I’m posting this on New Year’s Eve, when everybody celebrates having made it through the last year and looks with hope toward the blank slate that arrives tomorrow. Of course, for most of us, it isn’t really a totally blank slate. I have several projects in various
Read more →I’m posting this on Christmas Eve day, which this year is also an Open Mike day! (I usually take a week off this time of year anyway, but this is convenient…) So chat among yourselves…and also, check out this post at Writer Beware: https://writerbeware.blog/2025/11/14/if-a-famous-author-calls-hang-up-anatomy-of-an-impersonation-scam/ (There are also
Read more →Creativity is not a well-understood thing. Most people have no trouble recognizing its results, but they have a lot more trouble recognizing creativity in process…sometimes, even when it’s their own. People keep trying to break down the creative process into neat little boxes, in an attempt to
Read more →When it comes to characters, one of the first things writers are told is that characters should be “well-rounded.” This is usually followed by advice like “know your character’s purpose” and “give them flaws.” Sometimes, there’s more specific advice, such as “demonstrate (i.e., “show”) characterization in actions
Read more →November is possibly the second-worst month in which to start a new novel. I’d peg December as the worst one, for the same reason: everyone is always extra busy and distracted during the end-of-year holidays. (These are also bad months for trying to finish a novel. In
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