Category: On Writing

Is Writing Everyday Really Necessary?

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I see this one a lot. Is writing everyday really necessary? from writing The short version is no, and the longer verison is that it might be harmful to your creativity, depending on how your brain works. Let’s get into this. The prevailing advice from the world is, “Yo, you should write every day. Every! Day! And twice on Sundays.” I’m not 100% sure where this craziness comes from, but it could be misguided thinking around the power of habituated behaviours. Habits can be good! Humans love habits. Making and breaking them takes effort, and while a crack cocaine habit is most likely bad, a fitness habit is probably good. You’ll have heard how habits take 21 days to form, and while it’s a little more complicated than that, doing something often, perhaps on a schedule, can be good for Read More …

An Experiment, Where You’re the Subject

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Alan wrote me probably an eon ago when I offered a deal on Night’s Favor, saying something like (and I paraphrase), “How about a deal on something else?” I’ve been ruminating about this for a while. What’s the best way to run a sale? How do I give something to the fans, while also offering a good series starter price? It’s maddening running a deal on, say, book 3 in a five-book series; no one cares, especially if they don’t have book 1, and first-in-series books are often discounted — where’s the shine? Let’s try to fix that. Starting today is a grand experiment (because I love me some science). Enter: [My Cr4zy Deals Page] I’m aware that I’m doing this on April Fool’s Day, but this is legit (…assuming all the store fronts updated, FML). The basic idea is Read More …

Boundless, Wikis, and RPGs

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I’m considering keeping track of Boundless information in a wiki, because after writing 7 Ezeroc Wars novels, 5 novellas, 6 short stories, and 3 mid-range books, I’m losing track. I know, I know, #hardfail, but it is what it is. Then I got to thinking: should I make the wiki based on a point of relevance, like D&D? If there are, say, orcs (…not telling, yet), do I adjust character bios to include stats? Would that be cool? Would it be confusing? Would Chuck Wendig approve? *loads unpopular opinion shotgun* Tried to read LOTR a bunch and couldn’t get through it. Worldbuilding is not plot. Your book shouldn’t read like an RPG manual but should also make me wish someone made your book into an RPG. The Chosen One is a tiiiiired narcissistic trope. https://t.co/1oF8tVFuvK — Chuck Wendig (@ChuckWendig) March Read More …

Releases, a giveaway, an interview, and a partridge in a pear tree 🦜

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The latest of my world-famous emails, originally sent Tuesday, 19 March 2019. You can get on the list here. I was a little quiet last week. This is because the new job is all-consuming; I’m working in a tibanna gas mine, minting fuel for hyperdrives.This week: The latest and last two Empire’s Rogues stories; An interview with Aethon Books; Getting the word out for John; and A giveaway. And who says nobody gives you anything anymore? Let’s roll. The Empire’s Rogues Ganymede Plague released last week without fanfare, because ^^ as I mentioned I’d been sucked into a vortex of horror, otherwise known as working for a living. This week Ganymede Plague’s joined by the fifth story, Dragon’s Rescue. These are the finales for the six-part series. You might notice a fancy cover ⬅️ over there. This is because of Read More …

Scrivener, OneDrive, and Terrible Lies

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This is a for-writers post. If you use Scrivener, have iOS devices, and wonder how to get more work done on the road, read on. Since I’m back in the office regularly, I need a solution to writing during lunch breaks. I tried lugging my laptop in, but when your employer issues you a device, that’s two laptops you’re dragging around. I am not, despite my weights-training regime, The Hulk. I figured I’d just use my Kindle Fire; it’s an Android tablet, and tablets are basically computers, right? If by “basically computers” we mean “basically useless,” then we’re about right. Microsoft Word on mobile devices doesn’t support RTF (seriously, Microsoft?). Scrivener’s folder sync feature only does RTF (…and TXT, but daddy needs his italics), so we’re kinda fucked there. There’s about 300 RTF editors on Android, all of which hard Read More …

Honest Work (and an excerpt)

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I’m moonlighting with a great team at one of NZ’s premier government departments. They’re good people, doing excellent work, and made me feel right at home (despite my transitory nature and hobo stubble). I’ve kept the writing up a couple days this week too. Can I keep up the target of 5,000 words/day on the days I’m not at a Real Job™? I’m there three days a week, leaving two for lying writing. It turns out, yes. Yesterday, I minted over 5,600 words, and Today’s allotment was just under 4,900. I’d like to try writing during the Real Work™ days too, but things are too busy right now. Let’s see if that’s achievable once things settle down some. Since you’re here, how about a small excerpt? Here’s Chad and Saveria, at a megaplex in San Francisco. No idea if this Read More …

Rewriting The Fall of Reason

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I sometimes re-write chunks of work, because it sucks. Most of the time I do this once the first draft is finished, but on starting the finale in the Tyche’s Fallen trilogy (Tyche’s Crusade), I figured it was not what it needed to be. Because I like self-flagellation, I present you with both takes on The Fall of Reason. Neither of these are edited. This is horrible, horrible first-draft stuff (so bad, I threw one version out). But no writing is wasted! You get to join in the suffering with me. The Hard Fail Version “Ash is a nice shade of gray.” Nate pressed his face to the air car’s window, staring down at the streets of San Francisco as they scudded by. The city was still on life support. While buildings no longer burned, shipping new ash into the Read More …

Reversing Awkward 😕 to Groovy 😎

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This is one of my world-famous emails, originally sent Sunday, 24 February, 2019. You can get on the list here. It’s New Release Time Remember that time at bandcamp when I asked you* to not buy my books? This is not one of those emails. This week: The Empire’s Rogues, with a launch special; A couple book reviews you may have missed; and Some interviews. * ICYMI: here. The Empire’s Rogues They’re out! Well, some of them, anyway. This is my foray into writing YA fiction, which naturally I know everything about having been a YA in my earlier laps around Sol. The first three stories are live, and … I’m actually nervous. It took a while to build the thin veneer of confidence I show around space opera and cyberpunk. How will the masses take my young Nate & Read More …