Craft August 22, 2026 1 min
The second draft is where the book decides what it is
Everything I cut from a manuscript between the first and second pass, and the three questions I ask before deleting a chapter…
Method August 10, 2026 1 min
Why I still outline on paper
Index cards on a wall beat any outlining app I have paid for, and here is the honest reason.
Reading July 29, 2026 1 min
Eleven books I reread every year
A short list, mostly thin volumes, kept on the shelf nearest the desk for a specific reason.
Craft July 17, 2026 1 min
Writing to length is a craft, not a cage
Ten years of trade magazines taught me the most useful skill I have, and it was not a literary one.
Method July 5, 2026 1 min
What a paid outline actually buys you
The single most useful document in a commission, and why I will not start writing without one.
The Friday note
One letter a month, sent on a Friday
What I am working on, what I cut, and one paragraph from a book worth your evening. No launches, no offers.
Start a conversation
Tell me about the book
Two or three paragraphs is plenty: what it is, who it is for, and when you would like it finished. I reply to everything within two working days, including the ones I have to turn down.
Email
contact@example.com
Telephone
+1 (000) 555-555
Studio
123 Maplewood Lane Apartment 4B
Springfield, IL 62704 USA