by mike | Feb 4, 2013 | Books, Editing, Psychological Thrillers, Publishing, Research, Writers' Conferences, Writing |
August McLaughlin is “one of my writers”. More important, she is also a great friend. We met at a writers’ conference some years back—perhaps fortuitously, or even inevitably, as she had come to the conference on a quest to find a writing coach and mentor. Seems she...
by mike | Jan 10, 2013 | Adventure fantasy, Books, Publishing, Sword & Planet, Writing |
File this story under the heading, “Why I Do What I Do.” Prior to the holidays I received an email from a delightful lady named Celeste in Australia. Her note read, in part: Please give me a moment of your time, as I wish to create a special Christmas gift for a...
by mike | Jan 2, 2013 | Adventure fantasy, Books, Editing, Medical Thrillers, Publishing, Writing |
Happy New Year! Here is a fun and meaningful story for you writers out there. I first presented it a few years back in my writers’ newsletter, so there are some dated references, but also a number of updates. Enjoy! So, why should you “acknowledge” your writing...
by mike | Dec 4, 2012 | Life, Publishing, Writing |
I made it through December 3rd yesterday. December 3rd? It comes after Thanksgiving and before Christmas, Kwanza, and (most of the time) Chanukah. This year it falls on a Tuesday, an innocuous day of the week at best. So what’s the big deal? Three years ago, on...
by mike | Nov 27, 2012 | Books, Editing, Publishing, Writing |
A person of some fame and accomplishment (in endeavors other than writing) contacted me some years back to see if I could assist her in writing a book about her life. At first thrilled and honored, I quickly re-evaluated the possibility of this happening when she...
by mike | Nov 14, 2012 | Books, Editing, Mystery Novels, Publishing, Sword & Sorcery, Writing |
I’ve worked with countless writers over the decades as a coach and editor, and interacting with the majority of them has been a joy for me. But with some, not so much. The difference? The “not-so-muchers” don’t take critiquing well, are defensive, and some actually...