Recording Audiobooks

I make my living with my voice. It’s not the way I would have thought things would turn out, but it’s true. I spend 40 hours a week talking to people. I’ve been doing it longer than I ever thought I would, and even though I’m not always thrilled about it, I have to sayContinue reading “Recording Audiobooks”

Q is for Mr. Quarles – An Ode To My Favorite Teacher

In 1986, my parents decided to move from Riverside, CA (an hour east of Los Angeles) to Hesperia, CA (a desert town an hour and a half northeast of Los Angeles). Technically, we were moving from a bigger city to a smaller city, but in terms of my schooling it was quite the opposite. InContinue reading “Q is for Mr. Quarles – An Ode To My Favorite Teacher”

Publication and Promotion

Here we go again…the topic of publication and self-publication. I started the blog so sure I was going to self-publish, it’s not even funny. Then I reconsidered. Then I reconsidered again. And again. Now I’m just as undecided as I ever was. It’s not the “stigma” some people put on self-publication that bothers me. IContinue reading “Publication and Promotion”

N is for No Boundaries

As I’ve mentioned before, my tastes tend to run toward the dark and demented. Be it books, movies, music or art, the stranger and darker it is, the more I like it. The two novellas I’m revising are not full on horror, but they both have some twisted elements to them. The novel I’m writingContinue reading “N is for No Boundaries”

Morphine – My Appreciation Of A Criminally Under-appreciated Band

  I still remember the first time I heard Morphine. It was the summer of 1998. My girlfriend put on their CD, Like Swimming. It instantly grabbed my attention, and never let go. I was stunned by it. I play guitar, and found myself fascinated by this power trio that didn’t even have a guitarist.Continue reading “Morphine – My Appreciation Of A Criminally Under-appreciated Band”

Lying To The Audience – Use Of The Unreliable Narrator

As I was thinking about a future project the other day, I began to consider having the story told by an unreliable narrator. Not necessarily in a huge, plot-twisting, Fight Club sort of way, but definitely to mislead the  reader somewhat. I’m hesitant, though, because it’s a tricky thing to pull off. But when it’sContinue reading “Lying To The Audience – Use Of The Unreliable Narrator”

Killing Characters and Playing God

In writing the two novellas I’ve finished rough drafts for, I noticed something interesting: I barely wanted any characters to survive. I’ve had to show restraint because I want to kill off nearly every character I create. A couple of them were untouchable, but I would still briefly consider offing them anyway. I think someContinue reading “Killing Characters and Playing God”

Just Keep Writing – Something For The Other Writing Noobs

There was a time, about 6 or 8 months ago, when I had finished the rough draft of my first (well, technically second, but who’s counting?) novella, and I didn’t know what to do next.  I had revised it a few times right off the bat, but I knew I couldn’t just keep reading itContinue reading “Just Keep Writing – Something For The Other Writing Noobs”

Improvisation – Writing Off The Cuff

Quick wit is a good thing to have. The ability to think on your feet can come in very handy, impress people, and can get you out of some sticky situations. What I’m focusing on, though, is improv as it pertains to writing. When I’m thinking of a new story, I try to plot itContinue reading “Improvisation – Writing Off The Cuff”