Why “Write What You Love” Is Only Half the Advice

“Write what you love” is some of the best writing advice you’ll ever hear—and also some of the most incomplete. And with Valentine's day coming, it seemed an apropos theme for today. On its own, the advice is freeing. It gives permission. It pushes back against trend-chasing and imitation. It reminds you that the emotionalContinue reading "Why “Write What You Love” Is Only Half the Advice"

Why Characters Matter More in Genre Fiction

Writers often talk around a distinction between literary and genre fiction without ever quite naming it. To me, it hinges on the relative importance of theme vs character. In literary fiction, characters are expected to be fully realized, three-dimensional, and psychologically believable. But here’s the uncomfortable part: they almost don’t matter. You don’t have toContinue reading "Why Characters Matter More in Genre Fiction"

Voice Isn’t Something You “Find”—It’s Something That Survives Revision

Writers talk about voice the way people talk about buried treasure. As if it’s something hidden inside you, waiting to be uncovered if you just dig deeply enough. Find your voice. Trust your voice. Don’t lose your voice. That framing sounds romantic—but it’s also deeply misleading. In practice, voice isn’t something you discover fully formed.Continue reading "Voice Isn’t Something You “Find”—It’s Something That Survives Revision"

Year in Review 2025: A Year of Middle Grounds, Big Leaps, and Quiet Transformations

For the last few years I’ve made a habit of writing a New Year's “Year in Review” post—a way to remind myself that even when the milestones aren’t the ones I once imagined, the work still matters, the trajectory still curves upward, and the person doing the writing continues to evolve. 2025 was the yearContinue reading "Year in Review 2025: A Year of Middle Grounds, Big Leaps, and Quiet Transformations"

Your Approach to Rejection Matters Less Than That you Risk it

It’s often said that moving is one of life’s top stressors—right up there with divorce and death. Having endured a move earlier this year (complete with nightmare movers and chaos in cardboard), I can confirm that’s no exaggeration. But whoever came up with that list clearly wasn’t a writer. Because if they were, “literary rejection”Continue reading "Your Approach to Rejection Matters Less Than That you Risk it"

When an Acceptance Turns Sour

One of the most thrilling moments in a writer’s life is receiving that long-awaited yes—an acceptance letter after dozens, maybe hundreds, of rejections. It’s the kind of moment that’s meant to be savored, a bright spark of validation in a career often defined by perseverance and uncertainty. But sometimes, even that joy can curdle. Recently,Continue reading "When an Acceptance Turns Sour"

Why Rejection Doesn’t Mean Your Story Is Bad

As a slush reader for various speculative fiction magazines, I’ve learned one fundamental truth: taste is messy. It’s subjective, inconsistent, and often deeply personal. If you’ve ever submitted a story and been rejected in the first round, you’re in good company—and you might be surprised to know how many of those rejections have less toContinue reading "Why Rejection Doesn’t Mean Your Story Is Bad"

When Revision or Feedback Kills the Magic

As a slush reader, one of the most heartbreaking things I’ve experienced is seeing a story I loved—a story that stood out from the pile, that felt fresh and alive—come back as an R&R (revise and resubmit)... and lose everything that made it special. It’s not that the writer lacked talent—far from it. The originalContinue reading "When Revision or Feedback Kills the Magic"

The Myth of the ‘One Piece of Advice’

To be succesful at writing, I've come to believe that its more your ability to juggle, than anything else that will help you. But there’s a peculiar myth that runs through popular culture—the idea that success boils down to one secret, one golden rule, one repeatable habit that will unlock greatness. Ask a Hollywood starContinue reading "The Myth of the ‘One Piece of Advice’"

The Creative Power of Chaos: Why Randomness Makes Your Writing Stronger

Writers love control. We plan plots, build worlds, craft character arcs, and agonize over word choice. Writing can feel like architecture—careful, precise, calculated. But sometimes, we need a little chaos. Enter randomness. Randomness might seem antithetical to craft, but it’s actually one of the most powerful tools in a writer’s creative arsenal. Whether you’re rollingContinue reading "The Creative Power of Chaos: Why Randomness Makes Your Writing Stronger"