I am pleased to relate that I’ve completed the first draft of my 11th book, an epic science fiction novel. This book evolved to be sort of a sequel to my novelette The Farr Road, since it takes place in the same universe and even features one of the critical characters. I used the word…
Excerpt from “The Farr Road”
This is a brief excerpt from “The Farr Road,” the lead novelette in my science fiction collection, Beyond the Farr Road, available on Amazon.com. I have been an idiot for the better part of my life, but I have rarely been stupid. Now, I realize one might think those two things the same, but you…
Excerpt from My Current Work In Progress
Here’s this morning’s excerpt from my current work-in-progress, an epic science fiction novel. I’ll keep the name to myself, for now. I’m not sure how long this will be here, but here goes. For the first time since leaving the alley, she had and chance to bend over and catch her breath. “Are you okay,…
How to Paint Layers into Your Writing
After watching my wife work on a couple of her oil paintings, I’ve come to realize that producing a work of fiction is very similar to creating a painting. Too many new writers have unrealistically low expectations about how good a first draft can be due to an overabundance of writerly advice that suggests fixing…
Plot Outline Template
As a novelist, I’m firmly in the plotter camp. For some of my shorter stories, and, oddly, most of my novelettes, I tend to let the story unfold organically, thinking no more than a page or two ahead. But for novels, there are too many intricacies and loose ends that need tying together to just…
I’m Writing Six Books at Once
It’s stupid, I know, but I have a bunch of sequel and new book ideas and I’ve been struggling to decide which one I like the most. They all have working titles, but I’m not revealing them yet. It’s actually seven books, but that’s more a collection of stories, which is a distinctly different process….
When Women Wore Shoes
So, I wrote another novelette. It starts like this: Where I come from, women often wore shoes, which, to the best of my knowledge, never caused anyone dismay, in and of itself. Irina liked shoes more than most, which again, was not a problem per se. The potential for problems would have arisen only on…
Let Go
The journey from worrier to warrior is a minor shift in tonal resonance barely noticeable in some parts. You just unpucker your mouth (and butt cheeks) a scooch, look to the winds, and exhale. Strength doesn’t come to those who never fear; they don’t need it. The arrogance of stupidity is self-contained. Strength comes to…
Roxx Hates Your Questions
Interviews with lead characters are generally a good idea, but once in a while you meet a lead who is, shall we say, less than cooperative when it comes to answering questions. I found this out when I interviewed Roxanne Grail, whose story is detailed in the novel Hard as Roxx. I suppose I should…
Cool Like Jazz.
It begins. Cool Like Jazz. Left, right, left, right. Feel the street and hold it tight. Left, right, left again. Eyes to front and show no pain. Right, left, right, left. Arms are loose and mind adrift. One man stands, his gun in hand. He’ll soon become one with his land. Another bends and squeezes…
