I read a blog recently (SARAH BRENTYN, Lemon Shark, HERE ) about first lines – opening lines of a book or sometimes a chapter. Sarah’s post leans toward celebrating YA genre, which is fine, and touches on wondering why people don’t like it. I was one of those people. (I thought YA was written for […]
. . Yeah, THAT “The Martian,” the one that’s a movie starring Matt Damon, the one that was a NY Times bestseller, the one, well, you get the idea. It’s possible, indie authors. If you write good stuff.
My friend Jenn (different from my friend Jenny) has been working on a book and decided to start a blog to develop her writing technique. You can see some of the things she needs to work on, but you can see a lot of real, raw stuff is heading down the pike for readers. Have a […]
We all have various technologies available to us that seem to constantly interrupt and overwhelm our day. Smart phones are BAD! Or are they GOOD? (Recently we discussed the scary, blood filled horrid things writers do each day HERE) Well… yes. I like being able to read articles on my smart phone while waiting in […]
We’re in the Keys! And today’s blog post was pre-scheduled about a week ago. Tomorrow’s, too.So I have no idea what you’ve been up to ‘cos the internet here is mediocre at best and because it’s the Keys. Maybe it’ll work, maybe not. Same with me. Maybe I’ll work, maybe not. So forgive my lack […]
Dear Dan, So, I feel like the blog is not really working as it goes now. I don’t know if I’m a natural blogger. I like your blogs, they’re funny. Maybe it just doesn’t come as natural to me. Signed, New Author Dear New Author: It is your blog; you are 100% behind whatever comes out […]
Originally posted on J. A. Allen:
I have always been a fiercely self-conscious person. When I was a teenager I wore baggy clothes, thinking that if I camouflaged my body I wouldn’t get looked at. As a young mom, I often worried what “older” mommacitas thought of me. I kept a spotless house and agonized over every detail of raising my babies. Now, I’m…
If I do my job properly as a writer, I have put together what in my head is a relatively cohesive, interesting story.* That’s it. In a nutshell, that’s my job. The role of a BETA READER is to: read the finished manuscript (book, story, whatever) before it is released to the general public and […]
Good news! The preliminary editing of “Poggibonsi: an Italian misadventure” is almost finished! Yesterday I completed edits for chapter 36 (there are 40 chapters) so we will be releasing it to beta readers SOON! If you’d like to be a BETA READER, send me a through the CONTACT ME button, above, and include your email. […]
I knew a person who was about 55 years old 10 years ago, and she worried that she might lose her job. There were massive cutbacks at her company; all sorts of people were leaving. It was a scary time. Her family needed her to be working. They relied in her income. Her main concern […]
DAN ALATORRE