Just a Quickie Because...

...I'm supposed to be in New York City in a half hour, but I'm still in Italy!

AMA Live from Italy!

Ask me anything while I'm here in Italy trying to keep up the word count!!! And eat and drink a lot!

Writers and Eds too Reliant on AI?

I'm sensing a new trend where writers and editors are becoming more reliant on things like Grammarly and that annoying program on Word that anticipates your next words, phrases, or even sentences. What the AI doesn't take into account is an author's particular style.

Writing in Isolation

I know, it appears glamorous to some that I come to Italy to write for a month or two. It is glamorous sort of. But there's utility in the process. There are zero distractions, and I feel I become a better, more productive writer.

What the Hell do I Write?

Some would-be writers never even get started because they don't know what to write about. I almost never know what I'm about to write about.

From Rome with Love

Just a quick hello now that I've landed in Rome and begun my annual 6 week writing retreat across the pond. By the way, avoid taking the red eye flight.

Fear of Being a Bad Writer

Lots of writers are so afraid their work sucks, they never submit to publications much less publish. It's like the written word is a struggle for them. It might come easy for me, but for others, it's a near impossible act. Most of that comes from what they teach you in writing school.

Fear of Criticism!

No one likes a critic. Especially one who only criticizes and doesn't write books themselves. But it comes with the territory.

When a Good Fiction Story Idea Slaps You in the Face

I've been writing full-time now for so long that I know when to recognize a good fiction story idea. Sometimes it comes to you subtly, but other times it slaps you across the face. Other times I don't need an idea at all. I just start writing.

Is Writing Divinely Inspired?

Ask Me Anything ... I Dare You!

Todays' Writers are Wimps

It's true. Back during the heyday of the pulps, some writers wrote a genre novel every week. That's 50K words every 7 days pounded out on a manual typewriter. Most snowflake writers today would cry even at the thought of that kind of output.

IN the Near Future AI Will...

...not only write articles and stories, it will create an entire new you that will be viable long after your mortal body has perished. Imagine attending your own funeral and giving your own eulogy?

Substack Fiction To Take on the Mainstream

We all know Substack as a great blogging and podcast platform. Many journalists and writers previously employed by mainstream news outlets and publishers are flocking to it, as I have. Now Substack is about to get into the book publishing business.

Self-Censorship

Sometimes you stupidly talk yourself into not writing something because you might offend someone one way or another. It can be you're worried about what your mom, or your wife, or the SJWs, or even the government might think. But I say write it anyway.

What Makes Greatness?

I'm fascinated by people who go against the tide and create something of value that seemingly everyone not only wants, but that they perceive to need. What do many of these greats have it common? They work for themselves.

Obsession or Drive!!!

Pulp writers are driven to write a lot of words and a lot of stories and novels. Or, are they obsessed?

Are You in my Novel?

Some people read my books and are convinced I based a character on them when nothing could be further from the truth. Then there are those people who do get in my books for one reason or another. They are of course disguised.

Story Ideas...

...There's no shortage of them, nor will there ever be. In fact, there are more story ideas than there are atoms in the universe. It's just a matter of choosing which ideas you want to flesh out into a novel or a short story.

Multiple Genres!

If you want to be a prolific pulp writer who makes good money, making shit up, you need to learn to write in multiple genres. Full stop.