Kurt Vonnegut’s shapes of stories
If stories have structure, it can be said that stories have a shape as well. If you need more convincing, read on.
The didactic empire strikes back
I’ve started my second, deeper editing pass on Tied, where I flesh out more detail and fix problem areas. I understand what didactic writing is, but it wasn’t until I was a fifth of the way through when I realized something.
Stephen J. Cannell’s absolute answer for aspiring writers
What does it take to be a successful writer? Stephen J. Cannell has the absolute answer. It’s simpler than you think.
Reinventing yourself is hard work
I’ve been lucky. Most of my jobs/careers over my lifetime so far have been interesting and fun. That made spending time at a job worthwhile, even when it took me away from other interests.
A different way to write a novel
I’m a firm believer in outlining a story before writing the first draft. The outline isn’t written in stone. I allow myself to diverge if needed, but I always come back to the story line. It’s my map from A to B. Here’s a different method you might want to consider.
Elizabeth Gilbert: The perils of ignoring your creative self
I don’t know about you, but if I go too long without creating something, anything really, including writing, animation, sketching, or photography, I get irritable. Down right nasty. Just ask my wife.
25 things you need to know about self-publishing
As I’ve mentioned before, I have chosen to self-publish my first novel. The process can seem daunting, if I look at all the “moving parts” as a whole. So I don’t.
Character studies
My commute to work takes thirty to forty minutes by bus, twice a day. That’s a lot of time to be idle, so I’m trying an experiment.
Publishing on Amazon’s Kindle: Promoting your book
I could write a thousand books, but if I don’t tell anyone about them, I’ll never be able to earn a living. Self-publishing means self-promotion. There’s a lot I can do.
Publishing on Amazon’s Kindle: Income tax considerations
Amazon is a company based in the United States. I am a Canadian. When I sell a book through Amazon, 30% of my royalty is held back for income tax in the United States. The way around this is with tax treaties. Read on.