September 6, 2024
Head Hopping
Discover why head hopping can confuse readers, making it harder to connect with characters. Learn how to avoid it and keep readers engaged with clear POVs.
Journal
Posts
July 11, 2022
Clearing Cases
While doing research for my new book, I came across some numbers that were troublesome. So rather than keep them to myself, I’ll share them with you. I have a…
July 23, 2021
Creativity
There’s a theory that everyone is born with an innate sense of creativity. As babies grow into toddlers, and toddlers grow into school-age children, they have within them a sense…
June 28, 2021
What Makes It Worthwhile
Today I received the first half of my advance for WHISPER ROOM to be published in 2022. My wife watched as I opened the envelope from my agent and she…
December 21, 2020
Blood on the Page
Our local college has contracted me to teach another Creative Writing course in January—if our state is still allowing in-person classes by then. I’ve taught three of these in 2020,…
May 23, 2020
Face Mask Mayhem and Writing Distractions
In my creative writing class that I was teaching for our local college, cut short by the pandemic, I stressed the value of ratcheting up tension as your book progresses.…
April 23, 2020
Pandemic, writing it into your work…or not?
I’m facing two problems with my newest writing project. One: Should I incorporate the pandemic into my plot? Should I make reference to it? Two: What will life be like…
April 20, 2020
Coronavirus – About Heroes
Like many of my fellow bloggers, during this time where we’re self-isolating, practicing social distancing, and wearing masks to the grocery store, I’m finding it difficult to dive into my…
January 13, 2020
Creating Tension in Fiction Writing
I received this by private message in Facebook this morning: “Good evening, any idea when Shadow Hill will be hitting the bookshelves? I just started Graveyard Bay this week and…
December 2, 2019
Storytelling—Casablanca Style
One of my favorite films, Casablanca, turned 77 on November 26. Whenever it’s on television, I never miss it. But what about it leads me to watch it over and over…