The Idea is the seed of your novel

I’m in the process of updating all my slideshows on writing the novel and got the first four done: Idea, Conflict, Plot and Point of View. More are in the pipeline. These are free, downloadable slideshows. Since they’re standing on their own without me...

Don’t Quit Your Day Job, Writers?

I heard that this weekend at the Writers of the Flathead Conference in Kalispell, Montana. I remember David Morrell saying the same thing at Thrillerfest several years ago. It’s a mantra. It used to worry me when I heard it, but then I realized my day job is...

On Covers and the Importance of Title

Perhaps the biggest mistake I made early in my writing career involved titles. I’d never gone to a writing conference or had any classes on publishing. I was living overseas in the Orient, studying martial arts. This was pre-Internet– yes there was a time...

Every Author is Different based on the Three P’s

Product, Platform, Promotion. We all rate differently on those three, therefore any writing advice we get has to be factored through our own personal situation. One size does not fit all. I call my book on writing a Toolkit because I don’t believe there are any...

The Secret Handshake to Publishing Success

This morning I read another story about the ten keys to success as an indie writer. I read articles about the essential things a writer must do to get an agent. I read articles on how to succeed as an author. Reading those is part of the job. They are all well...