Tales from the Blog

Adding Some ‘Hardness’ to your Science Fiction.

Adding 'hard science' to your stories without being a Ph.D.

Why writers are insecure

Why do writers stop writing? The answer to that may be our insecurity. But if that's true, why does our mind create insecure thoughts and how can we remind ourselves why we started writing in the first place?

Writing English Science Fiction as a Spanish speaking writer

How does it work for a non-native English speaker to write science fiction in English?

Two Ways to Begin Writing

A brief look at two different approaches to starting a book.

Why I started Writing

Why I started writing, and why I changed my story from being a memoir to a novel! I hope that you excuse my writing, it is a new skill which I discovered rather late in my life. I have a story/stories to tell with my brand of British humour, and I hasten to add unlike many of you who have written a lot, I am at 74 still a greenhorn.

Writing Tips I Keep On Hand

This list lives on my desktop and was curated from a wide range of sources. It’s aimed mainly toward those writing novels.

Bad Advice Explained, and Other Nonsense

A deep dive into showing vs. telling, when to summarize vs. when to expand, talking heads, body beats, dialogue tags, adverbs, eliminating "was," and other random nonsense.

Editors, Readers, and You

A deep dive into the various editors and readers every novel writer needs—with suggestions for utilizing Critique Circle

Oh, Yeah? Well, I Reject your Rejection Letter!

Having become something of an expert in receiving rejection letters–some may even say a connaisseur–I have often wished I could respond with something like this.

How to use Photoshop to make your own book cover

How to use Photoshop or Photoshop Elements to produce your own book cover.

To AI or not to AI...

AI is here, and it's not going away. There's a tremendous amount of anxiety in the community of creatives, from artists to writers and musicians who are afraid it will harm their industry and craft. With 35 years background in computers and 15 years as a professional columnist for the same industry, as well as ten years in the self-publishing business, I have a different take on AI. It's probably controversial, but the reality is that AI is here, and it's not going away, so now what?

A Tale of Two Grandpas

The odds of success as a writer aren’t inspiring. But is that inspiration—that nigh-impossible dream of fame and fortune—the one that drives your love of the craft?

Tension: Walking the Tightrope

Tension is a key source of interest and reader engagement in storytelling. Of the many types of tension, the sometimes overlooked, under-appreciated, and misunderstand reader-vs-story or reader-vs-author tension can be both powerful and dangerous. If employed well it can add substantial interest to your stories.

Midnight Muse

As an unpublished wannabe, I have very little advice to impart to my fellow writers. But here’s one little tip I’ve learned through my experience with chronic insomnia that I feel qualified to share.

Describing people of colour

Giving rich visual descriptions of characters can help bring your story to life! Here are some helpful tips I found for describing people of colour.

Writing fiction with Sudowrite

Sudowrite proves to be a powerful tool bridging an LLM and a writer to quickly and flawlessly write fiction. You can maintain control by doing your homework well and guiding the AI within the framework of your Genre, Synopsis, Characters, and Outline when generating Beats and Chapters.

In defense of common tropes

Do readers love or hate common tropes used in the fantasy genre? Exploring the answer through a giant fantasy reader survey.

​​How Do You Write [_________]

You Don’t Get Good Answers to Bad Questions

Synonym for a 'torch', or Why you should try writing in another language

Writing in another language may help you look at the clarity of your texts from a new angle. More importantly, even imagining to write in another language may help you see yourself as an author from a different angle.

Things You Have to Learn for Yourself

But here we are anyway…

Sports & Writing

"Listen up, because I've got nothing to say and I'm only gonna to say it once." ~ Yogi Berra

The Case Against 'Was' or Why Lexical Density Matters

This blog explores the idea of Information density as it relates to creative writing. It also tries and, let's be honest here, probably fails to be a light, entertaining read.

The Art of the Critique

At a site named "Critique Circle", critiques are obviously an important part of the ecosystem. What makes a good critique, though? This article breaks down and explores elements of the critique so that you can be more helpful to your fellow authors.

