Tag Archives: Zombies Need Brains

Professional Wednesday: A Rant About Rejections and Quitting

Posted on February 9, 2022 by dbjackson

As many of you know, I am once again co-editing an anthology for Zombies Need Brains, Joshua Palmatier’s speculative fiction imprint. This is my fourth year as a co-editor, and each year Joshua follows pretty much the same approach to … Continue reading →

Posted in Business of publishing, Publishing, Short Fiction, Writing, Writing Life | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Comments Off on Professional Wednesday: A Rant About Rejections and Quitting

Professional Wednesday: “Write What You Know,” part III — Know What You Write

Posted on January 19, 2022 by dbjackson

For the last couple of weeks, I have written my Professional Wednesday essays about the old writing adage, “write what you know.” In my first post on the topic, I wrote about tapping into emotions and our reactions to experiences … Continue reading →

Posted in Friendship, Islevale Cycle, Publishing, Thieftaker, Writing, Writing Life | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Comments Off on Professional Wednesday: “Write What You Know,” part III — Know What You Write

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

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

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

Monday Musings: Easing Back In

Posted on April 26, 2021 by dbjackson

Dear Friends, About five weeks ago, I announced on various platforms that I would be withdrawing from social media for a while, and would also be delaying the releases of some upcoming projects. My announcement prompted expressions of sympathy and … Continue reading →

Posted in Appearances, Character, Family, Friendship, kids, Novels, parenting, Short Fiction, Thieftaker, Writing, Writing Life | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Comments Off on Monday Musings: Easing Back In

Creative Friday: Story Excerpt!

Posted on January 29, 2021 by dbjackson

For today’s Creative Friday post, I offer a teaser from my short story, “The Wreck of the Sarah Mohr,” which will be appearing in the DERELICT anthology that I’m co-editing with Joshua Palmatier (to be published by Zombies Need Brains). … Continue reading →

Posted in Boston, Character, Ethan Kaille, Fantasy, Publishing, Short Fiction, Thieftaker, Writing, Writing Life | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , | Comments Off on Creative Friday: Story Excerpt!

Professional Wednesday: Creativity and the Market

Posted on January 20, 2021 by dbjackson

As a professional writer — as a professional in the arts — I take on several career roles. I am an artist, of course. I create. I am an editor, and not just in the traditional sense of editing the … Continue reading →

Posted in Business of publishing, Novels, Publishing, Short Fiction, Thieftaker, Writing, Writing Life | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Comments Off on Professional Wednesday: Creativity and the Market

Professional Wednesdays: Editors and Writers — The View From Both Sides

Posted on January 13, 2021 by dbjackson

Right now, not for the first time, I find myself on both sides of the editorial process. On the one hand, I am co-editing the DERELICT anthology, reading submissions and starting to think about how authors might want to improve … Continue reading →

Posted in Business of publishing, Character, Novels, Publishing, Short Fiction, Writing, Writing Life | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , | Comments Off on Professional Wednesdays: Editors and Writers — The View From Both Sides