Tag Archives: Zombies Need Brains

Professional Wednesday: A Ton of News, and Organizing My Time

Posted on January 6, 2021 by dbjackson

Welcome to my new Wednesday blogging feature, Professional Wednesdays. As some of you may remember, back around Thanksgiving I asked you for advice on the future of my midweek posts. My Writing-Tip Wednesdays were well received throughout 2020, but by … Continue reading →

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Writing-Tip Wednesday: Dialogue Attribution Revisited

Posted on December 16, 2020 by dbjackson

So why am I revisiting the topic now? The short answer is it’s Joshua Palmatier’s fault. Maybe I should give you the long answer.   Back in the early spring — it feels like a hundred years ago now — … Continue reading →

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Writing-Tip Wednesday: Call For Stories, and Submission Advice Revisited!

Posted on December 2, 2020 by dbjackson

I am co-editing a new Zombies Need Brains anthology with my friend, Joshua Palmatier, who is the founder and owner of Zombies Need Brains. Joshua is co-editing all three of the ZNB anthologies this year, which to my mind is … Continue reading →

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Writing-Tip Wednesday: Goals Revisited Again, End of Year, and NaNo

Posted on November 11, 2020 by dbjackson

That is what the last month or so of most years is about. I want to set myself up to be organized, motivated, productive, and successful in the year to come. First let me wish a peaceful, healthful Veterans Day … Continue reading →

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Writing-Tip Wednesday: Waiting…

Posted on November 4, 2020 by dbjackson

[11/4 Edit:I went to bed last night thinking all was doom and gloom. This morning I see rays of hope. This isn’t over, and counting votes doesn’t happen according to ANYONE’S timetable. Hang in there folks. We are living in … Continue reading →

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Writing-Tip Wednesday: Short Fiction Anthologies — When Does an Idea Become a Story?

Posted on August 12, 2020 by dbjackson

What is the difference between an idea and a story? It sounds like a basic question, but we have just begun the Zombies Need Brains Kickstarter for the coming year’s anthologies, and once again I am hoping to co-edit one … 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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Writing Tip Wednesday: The Nature of Conflict

Posted on January 15, 2020 by dbjackson

When I was in grade school (yes, grade school) we were taught about the rudiments of writing – not just grammar, mind you, but also the fundamentals of storytelling. We weren’t necessarily taught these things well, but they were, at … Continue reading →

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Writing-Tip Wednesday: Short Story Submissions

Posted on January 8, 2020 by dbjackson

Welcome to the first of my 2020 Writing Tip Wednesdays (name still very much negotiable…). Every Wednesday, I intend to post a tip for writers about some element of the craft or business of writing. I don’t really have in … Continue reading →

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On Writing: Revisions and the Editorial Process

Posted on January 31, 2019 by dbjackson

Sure, these criticisms come in the context of someone saying, “Hey, I love this story, and I want to pay you for it. In real money.” So, thinking about this rationally, we should be able to process the editor’s feedback … Continue reading →

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