Category Archives: Uncategorized

It is self-evident that a novel needs a cast. It doesn’t matter if a book is a plot or character-driven story, there still needs to be those around whom the story revolves and evolves. Depth of character is paramount in the modern reader’s perspective. Having read hundreds of one-star reviews of books, a common themeContinue reading “Characters”

When I have finished my corkboard — not forgetting that I am already writing — I create a Scene-Plan spreadsheet. The document comprises the post-it notes that survived my first cull transcribed into a spreadsheet with a little more detail. I use the spreadsheet throughout the book’s pre-publication lifecycle. For instance, I rely on itContinue reading “Spreadsheet”

After the spreadsheet is completed and once again culled, I create a skeleton document. This document will eventually become the manuscript. The numbers represent the scene number in the spreadsheet and are removed prior to publication. Although the graphic shows the document with chapter divisions and titles, they do not come in until much laterContinue reading “Document Skeleton”

Before I became a novelist, I spent more than thirty years as a technical writer and editor, the last ten of which I was the Documentation Manager in a Multinational Software Company. During those thirty plus years — and especially the last ten — I designed libraries of supporting documentation for enterprise-level software applications. ThereContinue reading “Plotting”

It might seem a little strange, outdated even, but I like to build my stories on a good old-fashioned corkboard. I use post-it notes to develop my what-if situation into a structure that includes all the elements of my story. I have tried apps to replace my board, like Scrivener, but I always come backContinue reading “Corkboard”

The harbour where The Alcoholic Mercenary broke his wrist as a teenager — charcoal sketch. Download

Do what you like with it, bitch. A hissed statement punctuated by vibration. Everything rattling making her teeth hurt. Your call, butt munch. What? Jake laughed. You think I give a crap, ma’am? Ma’am? She felt confused. Something did not fit. Dream. Dream. You chose your career over your husband. Ma’am? Career over me. IContinue reading “Rachel Arrives in Naples”

Coming April 30th 2022.

The thrill of the sea spray, the wind, the bouncing and jostling of the Zodiac always excited him. He could think of nothing he would prefer at three… Prolog — Part 2