Category Archives: Short Fiction

Writing Tip: What to do with All Those Rules

Posted on April 11, 2012 by dbjackson

You’ve heard the rules before:  Don’t write in first person.  Don’t write in present tense.  Don’t start your book or story with dialogue.  Don’t use adverbs.  Don’t use said-bookisms.  Don’t switch point of view from one character to another in … Continue reading →

Posted in Business of publishing, Character, Novels, Publishing, Reading, Short Fiction, Urban Fantasy, Writing | Tagged , , , , , , | 6 Comments

Flash Writing Tip: Accepting Criticism from an Editor

Posted on April 6, 2012 by dbjackson

I’m here at Marcon, and it’s late.  I’ve had a full day — a long drive, a panel, a signing; I’m ready to go to sleep. But today’s panel was on “How To Be Edited,” and since I was the … Continue reading →

Posted in Novels, Short Fiction, Writing, Writing Life | Tagged , , , , , , , | Comments Off on Flash Writing Tip: Accepting Criticism from an Editor

New Story Is Out!!

Posted on April 2, 2012 by dbjackson

The newest Ethan Kaille story is out and available for all to read.  “A Memory of Freedom,” which is about Ethan’s first job as a thieftaker — the beginning of his new career after he had served 14 years laboring … Continue reading →

Posted in Boston, Ethan Kaille, Fantasy, Publishing, Short Fiction, Thieftaker, Urban Fantasy, Writing, Writing Life | Tagged , , , , , , , | Comments Off on New Story Is Out!!

Preparations For THIEFTAKER Release, #1

Posted on March 31, 2012 by dbjackson

Last day of March.  On Tuesday of this coming week, April 3, we will be exactly 13 weeks away from the July 3 release of THIEFTAKER.  I’m sure that sounds far away to you, but I have been waiting for … Continue reading →

Posted in Appearances, Business of publishing, Ethan Kaille, Fun, Novels, Publishing, Short Fiction, Writing Life | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | 3 Comments

New Freebie Added to the Website!

Posted on March 27, 2012 by dbjackson

Today I updated the D.B. Jackson website to include a free download of “The Tavern Fire,” the first story (the first fiction, for that matter) I published as D.B. Jackson.  The story first appeared in a terrific anthology called After … Continue reading →

Posted in "The Tavern Fire", Boston, Character, History, Reading, Short Fiction, Writing | Tagged , , , , | Comments Off on New Freebie Added to the Website!

Flash Writing Tip! Making Our Imagined Worlds Come Alive

Posted on March 13, 2012 by dbjackson

Okay, birthday is done, but I’m still on the road.  Time for another Flash Writing Tip.  Today’s topic:  Worldbuilding! The object of worldbuilding for writers of speculative fiction is really no different from the goal of mainstream writers setting up … Continue reading →

Posted in History, Novels, Reading, Setting, Short Fiction, Writing | Tagged , , , , , , , | Comments Off on Flash Writing Tip! Making Our Imagined Worlds Come Alive

Writing on a Whim: The Project That Won’t Let Go

Posted on February 28, 2012 by dbjackson

The other day, posting elsewhere, I commented on the fact that I was about to get back to writing after spending the first couple of months of this year working on short story revisions and a proposal for the next … Continue reading →

Posted in Fantasy, Novels, Publishing, Short Fiction, Thieftaker, Urban Fantasy, Writing, Writing Life | Tagged , , , , , , | 2 Comments

Writing Tips: Writing Is Hard

Posted on February 21, 2012 by dbjackson

Sounds sort of weird, I know.  I mean, what kind of tip is “Writing is hard?” In all honesty, it might be the most important tip I ever post to this site. Let me start by saying that this is … Continue reading →

Posted in Business of publishing, Character, Friendship, Novels, Publishing, Short Fiction, Writing, Writing Life | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

Writing Tips: Character Development Starting Points

Posted on February 7, 2012 by dbjackson

Aspiring writers are often told that they should “write what they know,” which I’ve always felt is a strange bit of advice for people trying to make their way in a profession founded upon feats of imagination.  And to my … Continue reading →

Posted in Character, Novels, Short Fiction, Writing, Writing Life | Tagged , , , , , , | 3 Comments

Ethan Kaille’s Diary: 3 February 1765

Posted on February 3, 2012 by dbjackson

On Monday and Wednesday, I shared with you the first two in a series of entries from a day journal belonging to Ethan Kaille, thieftaker and conjurer, whose life and work in Colonial Boston are the subject of the upcoming … Continue reading →

Posted in Boston, Character, Ethan Kaille, History, Mystery, Short Fiction, Thieftaker, Urban Fantasy, Writing | Tagged , , , , , , , | 4 Comments