Conventions of the Urban-fantasy Genre
With the latest accidental project I need to understand the conventions of the Urban-Fantasy Genre. As if I don’t have […]
Not-so-accidental Tropes
Unplanned, unintended, unhinged; the finished novel is full of not-so-accidental tropes. Welcome to genre fiction.
The Book Finishers Summit 2026
The Book Finishers Summit 2026 is a 5-day virtual event running from June 25–29, 2026. Hosted by Rhonda Douglas of
From Bit-player to Leading Light
When one vignette comes to life, a hack actor goes from bit-player to leading light. And a short story spawns
The Players of Empire
The Players of Empire (short fiction): when their subsidized propaganda plays end, what does a troupe of second-rate actors do
Money, Skill, Joy.
For all of life’s ‘opportunities,’ think of three words; money, skill, joy. Three guides to help decide what to take
Short Fiction List 2026
The Short Fiction List 2026 (updated): some of the short stories posted here on the site.
The Self Publishing Show 2026
The Self publishing Show 2026 delivered another indie author treasure trove. This year the iconic County Hall building on London’s
The Fool Who Longs for Home
In a re-interpretation of the hero’s journey, the true hero is the fool who longs for home. It’s about the
Five tasks on page one
According to writing coach Eva Langston, any novel has to complete five tasks on page one. We can agree those