"Well Aren't You Just The World Traveler"

Seattle's Olympic Sculpture Park.

In January we took a celebratory trip to Maui, HI, for finally selling our home and becoming debt-free. My wife took a trip to Florida for a business convention, and we both just returned from a two-week visit to the west coast.

When people from a tiny rural part of the northeast (like us) go anywhere, they'll get bombarded upon their return with the phrase, "Well aren't you just the world traveler!" Because to go anywhere when you're home town is very, very pathetically small makes you a "big deal." Apparently.

Travel has been enlightening for my writing. Every time I visit some place new I get a different perspective on things. While we were in Oregon I kept looking around at nature and saying, "I need to figure out what kind of trees these are because this is just what I imagine the kingdom of Tay to look like!" It drove my wife nuts.

175 feet up in Seattle's famous ferris wheel. 

Dutch Bros. coffee!

Nothing grabbed my heart more than the coffee though. Up and down the west coast there are these little drive-through coffee stands called Dutch Bros. And they. Are. Amazing! My wife doesn't drink coffee, but even she was hooked on Dutch Bros. by the time we left.

We have tentative plans to visit California next month, and possibly Tennessee in July because, hey, when you become a "big deal" there's no stopping you!

Make Your Goals Specific And Measurable... Like Batman!

Batman is the quintessential problem solver. Since his inception in 1939 he has always been, first and foremost, a detective. A costumed Sherlock Holmes. More than his martial arts skills, his money, or his gadgets, Batman's intellect has always proven to be his most valuable asset.

Though the movies have often failed to demonstrate this aspect of the Caped Crusader, there's a great scene in "The Dark Knight Rises" that shows Batman's intellect and how victory can be achieved when you first break down your problems and tackle them one step at a time.

First, you've got to understand, that in "The Dark Knight Rises" Batman had spent the majority of the movie getting beaten to a pulp. He had grown too cocky, over-confident, and had lost his edge. As a result, when he finally comes face-to-face with the physically superior villain Bane, Batman gets pulverized and tossed into a third world dungeon with a busted back.

As his body heals, Batman considers what he did wrong, and when he finally returns to Gotham City he approaches Bane like a surgeon, dissecting the threat before they come to blows. First, he recruits some allies. Then he gathers his equipment. Then he spreads hope to the citizens of Gotham and fear to the bad guys. Finally, after months of planning, Batman springs his trap and defeats the antagonist.

With a little planning, determination, and some allies, nothing is impossible to overcome.

• Don't try to tackle your problems all at the same time. I find if I think of writing and editing and marketing and networking and plotting and characters and printing and... Sigh. It gets overwhelming. So every now and then I break down my priorities.


• As Batman so clearly demonstrates in "The Dark Knight Rises," your goals must be specific and measurable. When he returned to Gotham City to face Bane again, he had a detailed plan. It's an example of the obvious—if your goals are too vague they are just dreams. My wife turned my onto the idea of a "power hour." Every day for one hour I have a list of things I need to accomplish related to my writing: check Facebook, upload/download content, check-in with crit group, network, etc. If I don't have a plan, I forget, and the work doesn't get done.


• Long-term thinkers are the ones who win. Batman knew that defeating Bane was essential to the survival of Gotham City. His plan took months to form, but it was for a far-reaching purpose. Today's culture doesn't think like this. We're all about immediacy and convenience, and rarely do we think beyond our needs for the day, week, or maybe even the month. But when we keep our eyes on the future instead of our immediate circumstances, the possibility of reaching our goals becomes more and more inevitable.

You may find yourself beaten at times, overwhelmed by writer's block or a discouraging review. You may find that there are some Banes out there who are going to catch you off guard, knock you down, and thwart all of your efforts, but you can't let your circumstances overwhelm you.

The Dilemma Of My Ballooning Word Count

At roughly three quarters of the way through my first draft of Where Evil Abides, book one in my upcoming fantasy series Children of the Falls, I did a word count—169,000 words. Yikes!

On my bucket list of things to accomplish with this book, reaching 200,000 words was one of them, but with many chapters still to go I'm kind of in freak out mode right now because this book is sure to be much longer than that.

Do I forge ahead and hit 250,000 words? By contrast, the first Harry Potter book was about 77,000 words, with the longest book, Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix, 257,000 words. The first edition in George R.R. Martin's A Song of Ice and Fire was almost 298,000 words, with the sequels easily surpassing 300,000.

Staying on this path means continuing with an insane level of detail. On the other hand, I can strip it down, simplify the narrative, cut to the chase, and make a more streamlined story. Less immersive? Absolutely. Better? I don't know yet.

My aim at this point is to punch the last of these chapters and hand my manuscript off to a trusted friend who has agreed to give the story a once over.

Are Your Fellow Writers Today's Editors?

Long ago, in a galaxy of writers far, far away, where editors edited and agents agented, the world of publishing was very different.

Editing is just a small part of what editors actually do these days. If you're submitting your manuscript to a publisher, it's likely being looked over by an editor who is also acting as acquisitions chief, proof-reader, query letter reader, sample chapter checker-outer, and other respectable sounding roles.

The truth is, the world of publishing has changed. The cost of printing books has become expensive. More and more people are using e-readers, and fewer and fewer writers are seeking publishers, with many opting for self-publishing. Big publishing houses no longer have the time/money/resources/manpower to spend lots of time editing manuscripts, especially from unproven authors, which leaves editors looking for stuff that needs a minimal amount of work. They want books they can put on the market asap.

So how does a poor author get the much needed editing he or she deserves?

Increasingly, the advice on writing websites is: other writers. A number of critique websites have popped up over the years, providing authors with just the right perspective they need to polish their work. Granted their manuscripts may still have to pass through a professional editor, but a critique group can help them get their work to a point where an editor may actually take it seriously.

But no number of online critique groups should ever replace the work of a decent editor.

Still, online groups deliver rapid-fire feedback to help pinpoint a problem. The range of responses will sharpen your writing. Some “critters” specialize in grammar and syntax, while others may suggest ways to improve structure. You’ll receive advice on plot, pacing, suspense and characterization. Seasoned writers are usually generous with hints and tips that improve your piece.

Nothing in life is without its drawbacks and online crit groups are no exception. Quality feedback can be spotty. Don't assume that everyone who sounds authoritative knows what he or she is talking about.

Security is always a concern. Though the United States offers strong copyright protection, there's no way to stop someone from plagiarizing or attempting to market your work. On the other hand, crit groups can actually help stop plagiarism because by submitting your piece, you record proof that work went online at a specific time.

What's you take on using critique groups?