A Writer Sent Me This Today… This writer was putting together a business plan and a way of approaching the writing business. And, of course, I liked it, since it is almost exactly what I teach, scattered across a lot of workshops and lectures. He said that he had boiled it down from an erotic writer’s nonfiction book very nicely. So I thought I would put his checklist here because I agree with it and add to it for clarity. — Learn and study basic story structure, then write into the dark. Understanding basic story structure is all the outline you need. — Don’t rewrite; do the best you can…

That Is What I Am Always Telling Writers… Having fun with the writing experience and publishing experience is the secret to being a long-term fiction writer. It really is that simple. But what is fun? So many writers think that when I say that, they have to be happy, smiling, laughing while they write. Well, some are. I am seldom that way, unless writing comedy, and then I am laughing at how silly and stupid what I am writing is. But mostly the fun I have is with the challenge of writing a story. And there is nothing consistent or straight-line about writing stories, especially if you write into the…

Resetting and Focusing Ahead… I actually have three times in a year I really reset and focus. First of the year, of course. July 1st (halfway), of course. And around my birthday. Now I am not sure why I use three, since my birthday is in early November (don’t ask) and I just sort of use it for starting challenges and other things over the years. Or if nothing else, spend the two months before the end of the year to get ready for the new year. In January 2018, Kris was so sick, I was only thinking of that. In July of 2018 I was still in the middle…

Letters Out to Pulphouse Story Workshop… If you supported the Pulphouse Kickstarter with the Pulphouse Story Workshop level and have not gotten a letter from me with the log-in information, write me. This is the last time this workshop will be offered, and it is not offered for anyone but those who signed up on the Kickstarter, so don’t delay. I have gotten letters out to everyone that we know of. Workshop starts on Tuesday, the 5th. Also, November Regular Workshops start next week. Some good ones. List below. And after this last week, the Licensing Transition is going to have a ton of new stuff shortly. A mind-altering week…

Back to Writing and Eating Well and Exercising… Although there wasn’t a day during the Master Business Class that I was under 13,000 steps. So I at least maintained that. And I ended up with about thirty pages of notes and information and cool details and helpful hints and major things. (Remember, Kris and I were putting this on and I still got thirty pages of notes.) Wonderful writers, great discussions, and I feel both energized and exhausted at the same time. So going to feel good being back in schedule. Real good. I will be caught up on missed email shortly and then will start into the challenge stories…

Oh, My… Finishing up my notes tonight for those two lectures tomorrow that I will give to the Business Master Class. We are halfway through the licensing stuff and that has been fantastic so far. So more tomorrow, then I get to talk way down into the weeds on how to set up a licensing business and save a ton of money doing so. Going to be a blast. So off to finish up my notes and get some sleep. And try to digest the far, far too much food I ate today. Wonderful food, but still far, far too much.