Tag: Writing

Turning Pro in 2013

As the year winds down, every blogger, media outlet, television show, and radio program looks back at the past year and reminisces about the best and worst of 2012. If they are not doing that, they are hammering you with Resolutions. I’m here to wish you a Happy New Year and avoid doing those things.

With the sun setting on 2012, many of you have achieved the success that you’ve been wishing and working toward, and for others, you may not be where you want to be, yet. Continue reading “Turning Pro in 2013”

Ed’s Casual Friday: Happy Trails 2012

Well, turns out the world didn’t end (thanks for nothing, Mayan King Yik’in Chan K’awiil) so it looks like we’ll all be embarking on another year of Indie World. And since last year was my first of writing this weekly column (episode one, 12/30/11), I guess this year I should at least acknowledge the new one.

Many traditions come along with the changing of a calendar date, including spending the next month or three swearing quietly as you continue to write the wrong digit at the end of checks. Also popular are the “Year in Review” sort of things every news broadcast, blogger, and columnist feels the need to uncork along with the bubbly. I myself am more of a “Don’t look back, as something might be gaining on you” type of guy, so I won’t be doing that. 😉 Continue reading “Ed’s Casual Friday: Happy Trails 2012”

Do Write and Fear Naught

In the community of authors, there are those for whom writing is in their souls. It is who they are, what they do. For some, writing is a calling. I respect that. I think there is something noble in it. I will leave it to those who share that level of passion for writing to explain it in their own words, because that’s not me.

My nature is that of an entertainer. I like to provoke discussion, thought, reflection or laughter in others. For me, telling or writing stories is one way to do that. In order to accomplish that, it is not enough to write; what I write must be read by others. On some level, I think that is why everyone writes. When someone announces that they wish to speak, they are not actually saying they want to utter words – they could do that anytime. What they mean is that they wish to be heard. Continue reading “Do Write and Fear Naught”

Do Your Readers Make It Past Chapter One?

Chapter One.

Probably the most rewritten chapter of any book I put together. Why do I stress so much about it? Well, it’s a make or break chapter. In those first few pages, I can either win my readers over or lose them forever. So how do we make sure our readers make it past chapter one?

Here are some of the things I’ve learned so far: Continue reading “Do Your Readers Make It Past Chapter One?”