After my fourth serious trial, I’m calling it: for me, dictation is dead—at least for now. The modest bump in words per hour just doesn’t outweigh the tech friction, location lock-in, and editing overhead. If dictation plus clean-up time gets you more net words than typing, go for it. But if you’re already a clean, fast typist, the numbers might tell you to stick with your keyboard.
The Artisan Author movement is gaining momentum—and for good reason. Writers are burning out chasing algorithms and churning out books to appease invisible markets. But here’s the catch: slowing down your writing isn’t the solution for everyone. For some of us, our best, most joyful pace is fast. Not frantic. Not desperate. Just flow. The key isn’t to slow down. It’s to find your best pace—and protect it fiercely.
The Artisan Author Movement and the Myth of Slowing Down Read More »
At its heart, this book offers a liberating proposal: don’t play the game as it’s currently defined. Walk away from algorithm worship, punishing release schedules, and the grind of selling at 99 cents to churn-hungry subscription readers. Instead, write what you want to write, at the pace that suits you, and charge a fair price for your work.
Review of The Artisan Author by Johnny B. Truant Read More »
There’s a question that haunts a lot of indie fiction writers, particularly after the third burned-out book in a series they don’t even want to read anymore:
Your Genre is Killing You — Here’s How to Break Up With It Read More »
I haven’t posted here in a couple of weeks, and there’s a good reason for that. Actually, there are several.
Why Resets Are a Necessary Part of Your Writing Schedule Read More »
Ah yes, that question. “Why do you write?”
It’s one of those that gets asked a lot—especially in writing forums, interviews, and on the back covers of literary memoirs, usually printed in italics for some reason. It can feel a bit… woo-woo. As if the answer should be sacred and profound. (“Because the Muse demands it, obviously.”)
But the truth? Your “why” is probably a lot more practical, changeable, and occasionally downright grubby than the question makes it sound.
Recently, I was forced to replace my laptop. Not because of a catastrophic hardware failure, or because it fell into a vat of coffee (although, give it time). No—because the space bar stopped working. Yes, the space bar. That humble, workhorse of a key. Turns out, if you can’t make spaces, you can’t make anything
Turn Off Editing and Spelling While You Type. And Why. Read More »
Ever feel like a fraud? Like you’re just pretending to be a writer until someone finds out you’re not legit? Or maybe you keep calling yourself lazy, undisciplined, or “just not that good.” Yeah. You’re not alone. Here’s a truth bomb pulled straight from a scribbled note in a notebook (and probably from half a
Change Your Narrative, Change Your Writing Life Read More »
I’ve spent the last couple of posts being pretty firm about the importance of doing the work. In Hauling the Bricks and The Indie Author’s Scam Survival Guide, we talked about how there’s no magic shortcut—just putting in the effort, day after day, is what gets you there. But let’s take a moment to step
Writing a Lot Isn’t Intimidating—It’s Just Math Read More »
Indie publishing is booming, which means writers have more control over their careers than ever before. But with opportunity comes risk—and scammers are circling like sharks in a feeding frenzy.
Every year, new scams pop up, often just repackaged versions of old ones, designed to prey on authors who are still figuring out the publishing game. Because while anyone can write a book, successfully publishing and selling one is much harder. That gap—between the dream and the reality—is where the scammers strike.
The Indie Author’s Scam Survival Guide: How to Spot, Avoid, and Outsmart the Predators Read More »
