Do You Need a Writing Buddy? What Works and What Doesn’t
A writing buddy can be the difference between a finished draft and another abandoned one. Why it never worked for me as an introvert, how to find a good one, and the rules that make it work.
Article Index (Page 5)
FictionCan You Put Someone Who Wronged You in Your Novel?
Writers have always turned people who hurt them into villains. Why a fiction disclaimer won't protect you, what makes a character too recognizable, and how to borrow a real villain safely.
Book MarketingKindle Unlimited or Wide? Where to Publish Your Debut Novel
Kindle Unlimited usually pays more for fiction sold through retailers, and it no longer blocks libraries. Going wide wins when you're ready for direct sales. Why the 90-days-then-wide plan fails.
FictionWriting Vampires: How to Build Your Own Vampire Rules
Can a vampire show up on thermal imaging, use a smartphone or trigger an automatic sink? How to build vampire rules from an origin, with lessons from Dracula 2000 and Blade.
FictionWhat Software Do Novelists Use to Write a Book?
Most novelists write in Word, and I do too. The free alternatives, when Scrivener or NovelCrafter is worth it, whether to handwrite the first draft, and which tools format a novel for print.
Personal GrowthWhat If Your Family Doesn’t Support Your Writing?
Most writers don't get much support from family. Why relatives call it a hobby, why their feedback won't help you, and how to keep writing for the people who show up.
Book MarketingARC Reviews: Real Follow-Through Numbers, and Do Reviews Sell Books?
Most ARC readers never leave a review. Real follow-through numbers from authors and my own books, Amazon's rules on review copies, and what research says about reviews and sales.
Artificial IntelligenceThe AI Singularity: Would a Conscious AI Even Care About Us?
Tech CEOs say the AI singularity has begun, and skeptics call it marketing. Both assume humans will matter to a conscious AI. What if it doesn't care about us at all?
Artificial Intelligence“Forbidden” AI Prompts: Why Viral Prompt Lists Are Mostly Junk
Secret and forbidden ChatGPT prompt lists go viral every week. A couple of the prompts help, most are filler, and the thing that makes AI answers good is the context you give it.
Book MarketingAuthor Scam Emails: Fake Agents, Flattery and the $500 Pitch
Once you publish, flattering emails from fake readers, book clubs, promoters and even famous literary agents start arriving. They're AI-written scams with no price until you reply. Here's how to spot them and what to do.
Artificial IntelligenceWill AI Steal My Book? Turn Off Training Before You Upload
Using AI to critique your manuscript won't get your book stolen, but most chatbots can train on what you upload unless you turn it off. Here's why I switched it off on day one, and where the real theft happens.
MemoirsThe Fear of Being Judged for Your Memoir: My Father Told Everyone to Burn Mine
Almost every memoir writer is afraid of being judged. I mailed a 2,000-page autobiography to twelve relatives and my father told them all to burn it. Here's what I learned about writing the truth anyway.
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