Category Archives: education

Let It a Suck Series: Joyce Carol Oates and Running Through Your Story Revisited

Continuing a re-share of some earlier blogs that fit the “Let It Suck” Series, here’s some great advise for writing and planning. Years ago, I attended the South Hampton Writers Conference, and one of the best speakers there was Joyce … Continue reading

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Let It Suck Series: Pacing 

Pacing is a tricky thing. And like every other element of writing I say let it suck, at first, but with a catch. Addressing pacing is kind of like playing along with music- you probably can’t get away with slapping … Continue reading

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Let It Suck Series:  Covers Get Rewrites Too

We’ve been talking about leaping into writing your story and not worrying. Just getting the story onto the page or screen is a huge accomplishment, makes the rewrite process a joy. Or at least easier. Same goes for covers. I … Continue reading

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Let It Suck Series: To Write Better Dialogue, Listen to Craig Ferguson (revisited)

Pulling some of my previous blogs into the “let it suck” series. This one borrows simple advice from a great comedian to help you with character dialogue. Here we go: Every fiction author wants to write great dialogue. While there … Continue reading

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Let It Suck Series: What Would Your Character Do?

We’ve agreed to “let it suck” on first draft, yes? Just let it rip with the writing and get a draft completed. And we’ve been discussing ways to find and refine your work during rewrite.  Now let’s let the character … Continue reading

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Creativity Worth Talking About

For those of you who have enjoyed my blog posts about writing and creativity, this new show may be perfect for you: https://youtu.be/HyNRNm6fx3s    </ Ryan is author of City of Woe, available on Kindle and in print. For more info, click here.<

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Schooling Myself: Podcasts as Independent Study

I have been getting progressively more serious about independent publishing as a career. I was a journalist a lifetime ago, then a teacher (still am) who wrote on the side (some comics, screenplays, short stories), and now that is flipping. … Continue reading

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10 Steps for Organically Inserting a Character

I am heavily into production mode these days, rewriting no less than four new projects – CITY OF PAIN, the apparently long-awaited sequel to CITY OF SIN and CITY OF WOE, two YA novels, GENIUS HIGH and PERFECT, and a … Continue reading

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Charlie Hebdo and the Creator’s Work

Terrorists shot up the offices of French satirical newspaper Charlie Hebdo today, killing 12 and wounding five others. Allegedly the massacre was a direct result of the paper satirizing Mohammed. But Charlie Hebdo had been satirizing religions and governments and … Continue reading

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Favorite Joke, ever

I participated in the last of the holiday get-togethers this evening. Talk about holding on. And I was reminded of a great moment in my life. The moment involved my all-time favorite joke. What’s the joke? Not yet. The reason … Continue reading

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