Category Archives: Writing and Publishing Tips

How to Tell If Your First Novel is Your Practice Novel

One negative side effect from the self-publishing revolution is the tendency of aspiring novelists to rush their development process. They…

We’ve all heard the rule: “Show Don’t Tell.” Sometimes newer writers get confused about this rule. They’ll read a novel…

There’s some debate about the merit of critique groups, especially for novelists aspiring to write at a professional level. Some…

I don’t really believe in writer’s block. Perhaps it’s the words I quibble with. “Writer’s block” makes it sound like…

We authors have to work hard to make our stories transcend the words on the page and become tangible entities…

We’ve all heard the advice: write every day. Heck, I’ve repeated that advice. But I’ll be honest. I don’t write…

When I first published my fantasy novel, Gift of the Phoenix, I almost didn’t offer it in paperback. I knew…

Ah, you’re chugging along at full speed. Your characters are interesting and compelling. Your plot is exciting and captivating. You’re…

This past week my mother and I made an impromptu, emergency trip to move my dad from Arizona to Idaho…

Before I published Gift of the Phoenix I knew it was inevitable that I’d get bad reviews, because any book…