“What some people call a nightmare, a writer calls a plot.” – James R. Paddock“Story is honorable and trustworthy; plot is shifty, and best kept under house arrest.” – Stephen King…

It was an ordinary evening in a mundane farming village in Seventeenth Century England... but the arrival of strangers soon brings with it fear, accusation... and a dreadful conclusion. No Crime in Th...

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When we’ve mastered some skill – say ball handling in basketball – we often like to show off. So when we’re on the sidewalk with the neighbor kids, we’ll spin the ball on a finger or perform s…

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This morning, I’m back at the keyboard again, talking about what writers can learn about pace from J. S. Bach.  I had originally intended to play through my example piece — the Sinfon…

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By thinking like a filmmaker—planning your beats, deciding your shots—you create a vivid experience that pulls readers into the story.

After years of steady sales declines, the format will largely disappear next year.

Imagine if you will … Meet Penelope Laredo. She’s hammering away at her second novel, which she’s under contract to submit to her publisher by March 1, 2026. Despite the success of her debut, Innoc…

Professional Book Editing in Los Angeles, California

If your book is on this list, watch out for these common pitfalls

My wife and I recently watched an episode of the Chris Hemsworth’s documentary-style show Limitless: Live Better Now. In it, Hemsworth decides to take a crash-course in playing a drum kit. The reas…

Two sides of Nashville? Or packing 40 lbs. of meat in a 20 lb. sack?

As if you haven’t heard enough about openings…yeah well, here’s something more to think about… Openings are critical. They have to accomplish a lot. That’s the common wisdom and there’s much advice…

The executive branch is interfering in U.S. elections in unprecedented ways.

Email readers, heads up! For the full effect, pause after the excerpt and decide: Would you turn the page? Vote and then scroll for the reveal! Trained by reading hundreds of submissions, editors a…

One rare point of view that you might consider using is second person. In this point of view, the reader becomes the protagonist and decides how the story will turn out. Authors typically use words li...

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ALT: a man with long hair and a beard says " gondor has no king " and " gondor needs no king "