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    Writers on Writing Vol.1: Writers on Writing, #1
    Writers on Writing Vol.1: Writers on Writing, #1
    Writers on Writing Vol.1: Writers on Writing, #1
    Ebook100 pages

    Writers on Writing Vol.1: Writers on Writing, #1

    By Brian Hodge, Monique Snyman, Kevin Lucia and

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    About this ebook

    Learn the craft of writing from those who know it best. 

    This is Writers On Writing – An Author's Guide, where your favorite authors share their secrets in the ultimate guide to becoming – and being – an author. 

    In this first volume you'll find in-depth essays from authors such as Jack Ketchum, Brian Hodge, Mercedes M. Yardley, Tim Waggoner, Jasper Bark, Kevin Lucia, Monique Snyman, Todd Keisling, and Dave-Brendon de Burgh. Edited by Joe Mynhardt. 

    "The Infrastructure of the Gods: 11 Signposts for Going all the Way" by Brian Hodge 
    "The Writer's Purgatory: Between Finishing the First Draft and Submitting the Manuscript" by Monique Snyman 
    "Why Rejection is Still Important" by Kevin Lucia 
    "Real Writers Steal Time" by Mercedes M. Yardley 
    "What Right Do I Have to Write" by Jasper Bark 
    "Go Pace Yourself" by Jack Ketchum 
    "A Little Infusion of Magic" by Dave-Brendon de Burgh 
    "Never Look Away: Confronting Your Fears in Fiction" by Todd Keisling 
    "Once More With Feeling" by Tim Waggoner 

    Are you ready to be an author? 

    LanguageEnglish
    PublisherCrystal Lake Publishing
    Release dateAug 8, 2015
    ISBN9780994662699
    Writers on Writing Vol.1: Writers on Writing, #1

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      Book preview

      Writers on Writing Vol.1 - Brian Hodge

      Copyright 2015 Crystal Lake Publishing

      Join the Crystal Lake community today

      on our newsletter and Patreon!

      Download our latest catalog here.

      All Rights Reserved

      Cover art:

      Ben Baldwin—www.benbaldwin.co.uk

      Layout:

      Lori Michelle—www.theauthorsalley.com

      Proofread By:

      Paula Limbaugh

      Nancy Scuri

      Robert Teun

      No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means, without the prior permission in writing of the publisher, nor be otherwise circulated in any form of binding or cover than that in which it is published and without a similar condition including this condition being imposed on the subsequent purchaser.

      COPYRIGHT ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

      The Infrastructure of the Gods: 11 Signposts for Going all the Way copyright © 2015 by Brian Hodge

      The Writer’s Purgatory: Between Finishing the First Draft and Submitting the Manuscript copyright © 2015 by Monique Snyman

      Why Rejection is Still Important copyright © 2015 by Kevin Lucia

      Real Writers Steal Time copyright © 2015 by Mercedes M. Yardley

      What Right Do I Have to Write copyright © 2015 by Jasper Bark

      Go Pace Yourself copyright © 2015 by Jack Ketchum

      A Little Infusion of Magic copyright © 2015 by Dave-Brendon de Burgh

      Never Look Away: Confronting Your Fears in Fiction copyright © 2015 by Todd Keisling

      Once More With Feeling copyright © 2015 by Tim Waggoner

      TABLE OF CONTENTS

      INTRODUCTION

      Joe Mynhardt

      THE INFRASTRUCTURE OF THE GODS:

      11 Signposts for Going all the Way

      Brian Hodge

      THE WRITER’S PURGATORY:

      Between Finishing the First Draft and Submitting the Manuscript

      Monique Snyman

      WHY REJECTION IS STILL IMPORTANT

      Kevin Lucia

      REAL WRITERS STEAL TIME

      Mercedes M. Yardley

      WHAT RIGHT DO I HAVE TO WRITE?

      Jasper Bark

      GO PACE YOURSELF

      Jack Ketchum

      A LITTLE INFUSION OF MAGIC

      Dave-Brendon de Burgh

      NEVER LOOK AWAY:

      Confronting Your Fears in Fiction

      Todd Keisling

      ONCE MORE, WITH FEELING

      Tim Waggoner

      INTRODUCTION

      Joe Mynhardt

      Welcome to the very first of what will certainly be a long running series of informative eBooks.

      With your support, Crystal Lake Publishing will continue to do what we love most: guide new and up-and-coming authors, pay our contributing authors what they deserve, and entertain our readers. Every step we take forward needs to be a step forward for everyone involved.

      In this volume you will find essays for absolute newbies with no idea where to begin, to well on their way authors.

      Future volumes will include essays on everything from writing techniques to publishing tips, marketing, networking, media, physical events like book signings and conventions, branding, psychological barriers, writer’s block, the writer’s life, and much, much more.

      And since progression in your career lies ahead, let’s not waste any more time . . .

      Joe Mynhardt

      Publisher & Editor

      Crystal Lake Publishing

      THE INFRASTRUCTURE OF THE GODS:

      11 Signposts for Going all the Way

      Brian Hodge

      If you’re going to try, go all the way. Otherwise don’t even start.—Charles Bukowski

      It’s never been easier to call yourself a published writer. All it takes is one working finger. Lose the other nine and you’re still good, as long as you have that last digit to click the publish button. And there you go. Victory dance. Technically, you’re published. If that’s all you wanted, mission accomplished.

      Oh. So you want more.

      Readers, then—do you have those? How about raving fans waiting for your next release? Do you have editors and publishers asking to work with you?

      If that’s your vision, then you’re in this for the long haul. You want to go all the way. It doesn’t matter if you’re inclined toward self-releasing, traditional publication, or a hybrid of the two. It doesn’t matter whether you have your eye on the small press or the major houses or both. Getting anywhere is an epic journey, slow and uphill and demanding so much work and commitment it makes an ironman triathlon seem like a warm-up. It never ends. You never stop learning. Some days you’ll want to quit.

      You don’t blunder your way through the long haul. Navigating it requires relying on what I think of as your personal infrastructure: a framework of good habits, work ethics, mindsets, and codes of conduct, that helps you leverage small steps into big leaps without letting yourself derail too badly in the process. And when you do derail, your infrastructure makes it that much easier to reorient and resume.

      You see it all the time: people claiming they want to accomplish something, then going about it as if their top priority is to sabotage themselves at every turn. They seem to have never examined what they insist they want to do, and figured out the best way to make it happen. What to do, what to avoid, how to keep from quitting when it gets hard? Not a clue.

      If you’re serious about this writing path, here are some of the most vital things to focus on. Some I’ve learned on my own. Some came from observing the successful and catastrophic examples of others.

      It’s not the alpha and omega of advice. Nothing ever can be.

      But it’s a start.

      (1) The Most Important Word You Can Tattoo On Your Brain

      If a van were to screech up beside me and six commandos jumped out, yanked a black hood over my

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