I just got done sending an email to Scott Wakefield, a friend I discovered on Twitter, who is interested in learning how to become an indie publisher. It’s been my pleasure to answer his questions and get him on the rocky road to self publishing, both paper books and ebooks. It’s been just about a … More Every Good Idea I Ever Had I Stole From Someone Else
I’d like to start off today’s blog by recommending another website: whereiwrite.org. I urge you to visit this website for your own curiosity’s sake and see Kyle Cassidy’s project to report and share the places where several well-known fantasy and science fiction writers crank out their masterpieces. What you will find is that is varies … More Where I Write
I started trying to get published as a writer in the 70s while I was in college. I was enamored by a new Christian youth magazine called “Insight,” and I tried and tried to get published in their magazine, to no avail. Finally, after receiving half a dozen blank rejection slips in a row, I … More A Spoonful of Sugar
It’s the day after the end of the NFL’s regular season. Twelve teams still have high hopes to end up with a Super Bowl ring in 2013. Twelve groups of fans still have something to cheer for. But for players and staff of 20 out of the 32 teams, the year is over with. My … More The Next Day…Revisited
The WordPress.com stats helper monkeys prepared a 2012 annual report for this blog. Here’s an excerpt: 600 people reached the top of Mt. Everest in 2012. This blog got about 4,400 views in 2012. If every person who reached the top of Mt. Everest viewed this blog, it would have taken 7 years to get … More 2012 in review
Back in the 90s when I was a book editor at Pacific Press, we had a summit meeting to talk about the state of publishing. I remember raising my hand and offering the opinion that the editor of tomorrow–which of course means today now–would need to be a jack of all trades. He or she … More An Indie Author’s Best Investment
I am sitting in my living room in sweats. I haven’t shaven yet this morning, and I might not today. Beside my easy chair are textbooks for classes for the new semester, which starts in about 10 days. On top of that is the paperback I am trying to read as well. It’s quiet: my … More Eye of the Storm
I am in the first official week of Christmas break. Because I am a writer as well as a university professor, one would think I would be throwing myself into another writing project at this point, grateful that I am unencumbered by the many details of being a professor. Well, a couple of problems with … More Physical Therapy for the Soul
I’m bored. And there’s nothing I can do about it. Last week was a circus. I had finals, grading, three major projects to complete. And I was coughing the whole time. At first it was just a cold and that I could push my way through it. But by Friday, it had lasted a week … More Hurry Up and Do Nothing
1996. After a year of research and planning, and another six months of throwing myself body, mind and soul into the project, I was able to watch the first edition of the new national magazine ParentTalk roll off the presses. I, with my co-editor Randy Maxwell, were the proud parents of a wonderful new magazine. … More The Next Day
