Proceed With Caution

Instead of offering a list of rules you must not break, or a list of rules you must follow, in this month's Hellnotes article, I decided to give a list of rules that are sometimes okay if used sort of properly. Yup, just call me Switzerland.

You can check it out here: Proceed With Caution.

Read More

On Reading Horror

This month's Hellnotes article is all about exploring the deep and rich history that the horror genre has to offer.  It's about learning your craft the old fashion way: by watching a professional at work.

You can check it out here: On Reading Horror

Read More

The New Writer's Rejection: Zero Purchases

Thinking of self-publishing? You might wanna check out this month's Hellnotes article before you dive in.

You can check it out here:

GRAY MATTER – THE NEW WRITER’S REJECTION: ZERO PURCHASES

Read More

Before You Begin

HOW TO BE A SUCCESSFUL WRITER:

1. Buy the most expensive computer imaginable, with a monitor as wide as a bay window.
   
   
2. Fill your writing room with a really big desk ('cuz you need to fit that monitor somewhere). The bigger the desk, the more important and author-ish you will feel.
   
   
3. Get yourself a nice pen. I suggest one of the Writers Edition pens from Montblanc. My personal favorite is the Edgar Allan Poe. You won't need it for writing, but it looks good on a big desk next to a big monitor.
   
   
4. Refuse advice from friends, agents, editors, other writers or anyone else who has an opinion on how you should write. You and I both know what opinions are like anyway.
   
   
5. Expect immediate success. In fact, demand it in your query letter --of which there will be only one.
   
   
6. After you complete your first draft, your manuscript is done. Refuse to make changes. You are an artist. It's time you start acting like one.
   
   
7. Most important of all, read my latest article on Hellnotes. It's called BEFORE YOU BEGIN.

If you still have questions on how to approach this whole writing thing, the video below will explain everything.

Read More

And so the snowman apocalypse begins...

As much as I'm sick of the snow ... and sleet ... and ice--I'm really hating the ice!--the weather does allow me to finish some projects I've been neglecting.

Which means my latest article is now up at Hellnotes. You can check it out here: Write What You Know. Ever wonder how to apply that advice to horror fiction? Well wonder no more.

Read More

Write Everyday ... The Right Way

Sitting down to the page is often personal. A solitary thing. Just you versus your ability to transcribe your thoughts. It's sometimes elating, sometimes depressing, and sometimes, well, you start to forget why you wanted to do it in the first place.

Around the time I started questioning my own faith, so to speak, I saw that horror master Jack Ketchum was teaching a workshop. I figured what the heck, I'd give it a shot.

Turns out, it was exactly the kick in the butt I needed to get back on track.

This month's Hellnotes article talks a little about the redemptive powers of workshops. More than that, it talks about how writing everyday alone does not help you improve your craft.

You can check it out here: Write Everyday ... The Right Way

Read More

The road to hell is paved with form rejections

This month's Hellnotes article is all about rejection. Sadly, I've become something of an expert in this area, and I'd like to share with you some of my own experiences on what has worked for me over the years.

So grab a cup of coffee, make sure the boss isn't lurking around the corner and enjoy THE ROAD TO HELL IS PAVED WITH FORM REJECTIONS.

Read More

Paying It Forward

While most of my Hellnotes articles provide the individual writer with some fundamental rules for crafting a story, this month's article goes in a different direction by focusing on the horror genre as a community.

With all that doom and gloom thrashing around the publishing world, it's important to remember that the burden is not yours alone. So this month I thought I'd bring attention to how we can help each other in a little article I threw together called Paying it Forward.

Read More

For those who need a break from it all

April 2010: A time when the weather was cool and comfortable, when the barrage of snow finally seemed to be drawing to a close, when the BP oil disaster was still in its infancy... And when I originally published Replenishing Your Creative Well.

I'd like to bring us back to those simpler, less oily times once again ... Enter cheesy time-warp effects here.

Replenishing Your Creative Well

Read More

Another one of those pesky articles

Another month goes by, another Hellnotes article goes up. Need a refresher on those five narrative parts that make up a story? You can get your learn on here:

The Five Narrative Modes of Fiction

And don't forget: Horrorfind Weekend is creeping up, now only 39 days away. Do you have your tickets yet? I've heard the first hotel is sold out, but there are still rooms available at the sister hotel next door ... at least for now.

Read More

Dead Ends & Unearthing Resonance: The Return

This month I thought I'd bring another how-to article back from the dead. Well, it's not actually dead, and it never really lived ... And what the hell am I talking about?

Anyways, here for your eyeballing pleasure is Dead Ends & Unearthing Resonance, a touching romantic comedy that is sure to lighten the heart.

And as always, I'd like to thank the folks at Hellnotes for letting me push my drivel on them first. The original article is still available there, along with more great horror news and reviews.

Dead Ends & Unearthing Resonance

Read More

Time to get edumacated

My latest article, which is all about pacing yourself, is now available on Hellnotes.

You can check it out here:

On Pacing

Read More

13 Tips for Writing Horror Fiction

It's that time of the month again.  Of course, I'm talking about my latest Hellnotes article, which is now available for your reading pleasure. Check it out.

13 Tips for Writing Horror Fiction












This blog entry is in no way affiliated with the movie poster for Friday the 13 or Paramount or Jason Voorhees. I simply needed the number 13 and it was just too easy to take ... Like stealing candy from a homicidal maniac.

Read More

Those things that refuse to remain dead and buried

While Hellnotes will continue to receive all of my how-to articles first (in fact my latest should be available tomorrow), I'll be putting some of the older ones on Scribd.

The first one, The Three Requirements of Dialogue, is available now.

The Three Requirements of Dialogue

Read More

Replenishing Your Creative Well

This month's how-to article is now available on Hellnotes. It's all about how to keep your creative gas tank full, so you don't get stranded in that wrong part of town known as writer's block.

As always, if you have a suggestion on why you like the article, or why you think I have no idea what I'm talking about, please drop me a comment here or on Hellnotes.

Replenishing Your Creative Well

Read More

Dead Ends & Unearthing Resonance

My latest article is available on Hellnotes. This month's topic is on how to make your endings resonate with your readers. So pop on over and check it out:

Dead Ends & Unearthing Resonance

Read More

The Three Requirements of Dialogue

My latest how-to article is now available on Hellnotes. This month's topic is all about dialogue, which I cover in more detail than a normal person really should.

Check it out, and let me know what you think:

The Three Requirements of Dialogue

Read More

A New Gig

It's official. Meet the newest writer for the Bram Stoker Award-winning newsletter Hellnotes. The title of my monthly column is Gray Matter, and it will focus on the craft of writing horror fiction, a subject I absolutely love to discuss. I've recently submitted my first article, and it may be available as soon as tomorrow for your viewing pleasure. I'll post it on the right under a section called Gray Matter when it becomes available.

If there are some particular subjects you would like me to focus on, please let me know.

I suggest you include Hellnotes into whatever your choice RSS reader is, but I'll also be posting the articles on this blog, as they become available of course.

<<<<>>>>

During the Great Blog Shift, I forgot to put back those free short stories available on Scribd. They're back.

Read More