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Winter 2025 Update

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E arlier this year I was proud to publish my first non-fiction book in eight years. I published six books from 2008 until 2017 and had struggled to develop a new project since then. Granted, from 2023 through 2024 I did have two short stories published in anthologies as well as wrapped up a novel I had been working on before 2017 as well as create and finish my second. My shift to fiction took a bit of time but I feel the grip under my feet the more I write. Since I lost momentum after 2017’s Handbook for the Amateur UFO Investigator I feel like I’ve gained greater confidence in writing as well as ability to finish projects since finally tackling that first novel. I did feel like I had unfinished business in the non-fiction realm and felt I needed something else to hold up my most popular book, Handbook for the Amateur Cryptozoologist , that came out in 2014 with good success that led to a second edition in 2015 with a foreword from Loren Coleman and other minor updates. Eastern...
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How do I become a great podcast guest?

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P odcasting has been around for quite a while now and while it might not be the number one way a writer thinks of getting noticed it's a great way to have your voice heard. A podcast can quickly reach thousands of ears and is a way to discuss your latest projects as well as your own personal brand. Appearing as a guest on a podcast also gives the impression that you are an expert in your field since you are representing that field as a guest. I was the host of the  Paranormal News Insider  podcast/radio show for almost 15 years with a total of 534 episodes. The show appeared on several networks including an AM radio station in the Columbus, Ohio, metro area. I was also a host and co-host on other podcasts through the years. My experience also extends to the other side of the mic as a guest on dozens of podcasts on paranormal topics based on my experience as a paranormal researcher as well as a writer and speaker at conferences and conventions. Part of being a host (and a guest...
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Spring 2025 Update

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L i fe has been busy and while I had big plans for this blog it was one of many things that I have put on the back burner. My goal was to write a weekly blog post on how to become a better writer and in true writer form I became distracted and eventually abandoned this project. However, I've returned and still have several pieces for this blog in various stages of development to share. I started out by looking at some basic questions I have been asked through the years when it comes to writing. I have plenty more in the oven but also some more complicated ones and some that cover aspects of just being an author. I enjoy writing these posts as it gives me some time to reflect but also share my thoughts with the world without feeling like I am giving anyone unsolicited advice. My thoughts shared here are merely my opinion (with some facts sprinkled in) and things may work out for you in other ways. What have I been up to since July of last year? Early in 2024 I was excited about the ...
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How do you create a good character?

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Y ou might have the best story in mind and already know what the main character Is going to accomplish within it, but who is the main character and what will make them appealing to your readers? A book might form through an interesting plot where you need to build a character to put into it or it might form around a character that you have in mind that you need to build the plot around. Either way your character needs more depth than just their actions and outcome, but where do we start?   Your characters must be complex enough to carry the plot through action and dialogue but be able to influence the reader in just a few thousand words that describe them and what they are doing. My first piece of advice is don’t overthink creating one. They don’t have to be a perfect fit for the role and creating uncertainty in a plot certainly adds to the drama. Try to avoid creating a stereotype character for the plot whether they are the main or supporting characters. Also avoid creating a char...
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Is a personal brand important for an author?

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 A buzzword in the business world is that of a personal brand. When we think of a brand, we think of a product that we know and we either trust or don’t trust. Maybe that brand has a unique taste or works really well at what it’s supposed to do compared to others in the same market. Whatever the case, that brand stands out. A personal brand is the same thing. In business a person stands out from others by their work ethic, their ability to make sales, connect with customers or clients, always be early to work, be enthusiastic, or other traits that help the company or fill out that person’s resume.  For authors, a personal brand is the same thing. There are about 40,000 books published yearly and while a saying goes “don’t judge a book by its cover” for things other than books I’m sure many are sold on the title and imagery alone. However, if an author wants to make a name for themselves, they must stand out from all the others. Yes, this could be accomplished by their work, b...
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What are the pros and cons of self-publishing versus traditional publishing?

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 M y seventh self-published book (and eighth overall) is just about to go into global distribution and marks my first published novel. My first six books were non-fiction, and I was fortunate to be a part of an anthology with a short story published in the fall of 2023 by a small publishing company. My latest effort was marketed to literary agents as well as to a few small publishing houses with a little interest but not enough to push the book into the traditional route of publishing. My patience diminished and having the knowledge of the self-publishing route led me back to Lulu Press which is where I had published all my non-fiction works. Having already weighed many options I’ll share my thoughts about the pros and cons of self-publishing versus the traditional method. Every author dreams of having their book published by the big five, doing interviews on podcasts, book signings at bookstores and libraries, and of course collecting royalties on book sales and that Netflix serie...
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Is there a specific order a plot must flow in fiction?

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 T he short answer to this question is yes, but also no. For your story to flow traditionally and entertain your reader it should generally follow the traditional method that is known as the Freytag Pyramid. It may sound rigid, but this flow of parts is used in nearly every book, movie, and television show and once you begin to relate this to media you know it will become clear that this is the expectation of readers. That being said, there is no hard rule that says you can’t move this around or even throw it out the window completely. It’s worth noting that in viewing this graphic that the lines representing the parts of the pyramid are not to scale with how long the parts of the plot should be. Some aspects might vary from story to story, and you shouldn’t view the Freytag Pyramid as a rigid structure that you are bound by with your plot.  The first part of the pyramid is the exposition . This is where we are introduced to the story, characters, setting, and begin to see how...
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