This email might make you sad. But since I’m not charging, I get to tell it like it is. That’s part of our little deal here. It’s time we talk marketing. If you remember nothing else from this 90-day challenge, I hope that this next part burns into your memory forever. It’s how I was… Continue reading →

The process of writing a novel is to travel along a spectrum of “knowing”. At first, you know nothing about your story. After a few weeks or months, you know everything. The time in between not knowing, and knowing is called “Work”. How long it takes you to travel across that spectrum is based on… Continue reading →

It’s been twelve years since I’ve flown in an airplane. I’m deathly afraid. In 2004, I was in a Piper PA-30 flying over the burning Alaskan wilderness. One minute we were in the air, the next we were in the trees. Everyone survived. I have to get on a plane next week for my work… Continue reading →

I promise I didn’t forget about you!Just had to change up the schedule a bit to fit it in. Just had to change up the schedule a bit to fit it in. However… The fiction challenge as it stands right now simply can’t continue in the same format. So, I need your votes once again…. Continue reading →

I have been successful writing fiction. This is true. But success is relative isn’t it? It is. So instead of listening to me today, listen to all these guys who’ve made MUCH, MUCH, MUCH more of an impact with their writing than I have (and probably ever will): My Entire Philosophy About Life (Especially Writing) … Continue reading →

Today’s email is going to be a bunch of Q & A with minimal rants. Why? Because yesterday’s email caused a tidal wave reaction amongst you beautiful subscribers. Are you surprised? I’m not. Emotional writing ALWAYS works.  Fiction or non-fiction. Copywriting or book writing. When in doubt, bleed on the page. Ok, on to Q… Continue reading →

I don’t want to write this email. I’m tired. But… I’m going to anyways. One word at a time. And that makes all the difference in the world. I know you don’t want to write your story right now. Do it anyways. I know you think your story isn’t as good as you want it… Continue reading →

I have an important housekeeping issue to announce, but first… You know how I’ve been talking about using real life experience to help guide your writing? When I was reading Nowhere To Run by CJ Box, there’s a scene where Joe Picket (the MC) gets shot in the leg with an arrow, the head of… Continue reading →

Let me start today’s email with some Q & A: Reader Question: “My weakness, I think, is emotion. I have a hard time describing emotions. So I definitely want to work on that. So I guess that would fall into character development?” “My weakness, I think, is emotion. I have a hard time describing emotions…. Continue reading →

QUICK NOTE: The past few days I’ve been getting emails from people explaining that not all of my stuff is hitting their inbox. To be honest, I have no idea why. Might be my autoresponder. Might be some things that I’m testing within the autoresponder (like “Perfect Timing”). Might be the black magic of my… Continue reading →