Coming up with new story ideas is easy for some writers – they have trouble narrowing their ideas down to just one! However, some writers have more trouble figuring out […]
Works in Progress
So I have a couple of projects cooking at the moment, and I thought you’d be interested in what’s going on. First, Western Fictioneers like my story for Luck of […]
Mindful Writing
I found this interesting article on mindful writing that might interest my readers. Mindfulness is a technique that focuses on the “now” of your life – paying attention to what […]
Creating Characters
I’ve been invited to create a new character for the Western Fictioneers – something for the shared world of Wolf Creek. This is an 1872 town on the Kansas prairie, […]
Use the Right Word
I’ve been skimming through some books lately, just browsing the genre. Most of what I’m looking at is obviously self-published because there are glaring errors that a professional editor would […]
For You: Snippets
Here are a few scenes from the new book for your amusement! Our heroes have reached New York City and are taking an afternoon walk: There is nothing quite so […]
Conflict 101
Conflict and tension can be difficult to create and maintain. You don’t need an all-powerful super villain to oppose your character, but you do need some sort of believable conflict […]
Cut to the Chase
Ever pick up what looks like a good read, only to drop it after the first couple of pages? You’ve probably encountered a weak opening – something even an experienced writer […]
Beta-Reading 101
I belong to a writing critique group, and I recommend that any serious writer do the same. A good critique group will give you honest feedback that will help you […]
Writing Advice: The Top 10
When you’re a writer, everybody you know seems to have some bit of wisdom for you – most of it wrong. Here are 10 of the best tips I’ve ever […]