“I could be a successful writer, too, if only I had the time.” I can’t tell you how often I’ve heard aspiring writers bemoan their lack of time, their inability to get any writing done with distractions, with family and work obligations. Since it’s not likely anyone will give you any more time, in order to be a serious writer you have to find ways to make the most of the time you have, and how to be as productive as possible. Back in the heyday of pulp fiction magazines, when freelancers tried to make a living by writing stories...
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Due to a confluence of deadlines, I found myself finishing three novel manuscripts in two weeks—The Key to Creation for Orbit/Hachette (172,000 words), The Sisterhood of Dune, with Brian Herbert, for Tor (161,000 words), and the second YA space adventure Star Challengers with Rebecca Moesta, for Catalyst. Two solid weeks of 12-hour days, 7 days a week. (Yes, I did deliver all three books to the proper recipients, on time—see my November 15 blog entry.) That schedule was crazy even for me, but I’ve always been a very productive writer. Over my twenty or so years as a novelist, I’ve...
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Prominent Authors, Television Writers Offer Character Names, Book Group Packages To Raise Money For First Amendment Project in eBay Charity Auction http://3.ly/fapauction Auction Starts November 26 Rebecca and I are offering to name a character in our third “Star Challengers” novel, Asteroid Crisis, to the highest bidder in the auction for the First Amendment Project, described below. The winner will have their name (or some agreed-upon variation thereof) included at least once in the novel, will receive an autographed copy of the manuscript, and an autographed copy of the published novel (release date late spring 2011). To find out more...
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Friday, Rebecca and I had lunch at the Colorado Springs Challenger Center with "second-generation" astronaut and computer game pioneer Richard Garriott, as well as several representatives from the Austin (TX) school district. Richard has long been a supporter of the Challenger Learning Centers, and was one of the original designers. (He's mentioned in the acknowledgments of Star Challengers: Moonbase Crisis, and this was our chance to give him an autographed copy.) Richard spent two weeks aboard the International Space Station as a civilian in space. He is a pioneering game developer, explorer, adventurer, award-winning entrepreneur, and global ambassador for the...
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