I entered Sins of Omission in the 27th Annual Writer’s Digest Self-Published Book Awards. While I did not win, I won all 4’s and 5’s on a five-point scale for Structure, Organization, and Pacing; Spelling, Punctuation, and Grammar; Production Quality and Cover Design; Plot and Story Appeal; and Voice and Writing Style. I was most […]
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Free short-short story
I have a FREE GIFT for my readers and followers … a short-short story most people can read in five minutes. It’s appropriate for the holidays, a Holiday Letter from Fred and Frieda Fenwick, cheesemakers and marijuana growers in Monmouth, Oregon. Fred and Frieda have had quite a year and want to share it with […]
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Jim’s writing rules
Adverbs aren’t all bad. Using gerunds to begin every sentence, as do NBC field reporters, is unacceptable, but their occasional use is fine. It is also acceptable to employ an occasional sentence in passive voice. Always use a subject and verb. Except when not. I hope this helps.
I’ve completed the second draft of my third novel, a so-far-untitled police procedural set in a borough of Pittsburgh. When launched, it will be the first in a series. The protagonist is a second-generation law enforcement officer of Slovakian parents. Karol Novak is recruited from retirement to lead a dysfunctional police department, typical of many […]
I have a new landing page, courtesy of Drafts2Digital, where you can view both of my currently published books. I welcome your comments. And thanks to fellow members of Pittsburgh South Writer’s Group, Ron Milanek, for pointing me the way through his Smashwords site.
