The Fix-Up
Most avid fiction fans have probably read plenty of fix-ups, but they might not know the term for this type of book. A fix-up is a collection of […]
Writing Advice
What’s a Collection?
In publishing, a collection is a book of short pieces (stories, essays, or poetry) all written by the same author or co-authors. Contrast this with […]
Unreliable Narrators
Caitlín R. Kiernan’s dark fantasy novel The Drowning Girl: A Memoir and Robert W. Chambers’ supernatural story collection The King in Yellow have several themes in common—ancient […]
Being a More Productive Writer
I don’t consider myself to be an especially fast writer, but I do manage to be fairly productive with the time I dedicate to writing. […]
On Editing and Diversity
I’ve had quite a few stories out in the past few years. There are more to be published, and more to be written. Mostly, I’m […]
On Gaming and Engaging Players
I’ve had the opportunity to write for educational games, and so I’ve been trying to think more critically about games (particularly board games and card […]
On Plots in Fiction
Simply put, a plot is the series of events that make up a fictional story or novel. My first really big epiphany with regard to […]
The Most Difficult Part of the Story: Beginning, Middle or End?
What’s the most difficult part of writing a fiction story? The beginning, middle, or end? The answer to that question will vary widely depending on […]
Why aspiring novelists should write short stories
Aspiring Novelist: Sure, we all had to read “The Lottery” and stuff in high school, but who really reads short fiction these days? Aren’t short stories […]
May 6th Plotting Workshop at the Pickerington, OH Library
On May 6th from 11am-1pm, I’ll be leading a free writing workshop for teens and adults at the Pickerington Library in Ohio. “The Plot Thickens” […]
Master of Fine Arts in Writing Popular Fiction
2022 update: I can no longer recommend this program. It, like many other MFA programs, relies heavily on adjunct labor and instructors are not fairly […]