Author Archives: joshlangston

About joshlangston

Grateful and well-loved husband, happy grandparent, novelist, editor, and teacher. My life plate is full, and I couldn't be happier. Anything else I might add would be anticlimactic. Cheers!

So, just how long does it take to write a novel? (Encore)

The short answer: a while. Please note: this article was originally posted in 2013. It’s very old news, but some of my readers. especially my students, may find it interesting, if not frightening.  I got a note yesterday from the … Continue reading

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Dude! That doesn’t mean what you think it means. Part One (Encore)

One of the many stories floating around social media these days details the content of a text message exchange between a mother and her adult son: Mom: WTF, Bobby. The store’s open! Bobby: Uh, Mom? You do know what that … Continue reading

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It’s Mother’s Day, 2023

So, what’s the big deal about Mother’s Day? What a dumb question. It’s about some of the finest, yet most underrated people on Earth. I’m going to keep this short, because I want to focus my time and energy on … Continue reading

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Thoughts on teaching–a retrospective. (Encore)

I originally posted this about ten years, fifteen books, and many, many classes ago. I believe it’s still relevant and may be of interest. When I first declared myself a writer, long ago, I had no idea what the future … Continue reading

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Distractions. The bane of writers everywhere!

I’m about half done with my new book, and lately I’ve struggled to get much more done. I like the concept and the characters, and according to both of my writer’s groups, the story clearly holds my readers’ interest. For … Continue reading

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It’s not *supposed* to be easy! (Encore)

Writing is easy. Writing well is hard. It takes concentration, discipline, and attention to detail. More than anything else, it takes time. It doesn’t matter if what you’re doing is fiction or non-fiction, feature or fantasy. Anything that can be written … Continue reading

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It’s Easter, 2023 and I wish I didn’t have to repost this….

Many people around the world find this Christian holiday to be the most important. It’s a day when a profound number of people pray and give thanks for salvation. I imagine a great many people living in Ukraine are praying … Continue reading

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Must Your Novel Have Multiple Storylines? (Encore)

Nope. But it might be a better novel if it did. That’s not to say single-viewpoint stories can’t be successful. NYT bestselling author Harlan Coben has proven that repeatedly. While his stories almost always stick to a single viewpoint character, … Continue reading

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Make Me Rich, Or Famous, Or Something

That wonderful day arrives–you’ve finished your first book. Your excitement level has reached a new high, and you can’t wait to revel in your success. Fame and fortune can only be moments away–nanoseconds in the fullness of time. You’re on … Continue reading

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Excuses, excuses….

Today is a very special day, for me and especially for my bride, Annie. It’s her birthday. Her 39th. Again. And she’s every bit as lovely and charming as the day I met and fell in love with her. So, … Continue reading

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