Welcome to my blog!
You will find no pictures of kittens here. No images of favorite dessert recipes, snapshots of my recent vacations, videos of puppies playing the piano (although I do love dogs), or YouTube clips of monkeys stealing people’s sunglasses.
I’m genuinely sorry if that disappoints you.
Instead, you can rely on my blog for clear and specific writing advice, motivational tips, grammatical aid, and author/editor interviews.
As a developmental editor & book coach, everything I post is designed to help you build your creativity, strengthen your prose, and explore new avenues in your writing. The opinions in each post are my own, but many are inspired by ideas from established authors and editors who excel in their fields.
Some of these tips might be just what you need to hear. Others might not work for you personally, and that’s okay. Apply the tips that fit your personality and writing habits, and feel free to adapt or ignore the others. For further questions and comments, you can email me or reach me through my Contact page.
Interview with Michael Head: How to Become a Successful, Full-Time Fantasy Author
In this post, you'll discover . . .
Common misconceptions about independent publishing.
Whether self-publishing or traditional publishing is best for you.
Twelve practical steps to succeed as a self-published author.
5 Items Protagonists Lack in a First Draft
In this post, you'll discover . . .
how your true story often emerges in your second draft, not your first.
5 protagonist-related items that will confuse or frustrate readers if you don’t include them in your novel.
why each item is essential in a final draft.
Deeper Dive into Content Genres: Horror, War, & Western/Eastern
In this post, you'll discover . . .
A reminder of the difference between commercial genre and content genre—and why it matters.
The core question, need, emotion, event, and outline for the horror, war, and Western/Eastern content genres.
Examples of popular storylines that fit the aforementioned genres.
Deeper Dive into Content Genres: Performance, Society, & Love
In this post, you'll discover . . .
A reminder of the meaning of “external content genre.”
The core question, need, emotion, event, and outline for the performance, society, and love content genres.
Examples of popular storylines that fit the aforementioned genres.
Deeper Dive into Content Genres: Action, Crime, & Thriller
In this post, you'll discover . . .
The difference between a book’s commercial genre and content genre.
The core question, need, emotion, event, and outline for the action, crime, and thriller content genres.
Examples of popular storylines that fit the action, crime, and thriller content genres.
Make Your Protagonist’s Inner World Matter
In this post, you'll discover . . .
The reason to include both an external and internal content genre in your story.
The core difference between internal and external genre.
The three internal genre types and examples.
The Essential Framework to Satisfy Your Readers
In this post, you'll discover . . .
The most essential ingredient of a good book.
The distinction between commercial genre and content genre—and why you should understand this before you start writing.
The two best ways you can use content genres to stay ten steps ahead of the average writer.
10 Simple Ways to Sharpen Your Prose
In this post, you'll discover . . .
When to worry about line items in your novel.
What words and phrases to consider avoiding in your writing.
How to rewrite problematic sentences to better connect with readers.
Interview with B.K. Boes: Independent Publishing
In this post, you'll discover . . .
Common misconceptions about independent publishing.
Whether self-publishing or traditional publishing is best for you.
Twelve practical steps to succeed as a self-published author.