I opened a life bank account about a year ago to help keep me productive. What’s a life bank account? Well, it’s like a regular account, only instead of dollars, I have hours. Or minutes. Sometimes seconds. Regardless, each day, I start fresh with twelve hours in my life bank account. It’s up to me … Read More
Guest post by Melinda VanLone, author of the House of Xannon seriesI’ve attended a lot of conferences over the past several years. Everything from RWA to ThrillerFest, from DragonCon to Cruising Writers. I’ve learned something from all of them, but the one I found most inspiring, with the most return on my investment, was Cruising Writers.Why? Three … Read More
Muses are probably the most cursed beings to ever exist. When they visit, they bring with them the highest of highs…creative power. Artists, writers, and philosophers have long praised the muse.And cursed her when she left. I wish I could write easily. I’m one of those guys who’s visited by the muse when things are … Read More
When I took the inaugural Cruising Writers trip in December 2015 on my very first writing cruise, I hadn’t been clubbing in a gazillion years—give or take a few. But when we had the chance to go dancing one night, several of us cruising writers stepped into the nightclub and took the dance floor, strutting … Read More
Writers are solitary creatures. We’re mythical beasts that live in caves and produce magic from our fingertips that influence everyone in the world, no exceptions. A writer is the most powerful creature to exist in the universe. But even such powerful beings need food and drink and yes, occasionally some company.A writer’s food and drink are not … Read More
The Unscheduled Value of a Retreat I’ve been to multiple industry conferences. I’ve attended more writing workshops than I have fingers and toes. I’ve participated in and hosted five-day long writing intensives in my home. And if I could place a price tag on each individual experience, the highest valued item would go to… Other … Read More
Need to research that ghost ship book you’re working on? How about scuba diving in Grand Cayman to a shipwreck? Georgetown, Grand Cayman offers many scuba diving opportunities. Take a class on board the ship, get certified, and go on an excursion to the bottom of the sea!
Cruise. Network. Pitch. Learn! The first two days on the cruise are big learning opportunities. We’ll dig deep into four topics: The EDITS System: The Ultimate Fix-Your-Scene Power Tool Writing Fresh Body Language and Dialogue Cues Top 20 Rhetorical Devices for Fiction Writers Not Your Mama’s Character Descriptions If you’re an Immersion Master Class grad, … Read More
What is your favorite part about the agent client relationship?The best part, for me, is the collaborative effort to create the best story possible. I’m a very hands-on, editorial agent. That means my clients and I establish some incredible camaraderie as we work on our common goals—putting their work in front of editors who will … Read More
What is your favorite part about the writing process? There is absolutely nothing better to me than the blank page. I know, I know—most writers I write with believe the blank page is the worst, that it’s the starting point that leaves them stumped. I’m the absolute opposite. When I sit down to write, the … Read More
