Category: Dubious Writing Advice
The 7 Stages of Literary Rejection
A writer goes through a lot of emotions when that rejection letter shows up in his or her inbox, and it occurred to me these emotions are similar to those involved with grieving or loss (more or less). I’m sure you’ve all heard of the seven… Continue Reading “The 7 Stages of Literary Rejection”
The Quotable King: Ten Pages a Day
If you’ve read any of my previous posts, especially this one, then you know I’m a big fan of word count goals. I like watching the words add up in my spreadsheet, and I find having that kind of concrete, tangible goal keeps me… Continue Reading “The Quotable King: Ten Pages a Day”
A List of Links: Quick Kills & Real-Time Rejection
Here’s this week’s list of potentially useful links for writers and rejectomancers. 1) I’m always looking for ways to bring more realism to combat scenes in the fantasy fiction I write, and one of my favorite resources is an article from Classical Fencing entitled “The Dubious Quick… Continue Reading “A List of Links: Quick Kills & Real-Time Rejection”
Leaving the Hermitage: Writing & Isolation
Let me start this one with an anecdote. About a month ago, I met some friends I used to work with at restaurant to discuss a Dungeons & Dragons game I’m going to run (yes, I’m really that nerdy).Once everyone had arrived, we started… Continue Reading “Leaving the Hermitage: Writing & Isolation”
The Quotable King: Go to Work
I think Stephen King is a veritable fountain of writerly wisdom, and much of that wisdom has been compiled in his excellent book On Writing. (Yes, I’m gonna plug the book every time.) He also dispenses useful advice (and criticism) in the form of quotes, many… Continue Reading “The Quotable King: Go to Work”
3 Types of Writing Work Days
In general, my writing days fall into three broad categories, which are defined by how quickly and easily I can get to my 2,000-word daily goal. Each day, of course, brings its own rewards and challenges, sometimes heavy on the challenge part. I’m sure the… Continue Reading “3 Types of Writing Work Days”
The Quotable King: Identifying Talent
Stephen King is one of my favorite authors, and his book On Writing is, in my opinion, one of the best books on the craft you can buy. I like King’s no-bullshit approach to the subject and his blunt appraisal of what writing is… Continue Reading “The Quotable King: Identifying Talent”
Understanding Point of View: Eliminating Filter Words
Great post by Cecilia Lewis on her blog Lewis Editorial. Filter words are at the top of my post-draft proofing checklist, and I end up revising a fair bit to remove them. Cecilia offers some great advice on getting rid of filter words and why you should want to… Continue Reading “Understanding Point of View: Eliminating Filter Words”
Staying “Accountable” on Big Writing Projects
You gotta have a system. Every writer does. That thing you do to get from point A to point B, hit your deadlines, and hopefully decrease your stress along the way. I have a system, too, and a major part of it involves word… Continue Reading “Staying “Accountable” on Big Writing Projects”
A Short List of Writerly Woes
I was thinking about things writers do to make themselves miserable (well, things that have made me miserable, anyway). So, I came up with a short list of things I have done (or, regrettably, still do) that can be counterproductive to my writing and what I do to avoid them. Anyway, I thought… Continue Reading “A Short List of Writerly Woes”
Effectively Wild – A Baseball Horror Story
Night Walk & Other Dark Paths
Acts of War: Flashpoint
Acts of War: Aftershock
Acts of War: Stormbreak
Aeryn Rudel's Rejectomancy 