Author Archive
The Mind of a Literary Agent
I talk quite a bit about the importance of literary agents here at TTM. I’ve mentioned resources one can use to find them, and also how to approach them. But I’m sure the rest of it is a mystery. Once your novel is finished and polished to the point that you can’t look at in [...]
Writing and the Long Distance Runner
Picture this… the open road, two legs, and miles to go. You start out strong. Your legs carrying you over the tarmac in the cool morning air. You feel awake, alive, and can envision the finish line hidden in the horizon. You cover a couple of miles without slowing down. And then… your lungs start [...]
Blogging 101: My Biggest Blogging Mistake
I’ve been blogging for awhile now and I have to say it can be quite addicting. Writing has always been my passion and one day I stumbled across blogging. It’s a great outlet and allows me to get my work out there. I can be myself (like here), or I can write under an assumed [...]
What Makes a Short Story Short?
A while back a very respected writer corrected me regarding the length of a short story. I thought I would take a look at the other lengths as a sort of guideline for writers out there who may be curious. I’ve found that there can be many exceptions and interpretations on length but these numbers [...]
The Curse of the Semi-Colon
For years the semi-colon has haunted me. For some strange reason that I’ve never been able to fathom I just seem to get it wrong. I’m a fairly smart guy. I understand grammar, spelling, and punctuation. But when it comes to the semi-colon my brain locks up. It’s the Joker to my Batman.
So today I [...]
What’s Underneath the Judge’s Robe?
“A judge has the final say. It’s his decision. And his decision should be what is best for the poor soul before him, whomever he may be.”
What’s wrong with that sentence? Slightly sexist huh? Why can’t the judge, or the defendant for that matter, be a “she”? Before we begin judging the nature of [...]
How to Start a Writing Group
Writing can be a very solitary means of expression. Most art is. The artist paints a picture, the writer pens a novel, the sculptor chisels a figure in stone. Then hopefully they will share their creation with the world.
But what if the artist had feedback during the creative process?
For the writer, a writer’s [...]
The Montauk Monster is Real
If you haven’t heard, a monster has washed up on a New York shore. Some say it’s a hoax. Others say it is a dog, perhaps a pit bull, that has succumbed to the effects of ocean water. Still others are quick to say it’s a sea-turtle that lost its shell. Theories, and conspiracy theories [...]
Blogging 101: Break The Blogging Shell
When I first started blogging I was shy. What? A shy blogger you ask? How is that possible - I’ve never heard of a shy blogger? Well - of course not. You never will hear of a shy blogger because they quietly post and hope to be noticed. Some will get noticed but with millions [...]
Everything I Learned Came From Comics
Everything I ever learned I learned from comics.
Now that’s a bold statement. What about school? My parents? My friends? Yes - my mind was shaped by all of them. But as a young reader, comics held the most sway over what I thought. It’s why I started writing. Spiderman was my favorite followed closely by [...]
