Several years ago, I helped run a website focused on reviewing self-published authors and their books. Sometimes, people sent 1st or 2nd drafts even though we told them we only reviewed published or ready to publish work. Because of this, I noticed two common problems: point of view shifts and verb tense changes. Today, as…
Month: June 2026
Brainstorming Techniques – The Spark that Lights a Story
As a writer, there’s only one thing I dread more than editing: looking at a blank page. Sometimes, I struggle with how to start a story or find it hard to pick up a work in progress to keep going. The struggle is real, and I’ve never met a writer that hasn’t encountered it. Finding…
The Anatomy of Drafting Fiction: How to Write a First Draft
I have about a half dozen (or so) stories that I’ve started and abandoned over the years. You’re looking at me right now and going, “welcome to the club. We have T-shirts.” It’s true; as writers, we get ideas all the time that don’t have legs. I’m talking about a deeper problem than a story…
Phenom Updates
It feels like forever that I’ve been working on Phenom, and the closer I get to finishing, the further away that end point seems. That’s just how creative endeavors go. Anyway, I thought I’d give a comprehensive look at where we are and what’s next. I’ve posted about the State of Phenom over on Patreon….