Playing to Win

Playing to Win

by | Craft, Promotion, Writing Life

What does “playing to win” mean?   This one’s gonna be a rough one, gang. But it’s important. I love the movie The Replacements. (Largely due to Keanu Reaves, not gonna lie.) But there is a great line in it, where the coach played by Gene...
Torture for Fun and Profit

Torture for Fun and Profit

by | Craft, Writing Life

  As part of both my coaching service and my critique service, I get to see the framework of a lot of stories in progress. When it comes to conflict in general, and Hopeless Moments in the third act in particular, there’s one thing I notice, over and over...
Show, don’t tell… but how?

Show, don’t tell… but how?

by | Craft

When asking for topics, this came up, and it’s one of my favorite things. If you’ve been studying writing for any period of time, you’ve probably gotten this little chestnut of wisdom: show, don’t tell. As it happens, I’ve already blogged...
Time management: plotting vs. pantsing.

Time management: plotting vs. pantsing.

by | Writing Life

  This blog is for those writers who are having a tough time staying on track when it comes to scheduling their deadlines, marketing, etc. Strangely enough, despite being a die-hard plotter, I am much closer to a “pantser” when it comes to my time...