Back in the dark ages when I took physics, I learned about the six simple machines. When dealing with marketing, I find the lever makes a good analogy. It increases the force applied by a given amount of effort. Rephrased: You don’t have to work as hard to get the same result. Call me lazy,…
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The Sacred Work of Storytelling
Nearly two weeks ago, the sun disappeared (at least if you were in the direct path of the eclipse). For a few minutes, the air grew cooler and the birds grew quiet. I couldn’t help but think about how ancient people must have viewed an eclipse. They may have wondered if the sun would come…
My #1 Way to Make the Most Out of Conference
This September will be my third time attending the Colorado Gold, and my sixth conference overall. In those last five conferences, I’ve made friends with other writers, found critique partners and beta readers, gotten requests from agents, met famous people (squee!), and learned a lot about writing craft. I’ve also gained confidence; over the course…
The Tales of Benson the Bard
To write: perchance to edit: ay, there’s the rub; for in editing to death, what epiphanies may come… Okay, so I’m not the Bard. What I am, is sitting in a hotel room editing the night before I give a workshop on research. Maybe what I should be doing is reviewing critique roundtable submissions for…
The Critical Importance of Look Alike Words
A word from Conan the Grammarian: Concerning the Critical Importance of look-alike words, or similar or commonly mistaken words. Learn the diffs! As Conan has often admonished writers, this is not advanced rocketry or even higher mathematics. In no particular order, these words often appeared incorrectly in this year’s contest manuscripts. Stanch & staunch The…