Monthly Archives: May 2017

A Conversation About Dialog

Posted on May 29, 2017 by joshlangston

What is it that makes one novel better than another? What facets of the craft elevate a story from pro forma to profound? The first two are absurdly easy to pinpoint: great characters and intriguing plots. In addition to clear … Continue reading →

Posted in novel writing, Writing | Tagged , , , , , , | 2 Comments

A Word About Mechanics

Posted on May 21, 2017 by joshlangston

I’m talking about writing mechanics, not the folks who keep our cars running. (That’s a whole different breed of magic about which I’m not qualified to comment.) Of all the many things a novice writer can do to improve his … Continue reading →

Posted in editing, novel writing, Writing | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | 10 Comments

The Scoop on the Scouts

Posted on May 14, 2017 by joshlangston

Sorry, this isn’t about kid scouting. It’s about horn-blowing. My own, actually. And something called Kindle Scout. And my new book. More about that anon. One of the hardest things for independent authors to do is self-promote. Doing it well … Continue reading →

Posted in novel writing, Writing | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | 8 Comments

Trust Your Readers!

Posted on May 7, 2017 by joshlangston

After all, they trusted you enough to buy your book. Let’s back up a step or two. Just who are these people who took a chance on your ability to string nouns and verbs together in an entertaining fashion? Where … Continue reading →

Posted in Memoir, novel writing, Writing | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , | 6 Comments