In my years of teaching at universities and conferences, lecturing on podcasts, and conducting instructional panels and presentations, I have encountered the phrase “Show, Don’t Tell” as one of the most basic yet often misunderstood phrases and pieces of advice and...
Great beginnings hook readers, but before them, they hook agents, editors, publishers, script readers, directors, actors, producers, and studios. When you think of great beginnings, one of the best ways to start your story is with a strong and memorable protagonist....
Plotter or pantser? I am not fond of those terms. I am not fond of those discussions. I was on a panel discussion at Bouchercon last week, and my answer is that we are both. If you ask a professional writer if they are a plotter or a pantser, you’ll probably see them...
When it comes to writing and being an author, it's important to remember that we are essentially in the business of offering a service. Therefore, we should ask ourselves what kind of service we offer and how well we provide it. In my early days of business, I made...
I am a gothic writer. It is my interest, heritage, and culture. One of my hopes is that, if you are not a fan of gothic literature or know very little about it, you’ll travel with me here as I explore it with you. You’ll find that many things you love about literature...
As a kid actor, I grew up in the theater, so it is natural that I should be attracted to writing plays and musicals. You may have never thought about it. It’s rewarding, even as an exercise. In plays, you have the visual of what is happening onstage and the spoken...