Balancing Incompatible Strategies When Revising

There are many ways to revise a story. Find the one that works for you.

Five top mistakes when self-publishing book covers

Book cover advice from a graphic designer and author

A Writer's Stage Presence

Stage presence isn't just for the stage.

Faith in Fairy Tales

“The old fairy tales which a silly sort of people disparage as too wicked and ferocious for the nursery, are really ‘full of matter,’ and unobtrusively teach the true lessons of our wayfaring in a world of perplexities and obstructions.” - Andrew Lang, “Modern Fairy Tales”

Two many Conflicts, Too Much to Write

This blog will detail some of my experiences that I have gone through on my journey to getting published.

Working with Young Critters

Working with younger critters can be a challenge, and a wonderful opportunity. But it needs a different touch.

How [not] to Deal With Critique Comments

How to/not to deal with critique comments: one author's opinion

Post-Pandemic Serenity Blues

What fuels our writing journey? Where do we find serenity? Can writing help us cope with change?

How [not] to Write a Critique

How to/not to write a critique: one author's opinion

Who's allowed to write what?

Overcoming Good Enough

Steps to take on Critique Circle for success

Back to Basics

Advice for my younger self when I began writing: for your sake, lower the stakes

My Line Editing Journey with ChatGPT

Many people have controversial thoughts when it comes to using generative AI for creative writing. And it really depends on your use-case. If you’re asked to write an essay on oranges for a school assignment and instructed to not use AI/online tools, then using ChatGPT to write the whole thing for you is violation of the homework policy.

If someone asks ChatGPT to write a book for them. Well… the tool is not quite there yet to write a quality fiction book for you. And if someone publishes that book without a TREMENDOUS amount of editing, then I don’t think it’d become a best seller anytime soon.

However, it can be used as an editing companion, and it doesn’t always magically spit out the best version of a sentence/paragraph you want in the first go. And here’s a glimpse at my conversation with ChatGPT to come up with just the right words for 1 of the paragraphs I was editing this week.

My seven (OK, nine) best books for writers…

Controversial opinion alert…
"Genius is one percent inspiration and ninety-nine percent perspiration." Thomas Edison.

Anything Can Happen

One of the things I like about reading science fiction and fantasy is that you never know how things might turn out. What’s different about F&SF, as opposed to what we might call mainstream or mundane stories, is that at the end the world can be radically different from what it was at the beginning.

The Thief of Joy: Stop Comparing, Read… Write!

Trad publishers require aspiring authors to provide "comps". This blog article (originally from my author site, www.josie-johnston.com) digs under the surface of what's really going on…

Crit Stories using these 5 Writing Tips

Crit stories better using simple principles

Using ChatGPT to help with your writing

Tips / ideas on how to use AI to help with writing.

Stephen King's -On Writing!

On Writing is one of my favorite books! No horror, no scary stories, just truth about writers and about the writing process. Let's hear from you!

Historical Inspiration

Oz offers untapped resources for science fiction writers seeking a fresh twist on the space western.

Why do you write?

Why do you write? What started you writing? Tell the truth and shame the devil, was it hope for money? Desiring adoration in the form of celebrity? Perhaps even just peer approval?

I Rarely Read Fantasy

Science Fiction, yes. Fantasy, not so much. And I have my reasons!

Literary prose and paced action

Literary prose and paced action have joined forces

From Chaos to Cohesion

I once was blind, but now I see! Let me tell you why I converted to an Outliner/Plotter after years of being a Discovery writer/Pantser.

Behind the Scenes of Traditional Publishing

What happens after you get an agent? Who's who in the world of publishing? What's the life cycle of a book? This condensed guide will dive into the process of traditional publishing.

When it's time to revisit book #1 in your series

Book #1 in your series is the most important for hooking new readers. But when you wrote it, it was your first book, and it wasn't as good then as it would be now – and it's not as well-written as the later books in the series. Now what? How to you market book #1 as the introduction to the series when it's not your best book? The answer: it's time to think about a second edition.

