Gary D. Gaines A Modern Horror Story for Writers
It started like any other writing session. With a drink in hand, I walked to my desk and sat down in front of the computer. The welcome glow from the…
Things I Wish I Knew Before Publishing
Being an independent author-publisher is not for everyone. I chose this path, but my path is my own. You have to choose your own path. If you’re considering your options,…
Common Fixes I Apply When Copyediting
Whether the manuscript is a historical romance, an urban fantasy, or a contemporary teen novel, I’ve learned to expect certain mistakes during revision. They are so common and understandable that…
Techniques to Add Depth to Your Scene
Years ago, when I was editing my first novel for my agent (The Shifter for the curious), I had a hard time correcting some weak points at the beginning. I…
From Non-Writer to Published Author in 20 Years
While sipping my coffee in the dining room on a recent morning, I checked my emails and changed my life and identity with the click of a button. “Michael,” I…
Writers: Share Your First Lines (No Joking)!
The fantastic first lines tend to stay with all of us. We rethink them, torment them, rewrite them and rewrite them again. And more than once we bought a book…
Foolproof Tricks to Beat Writing Procrastination
Writer’s Block can affect us all in the most uncomfortable times, but today I want to give seven tips for authors prone to procrastination. Some of us are like the…
Using the Sixth Sense in Writing
Driving on the highway, you feel a persistent need to get off the road to make the long way home. after that day, you find out that you just missed…
Ways to Write the Experience of Trauma Authentically
Traumas can cause major internal, external and interpersonal conflicts, but readers are not interested in clinical definitions or objective recitations of symptoms. Trauma should be more than a theater of…
The Power of Vision in Creative Writing
When I started this series on sensory writing, I had no intention of incorporating the power of vision into writing. Everyone uses sight, right? Humans are unique in that most…
The Ultimate Plotting Tool for Every Writer
Whether you have just finished a project or started writing, looking at the blank screen (page) is intimidating. It can shrivel up even the best ideas in your head and…
Creative Methods for Brainstorming Story Ideas
Inspiration is a fickle beast. She hits at inopportune times (3 o’clock, anyone?) then disappears for months. She doesn’t call, she doesn’t write. Or maybe she treats you differently depending…
The Power of Asking for Help and Its Extraordinary Benefits
I don’t know about you, but I often find it hard to ask for help. It’s not that I don’t want help and it’s not that I don’t need help.…
Eight Ways to Keep Your Story Open and Flexible
Inspiration begins in the brain. I’m going to cancel the Health and Wellness Conference for another time, but please note that your diet, exercise and sleep affect the neuroplasticity of…
The Magic of World Anvil
In my last post, I talked about digital readers, a group of readers who like to interact with stories in new and creative ways. Many of these readers are young,…