I know this is a lot to ask at the jump, but today I turn 51.
Fifty-one.
If you could share this little newsletter, I’d appreciate it and it would be like a little tiny present.
Here’s the Facebook link to share for people you know who like talking about writing and reading sci-fi and fantasy. I appreciate it. I’m trying to grow this little list, like a plant on a windowsill.
And share where you will. Means a lot.
What I’m Reading
Still working on The Will of the Many, so that’s going to be awhile. End of the month? I’m reading three chapters a day anyway I can. It’s still fantastic.
What I’m Writing
I’m one of those guys who has a basic shtick when I talk to people. I try to immediately drop some facts on them about myself: I worked in Afghanistan for a year (so they think I’m intriguing), that I’m a big ol’ reader (so they think I’m smart) and that I’m a writer (so they think I’m . . . masochistic?)
I’ve been a part of the Story Grid community for awhile now. More than four years at this point. I’ve been in their Writer’s Mentorship for three years—studying the craft of writing whether it’s genre or dialogue, objects of desire or upping the stakes.
And writing is a strange beast. If you say, “What proves someone is a good writer?” And people simply point to the New York Times Bestseller List, I got news for you pal, that’s not a great barometer—you can (gasp) buy yourself on that list. You heard me.
If you say, “Great writers are sold in a bookstore.” I think you’re closer, but man, there are some flashes in the pans (what) and I have bought many a hardcover only to be like, “How do authors bribe editors? This is terrible.” But I’ve also picked up some bangers. So it’s mixed.
We’d say over at Story Grid that a great book gets bought over and over. The Hobbit. Carrie. Books like that. That’s the proof. It hits this timeless love and adoration.
And I’m working on my craft to write something that lasts a long time, that gets circulated, shared, checked out, bought, and perhaps a musical is created for it. I’m not saying Broadway, but like Off-Broadway, but just off, like over there.
I want to write things that people just love. I’m not doing it for the money—oh I assure you. Instead, I want to give people access to the worlds inside this bald head and they can learn something, feel something and know something.
And I want to learn faster.
So I’m doing a kind of marathon running thing starting May 6th. I’m going to write for 100 days and write 500 words (at least). This isn’t a Nanowrimo thing. Every day is a tiny scene about something, a small bit of a world, a windowpane view. Maybe one day it’s a Western and another it’s a crime scene-scene. (I know scene-scene, but I mean it.)
The most important thing is that Danielle Kiowski, my editor, will be giving me feedback on it, telling me what to fix, so I don’t keep making the same mistake over and over. Feedback is the only way to get better as a writer. That’s it.
Because unlike the musical arts or the visual arts, writing is so hard to get feedback on.
So I need an editor. Does this make sense? Is this character believable? I can’t do it because I believe what I write is golden. And I assure you, it is not.
I’ve published some things here on my writing website that stemmed from my previous 100 day challenge. And I’m proud of a lot of them. Some also read like a fever dream.
I’ll share the new ones with you too (I won’t publish them ON here, but I’ll make a little website. Won’t that be delightful?) and provide some commentary on what I’m learning about writing.
What I Recommend
My buddy
does the where he talks to Horror authors. If that is also your jam, check him out.