“It can be argued that the setting in a sci-fi novel is even more crucial than it is for other types of novels that don’t rely on otherworldly details to spin a great story. While there are all kinds of science fiction novels out there—those that take place on Earth versus those that take place on other heavenly bodies or in space itself—the setting must be clear in the reader’s mind. And it’s best when it comes across in an organic manner, a foundation upon which the story can stand…”

“My daughter and her circle of friends love Manga-- Asian graphic novels that you read from back to front, right to left. She gave me one to read once, one with a story she thought I would love. I tried to re d it; I really did. Just couldn’t do it. felt completely bass-ackwards reading a book that way, and prevented me from enjoying the story….”

"Do you wonder how some poets and writers manage to sell their greeting card verses while others miss the mark completely or only get an acceptance on a rare occasion? This Q & A will give you the information you need to see your writing in the greeting card aisle (and help you make a little money at the same time!)."

"When you start reading one of my stories, I want you to be instantly captivated, so you feel you just have to read on.

That’s the function of “the hook.”

Since the term comes from fishing, I thought to give you a little fun, and have posted story a about the joys of fishing—for the fish..."

"I try to bring my S-game to my monthly newsletter. S stands for Sharon and supernatural!

Talking about my book is always an afterthought to entertaining readers. Topics have included alien conspiracies, news of the weird, food waste warriors, the fear of despicable reviews, and books that have inspired me...."

"Hi. My name’s Brad, and I like to write scary stories.

Great, now that we’ve gotten the introductions out of the way, I’d like to tell you about a novel that I wrote and one of the challenges I faced while writing it...."

"I just went through a major structural edit on my most recent YA novel. I thought I had it pretty tight, seamless and moving at a fairly swift pace. Dudes, was I wrong. I seem to keep making the same mistakes over and over again. These are just a few examples that really stood out and caused some major problems."

“Of course, I need to remember my basic grammar and word structure and proof the hell out of it whenever I send in a submission. But read the submission guidelines first. Have you ever seen “the first five pages” requested? “