Tag Archives: writing

Writing-Tip Wednesday: Handling a Plot-Hole Crisis

Posted on March 18, 2020 by dbjackson

So I did what all good writers do. I panicked, flew into histrionics, convinced myself that the sky was falling and all my work had been for nothing. That was fun and productive… We writers all know the feeling: We’re … Continue reading →

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Monday Musings: More Thoughts on the Pandemic

Posted on March 16, 2020 by dbjackson

So, you’re tele-working now. Or you’re home with kids whose schools have closed. Or, like me, you’re just back from driving fifteen hours round trip to pick up your kid from a college that is closed for “two weeks,” but … Continue reading →

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Writing Tip Wednesday: Guest Author Tina LeCount Myers on Writing a Series

Posted on March 11, 2020 by dbjackson

Today I welcome to the blog my dear friend, Tina LeCount Myers. Tina and I met at a World Fantasy Convention a few years back and immediately fell into an easy friendship. I have since read her work and discovered … Continue reading →

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Writing-Tip Wednesday: Creating Magic Systems

Posted on March 4, 2020 by dbjackson

I do everything in my power to keep magic from taking over my story, because ultimately, even in the most imaginative fantasy worlds, magic should remain secondary to character and plot. For today’s Writing Tip, I would like to offer … Continue reading →

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Monday Musings: The Social Side of Cons

Posted on March 2, 2020 by dbjackson

At the end of this week, I will drive to Charlotte for the Saga Professional Development Conference, where I will be speaking over the weekend. It should be a fun event and I hope to see many of you there. … Continue reading →

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Writing-Tip Wednesday: Writers Read

Posted on February 26, 2020 by dbjackson

I’m tempted to leave the post at that and go open a beer. Writers have to be readers. Period. Full stop. But it’s morning, and I really shouldn’t be drinking beer this early, so allow me to elaborate… In last … Continue reading →

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Writing-Tip Wednesday: On Writing Every Day

Posted on February 19, 2020 by dbjackson

We’ve all heard it said — usually with authority and condescension and a certain righteous certainty. A real writer writes every day. If you want to be a professional writer, that’s what you have to do: Make it a habit, … Continue reading →

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Monday Musings: Getting the Most Out of a Convention

Posted on February 17, 2020 by dbjackson

I am just finishing up a very nice weekend at Boskone, a terrific regional convention in Boston. This was my second Boskone, and I feel that I am starting to know people at the con, and also to be known. … Continue reading →

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Writing-Tip Wednesday: Self-Editing Techniques

Posted on February 12, 2020 by dbjackson

We know the shapes of our narratives, and we also know our own voice and style. So our stories are likely to make sense to us, regardless of whether they make sense to others. On Monday, I wrote about my … Continue reading →

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Monday Musings: Learning to be an Editor

Posted on February 10, 2020 by dbjackson

I’m pretty good at diagnosing both narrative trouble spots and problematic wording. Over the years, I’ve had tons of practice, having found plenty of both in my own work. As I’ve mentioned here before, I am coediting an anthology, Galactic … Continue reading →

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