Category Archives: Writing

Monday Musings: Uncertainty, Optimism, and the New Year

Posted on January 3, 2022 by dbjackson

I have been sitting in front of this screen for the better part of an hour, trying to write something for my opening Monday post of 2022. I am in no mood for prognosticating. With Covid still raging, and forty … Continue reading →

Posted in Family, History, Politics, Writing, Writing Life | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Comments Off on Monday Musings: Uncertainty, Optimism, and the New Year

Professional Wednesday: Writing To Heal

Posted on December 29, 2021 by dbjackson

Writing saved me this year. I have been through a lot over the past 12 months, from dealing with the devastating reality of one of my kids having cancer, to coming to terms with my personal mental health issues, to … Continue reading →

Posted in Business of publishing, Family, Friendship, kids, Novels, parenting, photography, Politics, Publishing, Writing, Writing Life | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Comments Off on Professional Wednesday: Writing To Heal

Monday Musings: Showing 2021 The Door

Posted on December 27, 2021 by dbjackson

A year ago, as 2020 was winding down and the nation was exhausted from months of lockdowns and economic devastation, from a disturbingly divisive Presidential campaign, and from the anti-democratic rantings and tantrums of our then Sore-Loser-In-Chief, I wrote a … Continue reading →

Posted in Family, History, kids, Novels, Politics, Publishing, Writing, Writing Life | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Comments Off on Monday Musings: Showing 2021 The Door

Professional Wednesday: Stop Writing

Posted on December 22, 2021 by dbjackson

Here’s some writing advice for today, three days before Christmas: Stop trying to write and go spend time with someone you love. I am all about BIC — put your Butt In the Chair. Writing, like exercise or playing a … Continue reading →

Posted in Business of publishing, Family, Friendship, Novels, Publishing, Short Fiction, Writing, Writing Life | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , | Comments Off on Professional Wednesday: Stop Writing

Creative Wednesday: Books To Buy For The Writer In Your Life

Posted on December 15, 2021 by dbjackson

‘Tis the season for giving, and for searching out gifts for the writer on your holiday shopping list. Or, if YOU are the writer on your holiday shopping list, searching out gifts for yourself! And so I thought I would … Continue reading →

Posted in Business of publishing, Fantasy, History, Mystery, nature, Novels, Publishing, Research, Thieftaker, Writing, Writing Life | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Comments Off on Creative Wednesday: Books To Buy For The Writer In Your Life

Creative Wednesday: What the Beatles Documentary Teaches Us About Creativity

Posted on December 8, 2021 by dbjackson

So it’s Creative Wednesday, and I am still thinking about the Beatles documentary. Specifically, I’m reflecting on something I mentioned in my Monday post — the creative energy that Paul McCartney brought to the “Get Back” sessions recorded 50 years … Continue reading →

Posted in Business of publishing, Novels, Short Fiction, Writing, Writing Life | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Comments Off on Creative Wednesday: What the Beatles Documentary Teaches Us About Creativity

Creative Wednesday: Communicating Our World Building To Our Readers

Posted on December 1, 2021 by dbjackson

Tomorrow night, I will be giving a talk on world building here at the university, in a themed residential house devoted to writing. The students from the house, at least those I’ve met so far, are earnest and passionate and … Continue reading →

Posted in Fantasy, History, Novels, Setting, Writing, Writing Life | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , | Comments Off on Creative Wednesday: Communicating Our World Building To Our Readers

Professional Wednesday: Submitting To Our Newest Anthologies

Posted on November 24, 2021 by dbjackson

Thanksgiving is upon us, and the year is winding down. But for those of you who write and who are looking for publication opportunities, I want to point out that the open call for short story submissions for this year’s … Continue reading →

Posted in Business of publishing, Mystery, Publishing, Short Fiction, Writing, Writing Life | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Comments Off on Professional Wednesday: Submitting To Our Newest Anthologies

Monday Musings: Taking Stock This Thanksgiving Week

Posted on November 22, 2021 by dbjackson

A year ago at this time, I wrote a post about Thanksgiving — random thoughts on the holiday, essentially. I just reread it, and laughed once more at some of the memories I recounted. Part of the post touched on … Continue reading →

Posted in Family, Friendship, kids, Writing, Writing Life | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Comments Off on Monday Musings: Taking Stock This Thanksgiving Week

Professional Wednesday: Work as Balm

Posted on November 17, 2021 by dbjackson

Continuing this week’s theme of maintaining mental health through difficult times . . . Back in March, when our daughter’s cancer was diagnosed, my first impulse was to put everything on pause. I contacted my editor and agent to let … Continue reading →

Posted in Family, kids, Novels, parenting, Thieftaker, Writing, Writing Life | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Comments Off on Professional Wednesday: Work as Balm