Writing is a mind game. As I have mentioned before, writing is about 80 percent psychological. After 40 years of writing, I have a semblance of mastery over grammar, vocabulary and use of words. What challenges me the most is seeing the story, and putting it in a logical structure. That’s not quite so bad … More Better Than Sex
Yesterday I wrote about getting started on your next book, how intimidating it can be and how important it is to just start, regardless of quality. And then I followed my own advice, and started my new book. Now I have the prologue, but don’t know where to go from there. Well, two things have … More I’ve Started. Now What?
I got the November issue of Wired magazine in my office last week, and was pleased to see that it included an interview with Orson Scott Card, author of Ender’s Game and many other great science fiction stories and books. I consider Ender’s Game one of the top ten science fiction stories of all time. … More It’s Not Magic, Just Hard Work
I am determined to be a part of NaNoWriMo this year. For those of you who don’t know, that’s National Novel Writing Month, where each November crazy people like me attempt to write a 50,000-word novel in 30 days. I’ve done it three times, and have three books to share because of it. But there … More Tom Horn Rides Again
This is the sixth year that I have been sponsor of the Rough Writers, the student-led, student-run, student-participative creative writing group here on the campus of Southwestern Adventist University. During that time I have gotten to know some pretty great students, many of whom I am confident will go on to be great writers. I … More Brave, New World
In the past couple of years and several hundred entries into this blog, I have talked about how to come up with ideas, how to organize those ideas, how to write stories and novels, and how to get them published. But for me, writing is much more than a one-time thing. I am in it … More Getting Started in a Writing Career
I just had a pleasant experience. I got a notice that Kevin Newsome, author of the great Christian suspense book WInter that I have reviewed previously, came by and read my review. It’s nice to know that other authors are out there, doing what I am doing, namely wondering what people are thinking about my … More On the Drawing Board
If you have been reading my blog for any length of time, you know that I have said more than once that there are no guarantees in life. And that goes for writing as well. I told a fellow magazine editor one time while we were watching our first issue roll off the press: “Enjoy … More Positive Strokes
I am a strong advocate for wholistic (not holistic) living. I believe that my brain works better if I put the rest of it to work as well. Not only does it make me feel good, using my muscles circulates the blood and get more blood to my brain. In addition, I find myself being … More Using Different Muscles
THE COLOR OF WARM People assume when you are a professional that you have things figured out. I know that’s the way I think. I look at men in their fancy BMWs, women in their business attire and think, they have it all together. And generally, that’s how our society has been able to function. … More “The Color of Warm”
The Great Adventure 