The Author Guy Blog

25th February 2025 Hello out there, Welcome back. My life as a writer and novelist is truly a journey, not a destination, and I have so much to learn and will continue learning as long as I metaphorically put pen to paper. I was a broadcast journalism (radio and television) major for my undergraduate degree, but I’ve had no formal training as a writer or novelist. I do attend an occasional writer’s conference (they’re fewer opportunities since Covid) and listen to as many novelist speak in public as possible. I take notes, either mental or written, and then transcribe them into a Word document I’ve labeled Write Right. It’s my self-created, ever-evolving MFA (Master of Fine Arts) syllabus. I also have a robust, self-explanatory Word file labeled Words and Phrases to which I refer to constantly when I write, especially to provide more vivid narrative and avoid descriptive repetitions of such things as facial expressions, eye movements and body language. In both books and magazines (my...

12th April 2024 Hello out there, Welcome back. We’ve all likely heard the adage it takes at least 10,000 hours of applied effort to master something new. I recall reading Tiger Woods had practiced and played more than 10,000 of golf before he became a teenager. Well, for me, I long ago passed the 10,000 hours invested in all aspects of fiction writing and I feel as if I’m still in kindergarten. This despite receiving highly-regarded award-winning recognition in three international competitions. For decades I considered myself a very accomplished business writer (I have a degree in journalism), but I simply had no idea the number of moving parts inherent in the craft of fiction writing. Many authors begin their journey by achieving or attempting a MFA (Master of Fine Arts) degree or attend numerous author-focused seminars, either in-person or online. I’ve done some of that, no doubt far less than I should have, and together with independent study and research I’ve crafted my own MFA cou...