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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…
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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…
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In-Person Workshops Announced…
Just Two of Them… Because Kris is just finishing up the in-person workshop here, and she had a blast doing it with 14 really great writers at Resorts World, we decided to announce another two in-person craft workshops. FANTASY DETECTIVES… May 6th through 9th… Resorts World in Las Vegas. Taught by Kristine Kathryn Rusch. Cost is $750 for the class. Must be paid to hold your spot. Limited to only 14 writers. SPACE OPERA… January 13th through 16th, 2025… Resorts World in Las Vegas. Taught by Kristine Kathryn Rusch. Cost is $750 for the class. Must be paid to hold your spot. Limited to only 14 writers. If you have…
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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…
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Special Stretch Goal Extended…
Extended to THURSDAY NIGHT AT MIDNIGHT! SPECIAL STRETCH GOAL…100 BACKERS… If our Make 100 Campaign Hearts Collide Kickstarter reaches 100 Backers by Thursday at midnight, every backer of any reward at $30.00 and above will get a free ebook copy of The Idanha Hotel: A Thunder Mountain Novel by Dean Wesley Smith. And for writers, the full Classic Workshop WRITING ROMANCE FICTION, with over 40 videos and assignments you can do for yourself. This is a $150 value and yes, if not a writer, you can gift it to a writer friend. But first we need to hit 100 backers by Thursday Night at midnight. Help us pass the word.…
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Available….
Some Classes Started And Still Available… I just posted the third week of 52 weeks of both the MOTIVATIONAL MONDAY and CREATIVE SURVIVAL classes. Every Monday morning you have four videos each class. All year long. This week on CREATIVE SURVIVAL was basically about standing up for your own work. MOTIVATIONAL MONDAY was uplifting with a great quote from Charles de Lint as the pithy comment of the week. Both of these are still available on Teachable to get either as a full year or by the quarter. Now that the first of the year has settled in a little, these might help you keep on track. DIRECTED STUDY…. Also…
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Special Stretch Reward
HEARTS COLLIDE KICKSTARTER… We are adding a special stretch reward to the Hearts Collide Kickstarter to try to get to 100 backers by Tuesday at midnight. Should very much be possible if we can get help passing the word. Here is the special stretch goal… SPECIAL STRETCH GOAL…100 BACKERS… If this campaign reaches 100 Backers by Tuesday at midnight, every backer of any reward at $30.00 and above will get a free ebook copy of The Idanha Hotel: A Thunder Mountain Novel by Dean Wesley Smith. And for writers, the full Classic Workshop WRITING ROMANCE FICTION, with over 40 videos and assignments you can do for yourself. This is a…
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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…
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Working on the Challenges from Last Year…
Yes, I am slow… Mostly because things like not even getting into this office until after eight this evening. PT and doctors can really suck up a day. (grin) So I am reading the stories for Pulphouse and also alternating with doing the letters to get everyone credit for last year’s challenges. And we have an in person workshop starting here on Monday (with the Study Along) and also doing some work on the anthology workshop next July. Less than ten spots open for that. Filling quickly. Write me for information. Still don’t have an exact week but we hope by the first of February. It will be in July.…
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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…