a little fantasy * a little sci fi * a little love
Over the past years I've been part of three writing groups. All had their merits, but the one I've rejoined this year is the best for several reasons. First off, it's small. There are only four of us so every week, we each have time to present a scene and get feedback. I've realised how …
Continue reading "The ingredients for a successful writing group"
I've returned to my favourite Writing Group. I was away for a year for personal reasons but in the meantime, joined another who met fortnightly on Saturdays. There were some really great writers there, but we only had five minutes to read and five minutes for feedback. But I continued until the organiser said something …
A friend of mine is studying AI. He is doing the course for his job and at one stage asked if he could use one of my manuscripts for an assignment. At least, that's what he tells me. I don't recall. The thing is, he used an unpublished manuscript I asked him to read because …
Continue reading "My friend used my novel for his AI assignment!"
Last week I did my second Literary Speed Dating event. This event was online unlike the previous one I did. Back then I joined a large number of eager authors waiting in line to impress representatives from publishing houses. We rehearsed our spiel, performed for an acquisitions editor, answered questions, then joined the next queue hoping …
In two months, my first self-published novel will be out. Well, at least it will be at the time I write this blog. It's titled Grayson's Magical Mishaps and is part of the Haunted Hearts: Season of the Witch collaboration - eleven Urban Fantasy romances written by gay authors. I usually spend years on a …
When I first beta read, I was harsh. Not in my criticism. In my tone. Since then when I'm asked, I share both praise and critique, preferring to share my notes on a video call so the right tone is applied to my comments. Last week, a beta reader contacted me after reading my first …
Several things happened recently which made me reevaluate. I had an email conversation with one of the staff of our local queer book store. In his last reply he encouraged me to submit manuscripts to certain publishers. But they were all Romance publishers. My books are rarely in their store while self published friend's novels …
I have a deadline. A novel I'm writing needs to be published in five to six months. I usually take years on my manuscripts, working on a draft, then putting it aside for a few months. When I pick it up again, I'll see what needs work, fix, then put it aside for another few …
Something odd happened. A review came out for The Midnight Man which complained about the graphic sexual content. I was confused as the opening chapter has the only sex scene. It's not a scene which titillates because its purpose is to show the reader how unhappy the main character is in his relationship. There are …
I'm at an interesting stage with my WiP. I revised around two-thirds of the story after creating an excel spreadsheet with details of the changes needed to each scene. Then I read the revised chapters and realised before I continued, the characters needed to be deeper. They were already demanding extra plot twists, telling me …
kevin klehr 