weeks. I…
-
Reading Stories
Not Doing Much Writing Yet… Typical slow start to my year. Only years I didn’t have a slow start were years I ramped up for two weeks in December. No idea why. Always seems logical at the time. But I am getting a lot of reading of Pulphouse stories done. I want to have them all done before this HEARTS COLLIDE Kickstarter finishes because I hope we hit a few stretch goals and I have more stories to read for Pulphouse. (see stretch goals in the campaign) And yes, I am finding some stories to buy from the reading. Here is how my enjoyment levels and frustration go with the…
-
Shared World and Directed Study
Both Directed Study and Shared World Now Available… First, Shared World… The shared world in the second class is for THE SILVER LADY, a hotel and casino just outside of Vegas. There will be two initial volumes set in THE SILVER LADY. One mystery volume of mysteries set there and one ghost stories. It is a nine week class starting on January 22nd. Yes, it will have assignments. And yes, we will give plenty of time to write for the two anthologies. You can still sign up for the first class and go through it at your own speed and write for the two new Cave Creek anthologies coming later…
-
Details on Second Shared World Class…
I Didn’t Get To All This In Yesterday’s Post… The shared world in the second class is for THE SILVER LADY, a hotel and casino just outside of Vegas. There will be two initial volumes set in THE SILVER LADY. One mystery volume of mysteries set there and one ghost stories. How long is the second class? Nine weeks with eight assignments along the way, plus the two stories if you want to write them after it is over. (Deadlines for stories will work around other deadlines.) When will the second shared world class start? In two weeks on January 23rd. Do you have to have taken the first one…
-
A Second Shared World Class
SHARED WORLDS: Part One and Now Part Two What Are Shared Worlds, How to Do Them, and Why? Part Two… More Information and Advanced! For years now, Kris and I have tried to figure out how to teach shared worlds as a topic to writers to get the most benefit for writers. Both of us have written in so many shared worlds, we couldn’t begin to count. From the major shared worlds of Star Trek and Star Wars, to the more subtle shared worlds of say the WMG Holiday Spectacular. And everything in between. There are thousands of reasons indie writers and publishers would want to set up one form…
-
Don’t Panic Or Give Up…
Just Because the Year is Starting Off Slow… Sometimes, this time after the first of the year can be rough. Job issues, family, travel, and a ton of other stuff. And even though you wanted to get off to a fast start, you didn’t. I sure didn’t this year. Annoying for sure. But no big deal. Let me show you some math on why it isn’t a big deal. Say your goal for 2024 is to write a half million words. An average of 1,370 words per day. If you write 1,000 finished words per hour, about 1.3 hours a day or 9 hours a week on your writing. (That’s…
-
Slow Start With The Writing…
Typical For Me… I usually start slow and then just gain speed. Clearly going to be the case this time as well. First off, I just didn’t clear the decks fast enough to get to my writing computer early enough each night. And when I did, tired of being at any computer, so time there did not last that long. Second, starting a book in a series that I had not even thought about in years, so had to take some time to put it back in my head and create some notes. Not for the plot, just what the characters look like and so on. Third, I am still…
-
Nifty Mug and T-Shirt
2024 Challenge Challenge yourself to average 2,024 words per day for the entire year of 2024. Here is the mug and t-shirt you get for signing up… Full instructions below the pictures. Nifty, huh? And you get both if you join the challenge. Only open until the 5th… Sign up on Teachable. Here are the basic rules… No genre limitations. Rules of Turn-In 1… Every month (or more often if it helps you) you must send me an email giving me your word count. I do not want to know what you are writing, just how much. End of the year we figure it all out. The cost is $600.…