A second draft, a second story

There's no wrong or right to writing a second draft. Sometimes, your experiences might not live up to your expectations though. Sometimes, they might exceed it.

Analogies, Metaphors and Similes

The blog defines what metaphors and similes are and discusses their differences. It identifies reasons and guidelines for use and things to avoid. I give examples of everything covered and include a little test (with answers) at the end.

Homage to Howl's Moving Castle

Deciding to pay homage to the fantasy classic Howl's Moving Castle is helping me write a better novel by learning to write characters that are more flawed and authentic, realizing arguing can be a love language, and early feedback from beta readers who also know Howl's really well.

All the Write Reasons

Before the Gutenberg Press, if some Geoffrey Chaucer or Sappho wrote a book, he or she had to be otherwise employed… or independently wealthy. The telling of stories to their immediate circle of peers wouldn’t have been their bread and butter, but just an amusement. And I suppose we are all–writers and non-writers alike–still trying to do this, even today.

What is Passive Voice? And is it Always Bad?

I’ve been a user of Critique Circle long enough to see certain pieces of advice crop up again and again. Long-time critiquers cite them as rules across multiple submissions. New users pick them up and begin to spread the same advice to others. But sometimes rules are cited as absolutes without regard for subtleties. Sometimes we find ourselves following the letter of the law but neglecting its spirit.

Tips to beat your creative block

Tips to beat your creative block, assess what is holding you back, and show up for your art.

Writing & Depression

I waited up until midnight on the first night and I ended up knocking out 2,271 words. For a first day that is fantastic. I should be incredibly proud of myself, but I'm not. I'm not angry at myself nor am I frustrated with my lack progress, I'm just meh. You read that right. I'm just meh about my writing (I asked several of my online writing buddies for a legitimate word for the feeling "meh" and they came up with "lethargic" and "indifferent"). It's a very odd feeling to have about a hobby that you love dearly.

Why YA Authors Should Spend Less Time in Bookstores

I have a confession: I don't read much YA fiction off the shelf.

My writing colleagues are surprised when I tell them that. They're convinced I've broken a cardinal rule of the business. I have to read the all new stuff every year, they say, or I won't know what agents are buying.

In most categories that's true ? but YA is a very different animal, and the usual rules have less relevance.

This blog post was originally published on Critique Circle in the year 2012

Words - The Writer's Building Blocks

The most basic element of writing construction is word choice. For the writer to convey his meaning to the reader he must choose his words carefully and use them accurately.

This blog post was originally published on Critique Circle in the year 2016

How Full-Time House Sitting Has Impacted My Writing

In the past few years, house-sitting has become a popular way to have a low-cost vacation, which could easily be reconfigured into a writer’s retreat of sorts. If you are lucky enough to have the flexibility to house-sit it full-time, it can offer an affordable lifestyle that gives one more control of their time. Obvious perks such as devoting more of the day to writing, and the inspiration that travel provides, are only the beginning. You might also learn a lot about yourself as a writer.

What's His Name Again?

Today I share a daunting experience in writing that, like most of my peers, have endured during the process. Character names.

Power Your Prose: Ditch Dead-Weight Words

To strengthen your writing, eliminate these common words that add weight without value.

Are You a Good Hooker?

A writer's learning curve is like the earth's horizon, it never ends, and that's a good thing. Finding ways to improve a novel's opening line, its 'hook', is something every author continuously works on.

Great authors make it look easy, but writers know better. Who knew, back when I was a virgin reader, that my favorite authors spent minutes, sometimes hours, thinking about the words and flow of a single sentence? Writing well requires a lot of 'moving parts'. No matter where you are on the journey.

This blog post was originally published on Critique Circle in the year 2012

A Conflict of Critiques

One critter says Yea, another says Nay. Now what are you supposed to do with that kind of advice?

