by mike | May 20, 2014 | Books, Editing, Ghosts, Horror, Paranormal, Writing |
During my 200+ years as a writing coach, I’ve seen it all when it comes to manuscripts by wanna-be authors. Issues with plotting, characterization, dialogue, pacing, and all other elements of a novel come to mind—oftentimes in glaringly high definition and even IMAX....
by mike | May 14, 2014 | Books, Editing, Ghosts, Holocaust, Horror, Paranormal, Psychological Thrillers, Publishing, Thrillers, Uncategorized, Writing |
PRAISE FOR FIRE DANCE: “Sirota returns…with this atmospheric tale of horror in the American Southwest. Horror fans will enjoy this updated take on the western ghost town.” – Publishers Weekly, 12/6/10 As many of you know, I’m big on second chances. (Check out my first...
by mike | Mar 5, 2014 | Editing, Humor, Publishing, Uncategorized, Writing |
I just can’t get enough of those great bad opening lines that have been submitted to the Bulwer-Lytton Fiction Contest over the decades. Here are some more gems from recent years. Hermann lay with Esmerelda, entwined with one another among love-tangled sheets and he...
by mike | Jan 13, 2014 | Adventure fantasy, Books, Life, Publishing, Sword & Planet, Uncategorized, Writing |
This story is about the best day ever for a first-time published author: me. Naturally it took place a long, long time ago: 1978, to be exact. My sword & planet novel, The Prisoner of Reglathium (first in the five-book Dannus series), had just come out. I had an...
by mike | Dec 16, 2013 | Books, Editing, Humor, Publishing, Uncategorized, Writing |
I suppose I’m fascinated, if not obsessed, with the bad opening lines that have been submitted to the Bulwer-Lytton Fiction Contest over the past thirty years. What the heck, they are so entertaining. Here are some more award-winning gems from the past. Enjoy! His...
by mike | Oct 23, 2013 | Adventure fantasy, Books, Editing, Fantasy, Horror, Native Americans, Sword & Sorcery, Thrillers, Writing |
“Hey Mike, where do you come up with those weird character names and place names in your fantasy and sci-fi novels?” Yeah, I used to get that question, or variations thereof, a lot when I did tons of appearances, signings, conferences, and so on. But it had been a...
