Update (Jan 4, 2021): I've received a lot of feedback regarding this post and its harsh tone. If you are reading this post, please note that it's not meant to discourage anyone from being a writer, nor is it meant to be taken completely seriously. Every writer questions their abilities from time to time. If … Continue reading 12 Signs You Aren’t Really a Writer
The leading cause of death in unpublished fiction is the end of the story. Oftentimes, these deaths are inexplicably violent, coming out of nowhere like the speeding drunk truck driver who just ran a red light and T-boned a defenseless sedan, sending the driver flying through the windshield and onto the pavement where he … Continue reading Why writers should never end a story with death
I have taken multitasking to a new level. About a week ago, I accomplished a feat previously unknown to humankind. I simultaneously ran, juggled, and watched videos on YouTube. If that's not an example of a human making the most of his/her time, then I don't know what is. Just how did I accomplish this … Continue reading On Multitasking, Writing, and Joggling
Getting paid for your writing feels great. Paying taxes on those earnings does not. There are plenty of ways to make money as a writer. Whether you received an advance, earned royalties, won a writing contest, or got paid for individual stories, poems, or articles, you are supposed to give Uncle Sam a cut of … Continue reading Tax Time for Writers: How To Report Your Writing Income
We’ve all heard that we need to avoid adverbs at all costs in our writing. We’ve even heard that the “road to hell is paved with adverbs.” Nearly every list of writing tips from the experts—whether these experts be writing professors, famous authors, or just self-proclaimed writing gurus—contains something about brutally killing all adverbs. During … Continue reading Should You Avoid Adverbs In Your Writing?
The literary landscape is rapidly changing, and it is almost impossible to foretell what a new year will bring. However, I've looked into my literary crystal ball, and these are 15 predictions that could have a huge impact on the literary community in 2015: 1. David Foster Wallace will team up with Jack White to … Continue reading 15 Literary Predictions for 2015
A few weeks ago, I welcomed a new baby girl into my life. My writer bio now contains the line "lives in Minneapolis with his wife and daughters." It almost seems surreal. I could go on and on about how beautiful she is and how lucky I am as a father, but we all know … Continue reading How to find time to write when you are busy
A few weeks ago, I stumbled across a story that led me to develop the one-sentence test. For the sake of anonymity, I don't want to get into too many details about the story, but the "plot" was generic enough to share. The story was about a fart that led to a breakup. That was … Continue reading The One-Sentence Test: Do You Have Enough Story?
We all like having our name up in lights. But what happens when some of those light bulbs burn out? Over the course of the past ten years, I've had around 250 short stories published in various online and print venues. I won't kid myself or stroke my own ego; most of these publications are … Continue reading What To Do When Your Published Stories Disappear
In order to be a writer today, you also have to be able to promote your work. Long gone are the days where your job is to do the writing while someone else is responsible for spreading the word. This is true whether you are just trying to make a name for yourself or if … Continue reading Are You a Writer or a Soulless Promotional Machine?
