The making of a horror novelist.
Studying the craft of writing is different than studying math or science. In college (I studied engineering) my classmates and I furiously scribbled down what the prof was writing on the board. Usually it was sample equations, things we’d see again on an exam. Our notes were top to bottom, pretty straight forward. I was … Continue reading How to Study the Craft of Writing
Word counts . . . as in why NOT do a blog post listing daily writing progress? I’m chugging along as I write my first horror novella of 2021, making some progress. Here are my word counts for the last 14 days. Monday, February 1: 1068 words and an hour of outline work. Tuesday, February … Continue reading Daily Word Counts, Chugging Along
How long will you keep writing? Can you still write when you’re old, I mean really old, like 90 or 100? Some systems in the brain decline with age, and some improve with age, particularly those systems that we use as writers. I’m reading a fascinating book (linked below) about the elderly brain written by … Continue reading The Nonagenarian Novelist
Last year and in the first couple of weeks of 2021 I received encouraging editorial feedback on short fiction (short stories and one novelette). But zero feedback on my haunted house novel. Perhaps, thinks me, I need a bridge between short fiction and novels, something to push my storytelling skills to longer lengths. Hm, whatever … Continue reading Reaching for the Stars, My First Half of 2021 Writing Goals
It’s a new anthology, The Vampire Connoisseur, and I'M IN IT! OMGosh, I’m a published author! (Squeal!) I’ve read all 16 vampire stories. They’re all good, fun, enjoyable, and not your typical vampire tales. Yes, I have some faves: “The Red Angel” by Lisa Hario because it’s kinda sweet, but it’s still a horror story.“Poem … Continue reading New Anthology: The Vampire Connoisseur
It’s the season of giving! As writers, how can we give back? Here are some ideas: When an author asks for beta readers, say yes. Beta readers are golden because they give an author feedback on a polished manuscript.Likewise, you can be an alpha reader and give an author feedback on an early, rough manuscript.Leave … Continue reading The Season of Giving
