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Do you still read paper books?
As the eBook market continues to grow by leaps and bounds, I have found myself considering taking the switch to reading via some sort of eReader instead of paper books. I will probably never completely forgo the feel of a paper book in my hands, but there are some valuable incitements that are luring me to begin the switch. I love to read, although I haven’t been giving myself the amount of reading time that I used to. A part …
Nuts and bolts of the writing process
Whenever a group of writers comes together, whether in person or online, the same question inevitably arises. “Do you outline your stories or do you free write? The number of answers that come in response are often similar to the number of participants in the discussion. My personal answer is not as cut and dry as some people would like, but that is due in part because of my view of writing itself. Writing, to me, is a form of …
Ted Dekker – Red (The Circle Series)
This is the third book I have read in this series and I continue to be amazed at the skill with which Ted Dekker wields. I have never before come across a series of books that can truly be read in any order, but because this is the Circle Series, each book stands on its own, but is truly enhanced by the others. Although each book in the series so far has left a lasting impression, the vivid pictures of …
A reader makes a better writer
It may be strange to think that some authors don’t read, but many times this is the case. From personal experience, when I am working hard on a writing assignment, the last thing I want to do sometimes is to read. It is perhaps not unlike the person who works on a computer keyboard all day and then completely disregard that computer in the home office. There are other reasons too, of course. I remember one particular weekend while working …
Are you looking for inspiration or mitigation?
Is your computer (or notepad) sitting idle? What emotion fills you when you see it gathering little more than dust on the corner of your desk? I know of no writer who has never experienced periods of creative drought and forgo the daily exercise of writing. There is no shame in it, but the question begs to be asked, “Are you truly waiting for inspiration or is what you are doing simply an act of delay and mitigation?” It is …
eBook cover creators
Writing eBooks can be a fun and rewarding choice for independent authors and writers. While there are numerous formats to choose from, if you are selling and marketing your own eBooks or those of others, one important aspect you can’t overlook is the creation of attractive “covers” for your books. While eBooks are a digital format, prospective customers, readers and fans still want to see what they are going to buy before they make the commitment. Just like paper books …
A plurality of eBook formats
While I am continuously working on my large historical-fiction manuscript I often find it necessary to take a break from it. But while I sometimes need to put that project down I certainly don’t want to stop writing. Taking long breaks from the writing craft itself can lead to a loss of skill and that is certainly not the desired effect. So what to do while allowing the ink to dry on my large project? I tend to write smaller …
Wisdom of a Wayfaring Wordsmith – Part 5
It has been quite a while since revisiting the Wayfaring Wordsmith so I though it was due time to add another morsel of writing wisdom. Are you having trouble getting through a particular writing project? It happens to all of us, believe me! I’ve never met a writer that hasn’t hit the wall at one point or another. Creativity is a blessing, but sometimes it almost feels like a curse, especially when the words stop flowing. One (and there are …
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Ted Dekker – Black (The Circle Series)
Few books manage to not only grab my attention, but to also keep it from the first page to the last. Ted Dekker is a marvelous storyteller, a creator of worlds and master at characterization. After having finished Black, I feel as if I know the characters in both realities. Yes, I said both. While many authors write trilogies or similar series that involve alternate realities, the two worlds in the Circle Series seem to be occurring simultaneously, yet they …
Can you compose a winning resume?
Writing is a communication skill that many of us develop throughout our lives, but there is a potential to drop into a hazardous pitfall when we utilize the same style in all of our communication efforts. You may be an expert at crafting beautiful prose or communicating technical details to a specific audience, but does that style translate to your next writing project? Whatever style you are proficient in, chances are you will need to tweak your preferences and structures …
Spring Clean Your Writing Calendar
Has it really been almost a month since my last post? That simply won’t do! There are )naturally) a plethora of reasons for the delay in posting, but for a writer to be absent so long is indeed a negative in the world of blogging. As we approach the warming months of Spring, each one of us is tempted to spend more time away from the office and the computer in order to enjoy the great outdoors. Most of us …
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The search for solace
Sometimes it can be very difficult to write about people and places during the mid-nineteenth century when the sounds of modern society are right outside you window. I remember once trying to imagine a serene setting in the midst of an early morning camp for a civil war regiment. In the process of writing that scene, a garbage truck rumbled by my house and a fire engine rolled by on another nearby street with sirens blazing. Needless to say, the …
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Try your hand at journalism
Blogging, whether for fun or for profit, is a great way to let loose with your creative energy. If you build your content and site properly, you can undoubtedly increase exposure to the community of your choice. Have you considered journalism as another route towards name recognition and content authority? Last year I chose to do just that and it has been a learning and rewarding experience. During a conversation about platforms and publicity, a friend of mine introduced me …
Interesting developments and its only January
So 2010 ended on some pretty high notes in regards to my professional development as a writer. As such, I began making plans to help 2011 become an even better year. As soon as I was finished drawing up my grand designs for the next 11 months, a surprising new trend has developed that may spoil some of those bullet points. In the last two weeks I have received writing invitations that could very well change the scope of my …
From where do you draw your inspiration?
Anyone who has made attempts at writing will be able to share countless stories about the horrors of staring blankly at a blinking cursor. So, if that is where you are right now, or find yourself in that situation too often, here are just a few things that can get your creative side running wild. Pictures: When I am at a loss for words, I visit my favorite picture site and begin searching for key words that I know will …
Writing Vacation Day 3
Day three did not prove very productive in the way of word count, but I was able to accomplish a few other tasks to satisfaction. One blog post Some interesting reading on the Lincoln-Douglas debates A little research about two of the historical settings in my novel 1200 words on my novel I really enjoyed reading some detailed and first-hand accounts of the Lincoln-Douglas debates. Most of my reading was from a 1908 compilation of on the scene reporting taken …
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Writing Vacation – Day 2
I didn’t hit all of my targets today, but I did set them at a very aggressive level. Even so, it was definitely a very productive day. Here is a breakdown of today’s activities: Two paid freelance articles Three blog posts 2000 Words on my novel I actually fell asleep towards the end of my writing day for a 15 minute cat-nap! Invading foreign lands and negotiating final contracts certainly takes its toll on a person’s mind. In the end …
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First day of writing vacation
I woke this morning with high hopes for a very productive first day on my writing vacation. By 9am I was sitting at my laptop, ready to go. I set myself up a fresh cup of coffee and an hour later had cranked out 1200 words! It was going to be a very productive day! I continued to write and about 30 minutes later my lovely wife called me and we chatted for a good long while. When we finished, …
Write Yourself into 2011!
How many years has it been since you realized that you had a deep-down desire to become a published writer and/or author? No matter whether that idea popped into your head, why not make 2011 the year that you achieve that goal? We are coming up on the New Years Day, 2011, and for many people that means a sundry list of resolutions that most likely will fall by the wayside by February. Why? Well there are probably as many …