Henry David Thoreau once wrote: “Not that the story need be long, but it will take a long while to make it short.” Henry nailed it; writing short is more challenging than writing long. There is promise and magic inherent in the short story, but there are common common traps that waylay unwary writers.
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How and Why Would You Choose a Pseudonym?
A couple of weeks ago, a reader of this blog contacted us to ask how she could go about selecting a pseudonym—one she could live with forever without regrets. We thought that was a pretty good question, so I asked three writers in different genres how they chose their pen names.
How Amazon Turned Me into a Serial Killer
Prior to September of 2012, my life was perfect. I had friends, my books were selling, and all was well. Then Amazon went and ruined my life. Forever.
And no, I am not being melodramatic.
Okay, I am, but just a little.
The Curse of the Critique Button?
I’m cursed. I can no longer watch a movie, attend a play, read a book, or (now) enjoy television without the writer in my head critiquing. And while that means I’ve finally internalized many craft lessons, it also means entertainment is much more complex. Last week, when I started griping about the slipping plotline on The Following, my man just rolled his eyes and nodded.
Taxes 101 for Authors*
Most people in the United States work for someone else, as employees or independent contractors. (And, statistically, most people are employees.) Most writers have “day jobs” to help support their writing careers. For those who are self-employed, business owners, or primarily independent contractors, the tax obligations of a writer are probably already familiar. For those whose primary work experience comes as an employee, however, making money from writing means it’s time to think outside the W-2.