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Challenges Coming Up
I Am Getting Closer to Setting Some For Myself… Since my challenge of publishing 67 major books in my 67th year failed so fantastically due to the life roll of a sudden move to Las Vegas (I will manage about 20 or so), I’ve been thinking about maybe doing 68 major published books for my 68th year. I have a little time to decide. I am also thinking of the crazy idea that came up in some comments a week back. “Living at Pulp Speed Five.” Writing ten finished novels in 100 days. Yeah, that is crazy, but could be great fun. And it would be a great nonfiction book…
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Depth Done Right
An Example of What I Try to Teach… I’ve been reading the new Dean Koontz thriller series that started with The Silent Corner. His character, Jane Hawk is great. Now I study Dean Koontz a great deal because his writing is often invisible, his characters built to be real people, his plots usually twisted. And he is a master at all kinds of techniques, from floating viewpoints to pacing that won’t let you go. So on looking back through the second book of the series, The Whispering Room, I happened to notice how well Koontz sat the scene with depth every chapter in one way or another. Now we have a…
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Plot Twists
Maybe This Should Be A Workshop… Plot twists, when done right, are wonderful for readers, and can get your book talked about and help you sell more copies. When done wrong, plot twists make a reader toss a book against a wall and never read another thing by that author. So what makes a good plot twist? As I said, I think there is more than enough to make this into a full four week workshop with webinars. But for kicks here, since plot twists are on my mind, let me try to hit a few high points of good plot twists that spring to mind. — The twist must…
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August Workshops Starting Up
It’s That Time… August Regular Online Workshops are starting up. Actually, this caught me by surprise tonight as well. Sort of snuck up on me to be honest with all the travel and move stuff. But now I am settled into my new office and moving forward again just in time for these to get started. To be honest, there are very few signed up for these August workshops. Almost everyone will get a private lesson. Remember, the workshops only take a few hours a week of your time, so even for a month like August it should be possible. And September there will be a new workshop announced. And…
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Reading And Story Consumption
Today, While Resting, I Consumed Story… Since I just pulled into town last night, I decided to mostly rest today. So besides some naps, I read part of a Dean Koontz novel called The Silent Corner. It is the first book with a new continuing character. I think he’s got three or four in the series now and it is typical Koontz smooth writing and rich details. And then Kris and I went to a movie, a fun one about a spy who dropped his girlfriend. Just a wonderful, fun spoof. I seldom talk here about my reading or story consumption. But as any professional writer, I do it all…
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Getting Excited About Writing
Life Roll of the Big Move is Almost Past… So I am getting really excited about writing as I get more and more rested. My challenge of the 67 titles in my 67th year got blown out of the water by this life roll, so giving some thought to what I want to do next on that front. Maybe 68? Still thinking about that. And my Cold Poker Gang series is getting some good feedback and was a focus for a time and I have a list of ten titles for that series that need novels to be written. That would be fun as well, since I am now living…
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Just About Clear
That’s Why All The Announcements Lately… I am about to get back to writing shortly, since this four months of move is almost over. And Kris and I wanted to make sure everything we had been talking about starting was announced. So we announced the Master Business Class in October in Las Vegas. As of this moment there are six spots still open. www.wmgworkshops.com and click on the Master Business Class for more information and the fantastic list of instructors. And we announced the nifty new Study Along workshops and got them all up on Teachable.com. Those allow you to study along with the craft workshops in Las Vegas while staying…
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Not Rewriting. A Great Image of Proof
O’Neil De Noux Gives You Pictures… I know it is impossible for some of you to get out of your own way, to understand that the stupidity of the saying “Writing is Rewriting” can kill your writing and your dream. Numbers of us over the years have tried to show by truth and example the silliness of rewriting. Heinlein gave his business rules, pulp writers showed by example, I do this blog, often detailing my writing, and Harlan Ellison also tried to show by example. In a wonderful blog, award-winning writer O’Neil de Noux shows you what it looked like for Harlan to write in a bookstore window. Check it…
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Great Questions On Study Along Workshops
Some Answers, I Hope… — Do Lifetime Subscription to the Study Along automatically get into the workshops? Yes, Study Along Lifetime Subscriptions automatically get in to any workshop they want that is in the subscription. No need to sign up. I will send out the reading list to everyone signed up and all lifetime subscribers with each workshop. And the first assignment. You can decide with each workshop (as a lifetime subscriber) if you want to participate fully, or only watch the videos, or whatever. Lifetime subscription gives you complete options. — Could You Be A Little More Clear on What is Included? Study Along Participants get… — Reading List…
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Study Along Workshops
A Brand New Form of Workshop for WMG Publishing… Study Along Workshops will allow writers to follow part of the intense craft workshops being held in Las Vegas, only online. We have been wanting to do this for a few years now, and finally the move to Las Vegas of the in-person workshops and the nifty features of Teachable have allowed it to finally happen. This is a hybrid new form of workshop. Give me a second to explain. Vegas Craft Workshops… For those of you who do not know, Kristine Kathryn Rusch teaches the craft workshops. Those of you who have been through one or two can tell everyone…