Category Archives: Essays

Hugh Howey: Self-Publishing Is the Future

  Folks, even if you aren’t interested in self-publishing, you’ll want to read “Self-Publishing Is the Future — and Great for Writers,” by self-publishing superstar Hugh Howey, writing in Salon. This terrific piece of persuasive writing is a wonderful tribute … Continue reading

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10 Winning Marketing Strategies for Your Self-Published Book

  Some time ago, I published a piece telling aspiring authors “Ten Reasons You Should Skip Traditional Publishers and Self-Publish Ebooks Instead.” Yet despite the clear advantages of “indie” over “traditional” publishing, the prospect of “DIY” publishing still scares the … Continue reading

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Tales of Woe from Traditionally Published Authors

  Whenever I hear someone denigrating the self-publishing option, I think of the many tales of woe that I read and heard over the years from traditionally published authors — stories that discouraged me, for a long time, from writing … Continue reading

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Book Review: THE STORYTELLING ANIMAL

  As both a nonfiction author and a bestselling novelist, I’ve pondered certain puzzles for decades. Why do people find certain ideologies and philosophies appealing, but not others? Why do we so often hold to our points of view dogmatically, … Continue reading

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Are We “Homo Narrans”?

                  Are we humans Homo sapiens — or Homo narrans? I’ve written elsewhere about the under-appreciated power of stories or “Narratives” in our lives — especially in political and social persuasion. Now, … Continue reading

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Do I Really Advocate Vigilante Justice?

I’ve been prompted to post something about this recent, grim story of so-called “vigilante justice” in Texas, in which a father discovered a man molesting his four-year-old daughter and beat him to death on the spot. Now, this isn’t a … Continue reading

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