I think many of us would be lying if we did not say we had an idea of how we might want our writing career to go. I don't just mean Hugo's and Nebulas, though, why not? I mean down to what publisher you think matches you as your favorite author publishes with them, orContinue reading "Dream Agents, Editors, or Publishers"
You Had me at Halo
So what on Earth is this blog and that title about? It's about developing a one liner for your novel. Something that you can use as a hook that intrigues, but also informs people what your novel is about. You may never get to use it, but I will say at Chicon I ran intoContinue reading "You Had me at Halo"
Futurescapes: Application and Pre-workshop
So in March this year I did the futurescapes writing workshop. Before I did it I had searched blogs for people's experiences and I thought, given it had been of interest to me to get different people's takes, I would write about my experience with it. Now futurescapes does a number of different workshops, soContinue reading "Futurescapes: Application and Pre-workshop"
Developing a Writing Habit: Experiment – Increasing My Writing Output
When I started learning violin I found that it was hard to establish a practice habit, and without that, it was hard to make progress in my playing. In order to overcome that I made it a 'rule' that I did not have to practice violin 30 minutes or 60 minutes or 2 hours, orContinue reading "Developing a Writing Habit: Experiment – Increasing My Writing Output"
Robert A. Heinlein’s 5 Rules of Writing
Back in December, I wrote a blog reviewing and giving my take on Vonnegut's 8 rules of writing. Today, I thought I would cast a glance over Heinlein's 5 rules and, as before, add a couple of my own thoughts on each. As a caveat, the distinction of the rules from Vonnegut is that Vonnegut'sContinue reading "Robert A. Heinlein’s 5 Rules of Writing"
Dealing with Rejection
If you’ve come here looking for advice on your latest romantic disaster I’m afraid you’re in the wrong place - this is about rejection in writing! While I have experienced rejection in both, the only useful perspective I have is in the latter. So you just got an email from your dream agent or Clarkesworld,Continue reading "Dealing with Rejection"
Weighing the Value of Writing Short Fiction
Why write short fiction? Traditionally, the advice has been that you should write short fiction to get writing credits, which will open the doors for you to get a literary agent and write long-form fiction. I have certainly been given this advice, and I have heard it spoken from luminaries such as George R. R.Continue reading "Weighing the Value of Writing Short Fiction"
Short Fiction Acceptance
So I got my first fiction acceptance. Now, granted it's only a drabble (100 words exactly) and so on the pay per word it works out at less than the cup of coffee I likely bought while writing it, but it still is nice to hear someone wanted something I wrote! Keep the faith myContinue reading "Short Fiction Acceptance"
Year In Review 2022
As we close out 2022 I thought I would write a short blog on my writing journey this year. Both achievements and set-backs. And while there certainly have been a few of the latter, I will say I am quite proud of all I have done, even if it has not yet produced the desiredContinue reading "Year In Review 2022"
Kurt Vonnegut’s 8 Rules of Writing
All as pertinent today as when he wrote them. Plus a couple of my own thoughts on each. Let me know yours! 1. Use the time of a total stranger in such a way that he or she will not feel the time was wasted. I take this to mean give them a satisfying story.Continue reading "Kurt Vonnegut’s 8 Rules of Writing"
Gideon P. Smith 