Perspective is one of the most commonly overlooked skills we authors can build, and the stronger the skill, the better the stories. Whether we write in first-person, third-person, third shifting, third close, it really doesn’t matter if the character is not believable. We’ve already discussed how POV (point of view) shapes a story and how …
Oct 22 2026
Writing Water Wings: 5 Habits that Betray a Lack of Mastery
In the modern age when everyone can use AI to produce at least passable work, mastery is more critical than it’s ever been. AI has largely eradicated typos and poor grammar that used to signal inexperience which has some benefits. Those who struggle with spelling or grammar aren’t as far behind the Eight Ball as …
Oct 15 2026
Human Resources: When Did Humans Become Raw Materials?
Human resources. It’s such a ubiquitous term I’d never really thought about it—I mean really thought about it—until recently. As writers, we of all people, understand the power of words. How something noble or kind can be twisted. Yet, ponder the term for a moment and maybe what it’s come to entail. Human resources. First, …
Oct 09 2026
AI Scammers Are Making Publishing Scams Scarily Convincing
AI scammers are getting good. I mean scary good. The only thing that saved my bacon was a heavy dose of pessimism and KNOWING the BUSINESS of the PUBLISHING BUSINESS. When I say these scams are terrifyingly good? I do not say this lightly. Yes, I’ve been a writer for years, just also a writer …















Oct 20 2026
FEAR: Why Humans STILL Crave Stories That Scare US
Fear is, in all likelihood, the single most complex human emotion. Our fears can keep us up at night, but they can also be the only thing that keeps us alive. They can save us, strangle us, liberate us or even destroy us. Like fire, fear can be intoxicating and even addictive and for sound …
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