We’re a desensitized society. We watch prime-time news of drive-by-shootings or full-out war activity – complete with spattering blood, cries of pain and wailing sirens – without feeling a thing. We view horror movies for pure enjoyment. We read novels of frightening tales or biographies of graphic abuse. That desensitization is comparable when we take [...]
Fiction Writing: Playing Games
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Before writing became my career, I wrote creatively for pleasure on role-playing game (RPG) forum boards. I’d spend hours gaming, writing out scenes and character reactions. From 2001 to late 2006, I wrote every day – not one day passed without a post. I wrote enough material for a novel, even enough for several novels. [...]
Drive-By-Shooting Sundays: Melissa Donovan
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“Ready, Harry?” James tipped his shades down over his eyes with one finger, and he opened a palm to his partner, ready for the feel of cold metal. Harry stuck his cigarette in his mouth, handed James the Glock, then picked up his M1 D and blew the dust off the laser scope. “Yep. Start [...]
Twittering Time Away
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James, James, James… What are you doing? “Harry, I need you to resize this image. Can you do it for me? I know you’re busy and all, but…” James sounded like a hopeful little kid. “What’s it for?” I asked, elbow deep in coding. I stopped what I was doing and tried to ignore the [...]
13.2 Easy Ways to Build a Thriving Blog Community
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We’re frequently asked about our secrets for creating a healthy, thriving active blog community. We’ve heard comments like: It’s a blogger’s dream – alive! You have some of the most active conversations around. How are you creating such dynamic discussion? Anyone can have what we have. There is no magic secret. All it takes to [...]
Fiction Writing: Should You Plot Your Plot?
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I once ran a very successful PhP gaming board. I made the story up for players as I went along. There was no plan at all, and I winged it every step of the way. I had a beginning and a premise, and the players knew they had to go from point A to point [...]
Overhaul Your Image for Better Results
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Content is King, but an Emperor needs great clothes. If you have a blog or a website, your image instantly conveys to site visitors your marketing position, where you stand and what your business represents. Miss the mark, and you could be losing business. Get it right, and your site could become the biggest thing [...]
Are You Accepting Dirty Money?
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Have you ever had a job that went so sour, you didn’t even want the money that went along with it? Or maybe you worked on a project (or client) that left you with a bad feeling, and every time you think of the payment, it brings up bad memories. Well, I have the solution. [...]
Should You Let Scrapers Link to Your Blog?
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Inbound links that point to your blog are liquid gold on the Internet. The more links you have, the better for your page rank and so-called authority. But some links aren’t worth having, in my mind. Curious souls that we are, Harry and I always head over to visit the blogs that link to us. [...]
Would You Become Someone Else To Achieve Your Dreams?
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Are you going about achieving your goals in the wrong way? If you’re you, then you might be. Taking on a role has long been used in psychotherapy, in team-building exercises, in marriage counseling and in acting. When you put yourself in someone else’s shoes, you achieve a new perception. You might feel differently or [...]
