#amreading Matt Ruff
D. H. McKee May 16, 2016
When Lovecraft’s monsters weren’t as bad as 1950s racism, that says a lot.
Latest Post
39 Tips from Thriller Authors
D. H. McKee Apr 20, 2016
This is a good read, if only because it’s a lot of information from a lot of authors, and you’re bound to find one or two nuggets of educational gold. The following tip is great for me, since I’ve been sending out a lot of queries recently, and in each case, they expect something a […]
An essay on the dark arts of book editing
D. H. McKee Apr 17, 2016
Sometimes an editor’s job is a crap job. Mainstream publishers can, frankly, be a bit crap. One sent me a travel manuscript to edit and three days later rang to ask, “Is it any good?” She hadn’t read it. But there was a publishing date with publicist and advertising booked, so it was published even […]
Simple Ways to Get Responses to Your Queries
D. H. McKee Apr 05, 2016
Here’s some advice to give your queries an edge. One thing I’d add to this list is that you should always adhere to the query guidelines. If the agent asks you to use specific wording in your subject line, pay close attention. As one who parses a lot of emails in lists, I like to […]
The Top 10 Resources for Self-Publishing Authors | Mark my Words
D. H. McKee Apr 04, 2016
Some good resources for writers from Mark Tilbury. I’ll be going through this list when I get a chance. #amediting Self-publishing authors have a fair bit to do: Write, edit and format books, design covers, learn how to use Kindle Direct Publishing (and other publishing outlets) and explore how to best make use of social […]
When Your Writing Is Crap
D. H. McKee Apr 04, 2016
I feel for this guy. I’ve been there. This is the third time it has happened to me, and it prompted me to think about the reasons why it happens. Lack of motivation, a poor idea, weak characters or simply a lousy plot are probably common elements, but these can usually be fixed in one […]
10 Great Ways to Promote Yourself As An Author
D. H. McKee Mar 31, 2016
Some good stuff to put on your author checklist, including the obvious one: don’t be a jerk on social media. Be active in Social Media Social media is effective because you can have a conversation with the readers of your books. Join readers groups, writers groups, and book clubs, in social media and interact with […]
Coffee and Editing
D. H. McKee Mar 21, 2016
Getting some coffee and doing a little editing before working on my regular writing.
Morning Cup of Coffee
D. H. McKee Mar 04, 2016
It’s been a long time since I’ve posted a picture of my coffee cup. Well, the long wait is over! It’s Friday, and I’m getting in a few hours of writing. I’m working on my second novel, trying to get all the parts to fit together. It’s about 10,000 words away from first draft. Not […]