Every story I’ve ever written has had at least one great sentence (that is to say all my stories have at least one sentence I think is just fabulous). Even my worst stories contain at least one nugget of infinite wisdom that makes me say, “Damn, this is brilliant! I’m a literary god.” But a … Continue reading Kill Your Darlings Meaning – What It Is And Why You Should Do It
Authors have a lot on their plates. They have to be writers, editors, and promotional machines. Let’s add one more thing to the author toolbox: SEO. Before we get too far into things, let’s make it clear what this article is and what it isn’t. It’s meant to be a basic guide to search engine … Continue reading SEO Basics for Authors Who Don’t Want to Learn SEO
I’ve never penned a bestseller but dammit, I’ve read a handful of them, so I know exactly what it takes to write one. Given the time and resources, I’d probably pump out dozens of them. I’d have myself a mansion with an enormous library, a leather chair, and one of those big ass ladders so … Continue reading 8 Guaranteed Ways to Become a Best-Selling Author
I haven’t written much lately, at least not personally. Most of my day is spent writing in an office which may explain, at least in part, why I’ve forsaken my fiction and personal blog writing so much as of late. I can easily fall back on the "I'm tired of writing" or "I don't have … Continue reading How to Write: A Seven-Step How-To Guide for Writers Who Don’t Feel Like Writing
Running a literary magazine is a lot of work. It’s also a great learning experience. Here are eight important things I learned during my eight years as founding editor of Bartleby Snopes. 1. Most Writers are Good People. Sure, there are a few jerks who respond to rejections with a tirade of profanity, but the … Continue reading 8 Things I Learned From Running a Literary Magazine for 8 Years
When I started Bartleby Snopes Literary Magazine back in 2008, I didn’t have a long-term vision. I wasn’t trying to create the next great lit mag. I launched the magazine because I was a frustrated writer. I was simply tired of waiting six or more months for a form rejection, and I wanted to do … Continue reading Saying Goodbye to Bartleby Snopes
As writers, one of our top goals is always to get published. Obviously we expect fame and fortune to accompany every publication, but oftentimes a mere acceptance will satisfy our desire for literary greatness. But there’s one major problem with the “I must get published” attitude. Getting published should not and cannot be your endgame. … Continue reading How to Get Published And Still Be a Failure
I am now 34 years old. To date, I have zero bestsellers to my name. Clearly it's time to give up writing forever. I mean, what's the point of dragging it out for another three or four decades before I meet my untimely demise? If you're thinking whether or not you should do the same, … Continue reading 34 Reasons to Stop Writing Forever
Having a story accepted is a huge accomplishment for any writer. Unfortunately, having a story accepted sometimes doesn’t turn out as planned. What starts as a celebration sometimes ends in months of waiting and agony, ultimately culminating in us having a story that needs another home. A few months ago, a friend and fellow writer … Continue reading When to Pull the Plug on an Acceptance
So another year is over. Did you meet your writing goals? I sure as hell didn't. Honestly, I can't even remember what they were. I just know I didn't meet them. I'm not going to bore you with my yearly recap (although there aren't even enough highlights for it to be boring). Let's just say … Continue reading Failing to Meet Your Yearly Writing Goals