*Disclaimer: While I give paraphrased and reframed examples of comments I’ve gotten on my stories, none of my critters are at risk of being singled out—I always delete my work after it's been through the queues.

The Inhuman Protagonist

The key to writing fascinating, engaging animal characters lies in learning everything you can about the species you?re writing for. Any story focused on an animal is already asking a lot of the reader?s willing suspension of disbelief, so don?t stretch that further by getting things wrong that you could just as easily get right. Know their biology, social behavior, natural habitats, etc. Become an expert on the animal, so that when you write you can slip into its point of view like a separate skin.

How much is too much

One surefire way to bog down your text is to include too many descriptions of your characters' physical movements. Too many new writers feel compelled to describe every movement a character makes, no matter how small or irrelevant. Instead of painting a picture, an abundance of these moribund details clutters your story and bores your reader.

The Past Progressive Pit of Doom (republished)

It was snowing outside, but with nowhere to go I was staying indoors. I was writing. Poorly, it turns out because while I was looking for joy, I was finding only despair. I was using too many past progressives.

This blog post was originally published on Critique Circle in the year 2020

When the Truth is Not Enough: From Non-fiction to Fiction (republished)

When the truth of memoir is not enough, it is time to tap into the unlimited canvas of fiction.

This blog post was originally published on Critique Circle in the year 2020

Adverb’s Advocate (republished)

The beleaguered adverb. One way to defend its use: to condemn its misuse.

Writing for your mental health

We all got into writing for different reasons. This was written for those of us who got into it for your mental health. Whether it be to escape, to vent, or maybe just a way to express how you really feel inside. For some of us with depression, it can help you cope. But you are not defined by your depression. I repeat, YOU ARE NOT DEFINED BY YOUR DEPRESSION.

Eco-writing: Entropology and the Disintegrating Framework of the Novel

As writers, how can we respond to the futility of a climate crisis that shows no signs of slowing down? Writing about nature is nothing new, but what happens when we start to write for and in conjunction with nature instead?

How to Make $50,000 a Year as a Novelist

I can hear you all falling about, reading that title. “$50,000 a year? You must be joking! Yet amazingly, I’ve just spent the last two months in the (virtual) company of several novelists who are doing just that. How they’ve done it is a revelation, and I think it’s a revelation every would-be author needs to have.

Write With Your Gut

If I may be so arrogant as to paraphrase a line from one of my own stories: My guts are not smarter than my brains, but they are wiser (and my heart is a moron who long ago lost its right to an equal vote in the committee).

What have I learned after writing 4 novels?

A great post by user MyFirstBook on the /r/writing subreddit. Reprinted with permission from the author.

The First Ten Pages

In the writing of a screenplay, the characters, the world, the stakes, and conflict are introduced in the first ten minutes (first ten pages) of action.

Sympathy for the Gatekeepers

Few aspiring authors have much affection for agents and publishers, who have rejected them countless times for seemingly no good cause. I can't say I'm much different, but I have recently developed a great sense of empathy for the gatekeepers of the industry.

The Writing Life; Enhancing Endurance and Creativity

This blog post contains advice that helped me become a better writer.

The Ambiguous Power of Semicolons

One superpower of the semicolon is that it leaves it to the reader to intuit how ideas relate.

Why I Write For Comics

I felt that everybody's got a reason for writing for the genres they represent as I struggled to find mine. Then I realized they've been a part of me from the very beginning.

I didn't choose comics; comics chose me.

The Benefits of Being a Slacker

I was raised to believe that unrelenting hard work is the key to success. This isn't untrue, but I'm learning there are benefits to slacking off once in a while too.

Critiquing a Story as a Newbie

Are you scared to start critiquing other people's work? So was I, and now I embrace it.

Why I Didn't Write Today

I didn't write today. A thousand and one excuses, parables and stories to help you get through your day of non-writing.

The Dangerous Pleasures of Research

Starting Writing

So you want to be a writer.

How to choose what to write about

The world has changed. Does my writing have to change with it?

