I abduct the aliens.
Over the past couple of months I've been neck deep in planning, drafting and editing book #2 in my Ascendancy Trilogy, and I've learned a great deal about writing productivity. And quite a bit about how perfectionism plays into—or rather against it. It's no secret I have an issue with perfectionist thinking, as it's one of the …
Continue reading "The Power of MOMENTUM, and the Triple C Of Productivity"
In one word? Generosity. It's that simple. Whenever you vet a marketing tool or strategy, ask yourself 'What's in it for the others?' not just 'How can I turn this into sales?' What will this offer my readers? (It doesn't have to be an actual thing like an object; a unique experience, inspiration, fresh perspective or an A-HA moment can be just as …
Continue reading "The Difference Between Marketing And Spamming"
I've been wondering lately if I'm a real writer. Not a deep, existential level of wondering, like Am I a real person or a figment of some stoned alien's imagination? I'm just questioning the generally accepted definition of "true writerhood", and dispatching it from my mind. According to the almighty internet, a "real writer" lives …
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The biggest problem of every perfectionist is that even things which are supposed to be fun, things which should fill us with joy and free our spirit, can become a chore. We can’t do stuff without worrying how well we’re doing, how useful it is, or how much it matters. We’re always trying to outsmart …
This piece was initially published in the On Fiction Writing magazine back in 2011. Enjoy! When they're fresh, the cuts don't look how they're supposed to. They're moist, and the flesh around them is tender. I like them better the next day, when the scabs have covered the gashes and drawn jagged lines across …
Does authority give someone credibility? I think the grand majority of people agree that it does. Does it give someone default credibility regardless of the validity of their specific statements? I strongly assume that to be the case as well. People tend to accept ideas and arguments more readily if they come from an authority …
Continue reading "Some thoughts on Authority and Credibility"
Stereotypes are oversimplified ways of cataloging groups of people based on the differences between them and other groups of people. They are sometimes rooted in fact, sometimes in prejudice, and if taken at face value, they contribute to intolerance and discrimination and limit people in their understanding of society. Stereotypes exist, and they will continue to …
Continue reading "How To Use Stereotypes In Writing Fiction"
