Sustainable Series Strategies

For those of us who like to write genre fiction — the cozy mysteries, the thrillers, the science fiction horror, the fantasy — our books often have the funny habit of turning into series.

Trilogies, and longer series, seem to dominate the market regardless of genre. From a craft perspective, how do you set up a successful series from the start, with characters that continue to be interesting five books in, and plots that are sustainable across hundreds of thousands of words? At what point in your career does it make sense to pitch a series? What are readers hoping to get out of series work, and how long will they wait between installments? Series writers share tips and tricks gained from going through the process.

We’re #2, So We Try Harder

Backups, Sidekicks, & Henchfolk Heroes and villains step aside: We’re here to talk about your lieutenants, your seconds in command, … More

Publishing As Collaboration

If you want to be a published author, a little professionalism goes a long way.

Bookshelves are packed with volumes about how to properly submit your manuscripts, but how does professionalism function in real-world publishing relationships? Moreover, what defines professionalism from culture to culture? Agents and editors share their best examples of what works best, and how to get back on track if your interactions go off the rails.

Is a Writer’s Workshop Right For Me?

Whether you’ve been writing for a while or dreaming of getting away and actually having time to write, many of … More

One Writer’s Path – This Is Taking Longer Than I Wanted

Like many writers, I’ve known what I wanted to do since childhood, and I’ve always known I’d need a dayjob. … More

Problematic Publishing: Red Flags To Watch Out For

Most publishers are in it for the love of books. Yes, even the acquiring editors, the marketing team, and the contract specialists.

But, that doesn’t mean there aren’t some problematic publishing companies out there. Whether you go with traditional publishing or small press, you need to be careful.

Writers, Are You Using Your Beta Readers Wrong?

As writers, we’re always refining and adjusting our processes, trying to figure out what works best for this novel, today. Me? I finished up a round of revisions this weekend, and tossed them off to beta readers — but I might have been too hasty.

Should You Blog, YouTube, and/or Podcast?

These days, social media is king, and everything else is old school. If you’re not on TikTok (or whatever the next big thing is), why do you even bother? But there’s something to be said for creating original content and controlling your own platform.

At the titular panel, Scott Cox, J.D. Blackrose, John Peacock, Sean Burton, and moderator John Pyka helped validate a set of activities I spend a lot of my waking hours participating in.

Writing the Sex Scene in Non-Erotic Works (A Balticon 56 panel)

Sex scenes can run the gamut from fade-to-black as soon as they reach for a kiss to explicit move-by-move erotica. But, when you’re writing a story that’s not erotica, deciding where to draw the line can be a challenge.