Time and the Lie of Continuity

Thus, in the interests of fairness and equality, I’m arranging the chapters of my next book in the only order that makes sense: alphabetically.

How to Keep Your Writing from Eating Itself

If our lives are filled with nothing but writing, then our art suffers a sad case of cannibalism. Your writing needs to be fed events and thoughts emerging organically from your life. If your writing has nothing to feed upon but your own writing, then it is inbred and has turned back upon itself.

5 Reasons to Write

1: You need to get used to disappointment in life. Writing helps you with that. This is not to say that you won’t have fun writing, but it’s inevitable that you will only have fun after long stretches of disappointment. Writing teaches you to find fun and enjoyment after disappointment. 2: Have you ever watched […]

Literary Photobomb

Should you allow your characters to run wild?
That’s your decision.
Then again, maybe it’s your characters’ decision.

Just Write

So for your own sake, write badly

How Coincidental

Coincidence is one of the most powerful tools in the hands of a writer. Be warned: a powerful tool is also a dangerous one.

Quotas and How to Avoid Them

“How’s your writing going?”
“How should I know?”

Wetter Water and Truer Truths

Don’t be afraid of just telling a story, because just telling stories has a greater power than we can imagine. We should never be ashamed of the simplicity of our calling.

Shakespeare and His Five Acts

Just remember: Write like Shakespeare!
. . . only better.

When a Character Dies

If you must kill a character, by all means kill a character. But do so in a way that hides your manipulations from your reader.