Tag Archives: writing life

(Not So) Quick-Tip Tuesday: Ups and Downs of the Writing Life

Posted on February 21, 2017 by dbjackson

I’ve published nineteen novels, written lots of short stories, and (for those who like their cautionary tales with a dollop of irony) even co-authored a book on writing. And here I was, totally enamored of a manuscript that had deep … Continue reading →

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The Passing of a Writer

Posted on January 15, 2017 by dbjackson

Writing is a business and an art. It is a hobby and a way of life. But more than anything else — whether in the hands of an established professional or a weekend dabbler — it is a gift and … Continue reading →

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Quick-Tip Tuesday: Mapping Out the New Year

Posted on January 10, 2017 by dbjackson

What can I say? I have a bit of an OCD streak. Okay, maybe even more than “a bit.” But setting work goals and making up a work schedule for a new year is not just about me being the … Continue reading →

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Quick-Tip Tuesday Post on Breaking Out of Routines

Posted on December 13, 2016 by dbjackson

I have a process that I tend to follow book after book. I’m stubborn, and a creature of habit. Having written all four Thieftaker and all three Fearsson books largely by following my regular creative routine, I fully expected that … Continue reading →

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Another Stop on the Blog Tour

Posted on December 1, 2016 by dbjackson

Overtelling, pointing out the already obvious, undermines our writing. In a sense, “Trust your reader” is another way of saying “Trust yourself.” Err on the side of telling too little. Let your story speak for itself. And if your Beta … Continue reading →

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A Quick-Tip Tuesday Post About Deadlines

Posted on November 29, 2016 by dbjackson

“But,” you say, “what if an editor asks me to make that two month deadline?” Be honest with her. Tell her that two months won’t work, but you can get it done in three, or three and a half. When … Continue reading →

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Two Stops on the Blog Tour!

Posted on November 28, 2016 by dbjackson

I’m pushing myself to take all sorts of creative chances, following bolder storylines and developing exotic characters. I’m writing leaner, sparser, the way I wish I’d written the old books. In short, I’m trying to make this next project something … Continue reading →

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Another Day, Another Post!

Posted on November 23, 2016 by dbjackson

This bond allows them to draw on the power within the birds to heal, to do battle and protect themselves, and to cast a host of other spells. The birds themselves are characters in the stories, and to this day … Continue reading →

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New Post, Old Stop on the 2016 Blog Tour

Posted on November 22, 2016 by dbjackson

I didn’t want to change anything with respect to plotting, character, world building, magic, setting, etc. Quite the opposite: I wanted to be faithful to the original story. The LonTobyn books had — and still have — a lot of … Continue reading →

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Keeping On With a New Quick-Tip Tuesday Post

Posted on November 15, 2016 by dbjackson

It would be so easy to give up, to set writing aside for a while. Because when we write, by necessity we access emotion, and that’s not a place I particularly want to go right now. To which my inner … Continue reading →

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