Passive voice sneaks into even the sharpest manuscripts, draining life out of your prose and leaving it limp as wet cardboard. Learn how to spot the culprits—“was eaten,” “were taken,” and those sneaky “by” phrases—and flip them into strong, active sentences that keep readers hooked.
Mark’s got three thrilling projects fighting for attention in his brain—another Jacobine adventure, a high-octane Billings sequel, or a brand-new season of Credible Threat. He’s throwing the decision to readers: which story should he dive into next?
What if Amazon collapsed tomorrow? Thousands of exclusive authors would lose their income overnight, and Kindle Unlimited readers would find their go-to content gone. In this speculative thought experiment, I explore how such a collapse would reshape the indie publishing landscape—for authors, readers, and the future of storytelling.
Today, SRP author Cameron Cooper released their solarpunk short story, Winds of Change.
Stories without time pressure tend to meander. Add a deadline—a ticking clock—and suddenly characters have to act, risk, and choose. From thrillers to romances, nothing raises tension faster than running out of time.
Mark’s desk is overflowing with thrillers, Jacobine adventures, anthology deadlines, and even a dash of erotica. Add in a Kickstarter campaign, real-world book selling, and you’ve got the “good kind of busy.” Coffee recommended.
If you haven’t heard of X Company, you’re not alone—but you’re missing out. This Canadian World War II spy drama combines gut-twisting espionage with quiet, powerful romance in a way that still haunts me years after watching. The storytelling is sharp, the characters unforgettable, and the romantic tension? Off the charts. Don’t let the soft-focus promo poster fool you—this one pulls no punches.
Juggling multiple pen names, a production pipeline, and the occasional bout of procrastination takes more than just caffeine and stubbornness—though those help. In this post, I break down exactly how I manage my writing and publishing schedule, from rotating pen names to keeping six+ books in postproduction at once. I also explain why I never write more than one book at a time and how I use a 300-step checklist to keep my head (mostly) attached.
If you’ve ever had a critique partner or an editor ask, “Wait, whose head are we in right now?” — congratulations. You’ve run into a POV problem.
Last week, I watched The Life of Chuck — twice. I’d already read the book, so I knew what was coming. But having just survived colon cancer and stared death in the face, the film landed differently for me. It stirred up all kinds of thoughts about what I’ve done with my life… and what I still want to do.
