The number one most common answer when I asked “What should I blog about?” was “How do I get into Analog?” This is a rather presumptuous topic, considering I am not an editor nor in any way a part of Analog magazine, but having sold my ninth piece to that Read more…
Vera asked me to show how I change a story from one draft to another, so she could see clearly what happens. The concrete, bones-and-sinew workings! Bad news: I do not save drafts. I edit in the same file, deleting willy-nilly until the story sells. Good news: I belong to Read more…
“The Trunk” is a jargon term in the writing world for, basically, stuff you have already written, waiting to find a home. It can be pejorative – the “Trunk story” sold by a big name writer which is actually quite flawed and should have been revised, the “We don’t want Read more…
This blog topic was suggested by Maura Yzmore. Specifically, she asked what I felt the pros and cons were of publishing everything under my real name, if I felt it interfered with my professional life? Pro: My Day Job is Not Tied to Name Recognition I’m a computer programmer. I Read more…
Blog topic suggested by Maura Yzmore So, I am not good at this, and have never successfully queried, but I’ll let you know what I’ve learned so far. Don’t Bury the Lede I was quite a ways into a timed pitch session when I said, “now that I’m a Hugo Read more…
Blog topic suggested by Maura Yzmore First, I would not read any books or blog posts about how to write a query letter. I would not fill out worksheets that required me to think of my story as having only one main character and start with “In a world”. Galactic Read more…
Blog topic suggested by Maura Yzmore I have never enjoyed writing craft books. There is perhaps something wrong with me. Or I’m just too opinionated. But I have treasured and memorized some jewels from my mentors. Here they are, with very bad drawings of them. You can tell which drawings Read more…