Writer Syndrome Episode 35 Story Beats Act I

Story Beats Act I

As I switch gears back into prep for book two, I recently revisited my writing reference crutch, Save the Cat! Writes a Novel. There are plenty of books about writing, story structure, and methodologies for turning your idea into a story. Besides Save the Cat!, Stephen King’s On Writing, and Read more…

Writer's Syndrome Episode 34

Writer’s Block

I’m not having it right now. Not yet at least. Right now, I’m being lazy and procrastinating or finding some other task to do instead of writing. Maybe I’m doing that because I actually don’t know what to write? Shit, do I have writer’s block? No. You can’t have writer’s Read more…

Writer Syndrome Episode 33

Character Motivations

One of the key elements of creating compelling characters is finding their motivation. Whether it be internal, external and/or both (ideally), character motivations are what drive them to make decisions about the obstacles thrown at them. This creates conflict which creates drama which creates an interested reader. Even if they Read more…

Writer Syndrome Episode 31

HOST Book Launch

It’s been a week since I released HOST and so far response has been good. Mostly pushing to friends and family with plans for wider reach over the next few weeks. Hoping to leverage everyone for reviews and ratings. This portion of the project, the sales, marketing and promoting, is Read more…

HOST Has Arrived!

It’s alive! It’s a little surreal but I’m excited as friends and family have started to reach out. Many of which helped make this thing happen. Above is the proof for the Amazon hardcover version (hence the “not for resale” tag), but it’s also available in paperback (Amazon for now Read more…

HOST Book

HOST Cover Reveal & More

It’s finally here! I just received hardcover and paperback proofs and I’m excited about how they came out. I’ve been walking around my apartment with the hardcover placing it on different surfaces, coffee table, bookshelf, bedside table, on a chair, in the kitchen, in the refrigerator. No one ever mentioned Read more…

Cover Art Process

They say don’t judge a book by it’s cover but…come on…we all do. (Note: The original idiom is traced to the novel The Mill on the Floss, written by George Eliot in 1860. In the novel, the reference is to a physical book when the character, Mr. Tulliver, uses it when Read more…