Lessons from a First Draft

Novel first drafts are marathons of the writing experience. About to hobble over the finish line for the first time myself, I offer some tips for making the journey easier to navigate.

Writing a Multivolume Story

Writing a novel is fraught with challenges. Writing a multivolume novel, such as a trilogy, compounds those challenges. While there are different approaches to tackle this problem, this post summarizes how my solution to the Griffin Hunter trilogy developed.

Science First, Art Second

Rome wasn't built in a day, and neither was Middle-Earth. Long before anyone knew who J.R.R. Tolkien was, he was learning the rules of spelling, grammar, and punctuation. And the same can be said for every successful writer under the sun.

Using text to speech

Using text to speech to listen to ones own work.

Why A Modern Fiction Writer Should Read Philosophical Dialogues

It's not likely that many of us spend much time reading Plato. But if you are serious about writing quality fiction, you should take the time to learn from great writers of philosophical dialogue. Here are three ways reading philosophical dialogue can improve your writing.

Self publishing

The market for self-published books is booming. Of the fifty top-selling Amazon eBooks as of February 22, 2022 at 9:00pm (and yes, the list is updated hourly,) 19 are self-published. Another 11 are published by Amazon in-house imprints Montlake, Lake Union, and Thomas & Mercer. Just 20 are from traditional publishers like Penguin or Harper Collins. KDPRocket reports that the best-selling of the indie books (The Rake, by L.J. Shen) has $418,471 in monthly ebook sales, and the last of the indie books (The Plains of Laramie by C.J. Petit) has $42,093 in monthly ebook sales. Each book is also available in softcover formats, as well, so the total is actually higher.

Plots from Image: Incognito Visitor

An image can evoke an array of responses based on the viewer's personal life experiences. While a snowy scene of wolves chasing a young buffalo may trigger discomfort for some, others may find striking beauty in the cycle of life. Writers, however, apply imagination to before and after events until a story results.

Poetry and pictures

I discuss techniques of poetry by asking the question: WHY DOES THIS WORK AND HOW CAN IT HELP YOU.

This month I discuss Metrical Variation by means of the book

FARM LULLABY
By Karen Jameson
Art by Wednesday Kirwan

Tools for Writing Comics Pt. 1

I present to you three guides by the industry's brightest minds: Peter David, Alan Moore and Brian Michael Bendis.

Conflict or Character - Tricks to Start or Keep Writing

There are two avenues to take in starting or moving your story forward: conflict or character.

Incorporating your senses into what you're writing

Show your writers what you see, smell, hear, taste, touch

The Darkest Reflections

The best sort of hero/villain throw downs are those in which the villain, using his power, abilities, origin, personality, or some combination of the four, provides a direct contrast to the hero. He is the hero gone wrong, the hero who is sent off the deep end.

My Submissions Spreadsheet

A quick chat about the fields in my submission tracking spreadsheet gives me a chance to share some things I’ve learned in the course of publishing 43 short stories and racking up over 1,200 rejections.

A Milestone year

2021 was quite a ride. In November, with the launch of Perilous Gambit, the Mike Stoneman Thriller series is officially a series. I know, you can be a series at three books, and four is a nice number, but getting to five (5) books makes it a legitimate series. Plus, there’s a story arc that threads through these five books and reaches a conclusion (or at least a milestone) with this story. There is a sense of completion.

Show-Don't Tell, Must We?

I had always thought writers were individualists, and I'm sure most of them still are. This makes it all the harder for me to understand how a doctrine that is deeply prohibitive in nature could have assumed the status of a religious doctrine in a relatively short time.

Writing Magic in Fantasy books

Fantasy worlds are defined by different races, history, conflicts and events, characters that move our stories forward, but also, magic. Magic is one of the things that separates your world from a regular medieval setting. It defines and shapes what you've created, and it also allows your characters, your mages, wizards, warriors, regular citizens, to interact with the surroundings in a unique and interesting way.