Tag: writing

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Bringing History to Life

Hi Jim, Congrats on the new Novel! So I was wondering about historical characters. You mentioned that much of your work is historical fiction and I’m currently working on a story like that myself. I was wondering what difficulties you faced, if any, when you used a historical figure as a character in your writing? Many thanks, Liam. Hi Liam, Great question, and honestly … Read More Bringing History to Life

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Grammar in Dialogue?

Hi Jim, I’ve been working on my story for a while and it takes me through a lot of dialogue along the way. I’m trying to write a modern story with slang and lingo that people today understand. However my spellcheck picks it up and gives me the ‘correct’ recommendations. I don’t want my writing to sound unprofessional, but I don’t want my characters … Read More Grammar in Dialogue?

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NEW BOOK ANNOUNCEMENT!!

Hello everyone! I am back from my brief sabbatical and am happy to announce that things are up and running again. First, let me say that I am absolutely flattered by all the positive feedback Damnation has been getting and would PLEASE urge you to leave a review on either Amazon or Barnes and Noble. It really would help to spread the word! On … Read More NEW BOOK ANNOUNCEMENT!!

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Damnation… Released!

This is a bittersweet moment for me. Up until now, General Xaphan and the entire cast of Damnation were all my own. They were characters that I created, gave personalities, and assembled into their story… but no longer. Now they are yours to go on an adventure with. After years of bleeding and sweating over creating and improving them, I have finally decided to let … Read More Damnation… Released!

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Stand Your Ground!

Damnation is upon us!!! One more day until release…. Synopsis A soldier fighting a hopeless war, a broken angel torn between three worlds, and the fate of a nation hanging in the balance. Piero Lorenzi was used to danger. He’d been a soldier since was old enough to handle a sword, but nothing could have prepared him for the journey to come. As the army … Read More Stand Your Ground!

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When to start?

“Hi Jim, I’ve had a lot of ideas flying around lately, but not all of them are that great. Often times I find myself writing out some of my ideas only to almost immediately hit a road block. Then when I look over it again, I don’t know what I was thinking when I started writing. I don’t know how those thoughts could have … Read More When to start?

Writing Kids and Teens… The Epic Fail!

Okay I see this in both movie and book form, but I’m going to cover some of the more egregious examples. Why is it so difficult to write kids and teens? In many of the movies or stories we see, kids are well behaved, tiny adults… or even worse. You see this a lot in bad comedies or really weird stories. Perhaps the most standout … Read More Writing Kids and Teens… The Epic Fail!

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Magnifica 4: Dark Redeption vs. Taryn

So for the most part, my reader base is used to me giving them answers to their queries about various topics in literature… or hearing me ramble on about whatever topic I can branch from my writing. Well… today I wanted to do something different. I have two separate stories that I’ve been working on and am considering as the sequel to my first … Read More Magnifica 4: Dark Redeption vs. Taryn

Forced Regret?

So I wanted to go over something that has always kind of irked me a little. I covered it in a few of my stories, but I feel the need to go over it in a little more detail. I know we’ve all had this person in our lives at one point… Someone from our past comes back to haunt us and basically brings … Read More Forced Regret?

This Above All…

“Hi Jim, You’ve given out a lot of advice on your blog about writing and I was just wondering… do you have any piece of advice you would give to a writer? For example, if someone came up to you and told you that they are going to start writing a book, what advice would you give them right off without them asking? Thanks, … Read More This Above All…

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Tasteful vs. Smut-peddling

“Hi Jim, I’m in the middle of writing a fantasy novel. In my book, two of my main characters fall in love. I noticed in Magnifica that your main characters wind up having sex. I don’t want my story turning into sex-novel, which it looks like it’s starting to. When you wrote yours, how did you limit yourself? What made you stop when you … Read More Tasteful vs. Smut-peddling

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Self Publishing, good or bad?

“Good day, I have already finished a novel and decided to post my second novel on a blog and give people something to read while I decide on publishing. My question for you is do I self publish my book or try and find a literary agent. I have sent my work out to a few but I am slightly impatient and want to … Read More Self Publishing, good or bad?