Under Cover

     I n high school I was not a fan of English class. It seemed that we spent an eternity talking about Shakespeare and a bunch of books that I really wasn’t interested in that we talked way too much about. When I went to college I was happy to write research papers and the deeper I got the more I fell in love with research and writing. While my goal as a kid was to write teleplays and screenplays my teens brought the dream of writing a novel. I had started a novel that would be abandoned repeatedly, but life led me to a path of writing nonfiction.      School and work brought questions of local folklore and urban legends which I began to research and practice writing papers about. I eventually shared some of my work to help a friend learn how to write research papers and after a while people viewed me as someone who knew about these stories. This led to a ghost group where I immersed myself in over 130 years’ worth of research and created handbooks for my...

Y ou’ve finally sat down at your computer and are ready to write the big novel. As you stare at the blinking cursor trying to figure out where to start a question pops into your head. Should I try to write this book in one take or push through with an initial draft? Writing a book is a process. There is preparation, possibly outlining some chapters, sometimes outlining the plot, writing bios on characters, determining the setting, research on various topics, and so much more. Even after the last period is typed and you celebrate there is still a lot of work ahead. There are dozens of books on the market on “how to write a book” and each one is a little or vastly different than the last. While some claim to be the best way or the right way the reality is there is no one clearcut method for all authors to create their book. Admittedly, I got caught up in thinking that I had to follow one of these methods and I became so frustrated I abandoned writing for quite a while. The reality is...

W ord count is the almighty criteria by which any book will be deemed finished or worthy of publishing by an agent or book company. At least that’s what a lot of writers think. The word count criteria is important, but it’s not a strict defined limit as either too few or too many words as many seem to understand it. Word count is a bit more critical for a first-time author to a publishing company than the cagy veteran since word count is the quickest way of gauging the understanding of the writing process and coming within a range shows that your manuscript may have the right ingredients to bake a nice soft batch of cookies. Now I’m hungry. What if I’m going to self-publish? If you self-publish you don’t have to live under the fear of rejection due to a book that is too short or long. However, be mindful that word count guidelines exist for a reason. Readers have an expectation of length based on the genre of book they are interested in. Word count guidelines have come through ge...

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...

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...

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 ...