Semicolons were my stock in trade, until enough experience and feedback convinced me that shot, clipped sentences make for better prose. Erika Dreifus has a thrice-weekly newsletter, and in the current one she references an article by Adam O’Fallon Price…
Miscellaneous Blog Post Day
Keeping Things Updated I was chatting with a cover artist today and after giving him my web site URL he asked me how my novel “Last Run” was coming along, since it showed I was 22% complete. Hmmm… old news.…
At the Writers League of Texas Agents & Editors Conference this weekend
Just a quick note. Looking forward to seeing fellow Austin authors at the conference, and pitching the Shmuley Myers SF/MM book. If you’re at the conference, c’mon over and introduce yourself!
Being Able {mumble} to {mumble} {mumble} and et cetera
Grumping from home today, ill after some travel. I’d applied for a healthcare.gov health insurance policy after the end of my last consulting gig. I’ve been very pleased with the coverage until now, and the cost. While insurance companies do…
Amid, Among, Between, Betwixt
Just signed up for the 2018 Agents & Editors Conference here in Austin. Last minute. Second year going. Wasn’t going to, but after working on a single query letter for the better part of the day, I might as well…
On Relevance and Faithfulness (Or, Tomato, Potato)
As I (continue to) procrastinate writing the climax, denouement, and conclusion to my second novel, I’m getting great feedback from specific beta readers. One in particular read Angels just for the Jewish POV and info. Having been raised Orthodox, and…
When the plot goes out of control
Writing this article is a way for me to procrastinate yet another major revision to my current manuscript. But it’s a learning moment for me, that’s worth sharing. Being able to write without editing is hard for most folks to…
On Pantsing, Characters, and “Writer’s Block”
Isaac Asimov, at his “best” (we can critique his literary skills elsewhere) could sit down and pound out a novel as fast as he could type on his clunky electric typewriter[1]. With the kind of throughput he had, he had…
On Perpetrators and Puzzlement
We’ve all seen a puzzled neighbor or family member interviewed after some horrific killing or act saying “I don’t get it; he was the nicest guy. Never a problem.” “Yeah,” I’d snort to myself, “I’d have seen something.” Nah. I…