Indie Author Answers

From JimHeskett.com: What we learned, where we’re going, how we’ll get there. And the future of the show here: www.jimheskett.com/nailgun The post Indie Author Answers #72: And We Bid You Goodnight appeared first on Jim Heskett.

From JimHeskett.com: This week, we read the last chunk of The Problematic Virtue, and I lecture everyone about mailing lists.   28: Megan   Megan stared intently at the photo of Brian sitting in his car. Walker took an interest. “You know him,” she said. “Yes, that’s Brian Connelly. He’s Alex Britton’s roommate.” “What does he do […] The post Indie Author Answers #71: And Then There Was One appeared first on Jim Heskett.

From JimHeskett.com: how far in advance should you plan your books? Find out here! And now, your weekly reading:   27: Brian   Brian, staring at death personified in the form of his roommate, became lost in this surreal scenario. He was about to die, and he could do nothing to stop it. Alex’s gun, attached to […] The post Indie Author Answers #70: Ending Well appeared first on Jim Heskett.

From JimHeskett.com: What do you do if your book isn’t selling?     25: Megan   As Walker placed each grainy black and white photograph in front of Megan for her to examine, she did her best to keep her facial expression static. Still a little drunk, tired, and craving a trip to the bathroom, she had […] The post Indie Author Answers #69: Scene Structure appeared first on Jim Heskett.

From JimHeskett.com: hi there! This week, let’s rap about the question: should you be Amazon exclusive?   And now, your weekly selection of TPV:   23: Miguel   “A couple days later, I went to talk to Wiles about it. Wiles was majorly pissed that I was at the bridge. The whole thing had been planned out, […] The post Indie Author Answers #68: Dialogue vs. Action Beats appeared first on Jim Heskett.

From JimHeskett.com: Hey guys! This week, it’s time for the big plot twist! No tip of the week this week, so let’s get into our reading, all super quick-like: 21: Miguel   “Right after I started the truck and looked up, I caught something out of the corner of my eye. It was Jimmy.” “Who’s Jimmy?” Theo […] The post Indie Author Answers #67: Storytelling Dangers appeared first on Jim Heskett.

From JimHeskett.com: as an author, what should I spend money on Let’s discuss.   And now, your section of TPV:   19: Megan   Megan spent two, maybe three hours handcuffed to a metal ring on a concrete bench at the police station. She did not know exactly, because they had taken her phone and the holding […] The post Indie Author Answers #66: Nuanced Dialogue appeared first on Jim Heskett.

From JimHeskett.com: This week, I answer a burning listener question: should I not self-publish? And now, our reading: 17: Megan   When Megan awoke in the motel room, the dull throb from the bruise under her right eye had subsided. Still swollen, but at least not so painful. She opened her eyes to find the bed sheet […] The post Indie Author Answers #65: Too Much Foreshadowing appeared first on Jim Heskett.

From JimHeskett.com: On the show today, I talk shit about adult coloring books, and then we read and critique a chapter of my unpublished novel: 16: Miguel   When Brian had proved unreachable by phone, Miguel drove over to his apartment and hopped the fence after the keypad wouldn’t accept what he thought was the gate code. […] The post Indie Author Answers #64: More Missed Opportunities appeared first on Jim Heskett.

From JimHeskett.com: Yo. This week we’re talking about querying, and how an indie author can learn from it. What? Yes, you heard that right. And now, this week’s text to read along:   14: Wiles   The first thing Wiles did when he returned from the trailer park was to change his clothes, as some droplets of […] The post Indie Author Answers #63: Choosing a Point of View appeared first on Jim Heskett.

From JimHeskett.com: Today on the show, we’ll talk about Epigraphs and Copyright, and I’ll go into a little more details. And now, your read-along section of the show:   13: Megan   Megan, in sweatpants and a hoodie, stood in front of the mirror in her motel room, examining the bruise on her left cheek. The swelling […] The post Indie Author Answers #62: Action Splicing appeared first on Jim Heskett.

From JimHeskett.com: Hey-o! You thought we were done talking about Elmore Leonard’s ten rules of writing? Nope. We have one more, secret rule to discuss.   And now, this week’s read-along section of the Problematic Virtue   12: Alex   Alex entered the hospital, his first time at any hospital since his Aunt Clara had become sick. […] The post Indie Author Answers #61: Dialogue Equals Action appeared first on Jim Heskett.

From JimHeskett.com: Sup. Today we finally round out Elmore Leonard’s 10 rules of writing. And now, here it is, your moment of read-along fiction: 11: Wiles Wiles stepped out of his Jeep and set the cups of coffee on his hood so he could adjust the gun in his waistband. He told himself– for the thousandth time– […] The post Indie Author Answers #60: Overly Descriptive appeared first on Jim Heskett.

From JimHeskett.com: Gotta be quick about this one… we have a lot of ground to cover today. So let’s get it started. Covering ground, that is.   9: Brian   Brian drove up Highway 36 towards Boulder after the service, his tie loosened, the top button of his shirt unbuttoned. His sport coat hung over the headrest […] The post Indie Author Answers #59: The Conflict Curve appeared first on Jim Heskett.

From JimHeskett.com: Ahh, yes, my friends. Continuing our discussion form last week, let’s talk about Elmore Leonard’s ten rules of writing. And now, TPV: 8: Alex   “When was the last time you slept?” Wiles asked Alex. “I don’t know. Three or four days ago.” “I got some pills if you want to sleep for a while.” […] The post Indie Author Answers #58: Maximizing Tension appeared first on Jim Heskett.

From JimHeskett.com: Hey guys. What’s up. Today is the first of a three-part tip of the week series. Intrigued? Listen in for more!   And now, your section of fiction critique goodness: 6: Miguel   Miguel dug the spatula into the pan, and laid a mass of fluffy scrambled eggs onto a plate. He added two pieces […] The post Indie Author Answers #57: A Tale of Two Chapters appeared first on Jim Heskett.

From JimHeskett.com: Yo! Today on the show, I rap at y’all about short fiction and how it can be valuable to your long fiction. Wha? Yes. I’ll break it down for you. And now, part 4 chapter 5: 5: Megan   Megan’s morning return flight from Tulsa landed a half hour late, and walking up the jet-way, […] The post Indie Author Answers #56: Story Parallels appeared first on Jim Heskett.

From JimHeskett.com: Welcome to the show! Today, I ramble out the new Tarantino movie Hateful 8, and some storytelling lessons I learned from it.   And now, your weekly dose of read-along goodness of TPV:   3: Alex   Alex sat at his desk, arranging lines of meth on the back of his snowboard with a razor blade. […] The post Indie Author Answers #55: Gradual vs. Sudden Character Arcs appeared first on Jim Heskett.

From JimHeskett.com: It’s a new year, and time to set those goals for 2016. I’ll talk about what works and what doesn’t with goal setting. And then, we’ll read and critique a section of my unpublished novel The Problematic Virtue… 2: Brian   He considered the activity a form of self-flagellation, but he did it anyway. Brian […] The post Indie Author Answers #54: Goal Setting appeared first on Jim Heskett.

From JimHeskett.com: here’s your tip of the week: how not to include the kitchen sink in your story. Simplify. Focus.   And now, your weekly selection of the problematic virtue:   Four: March 2003 – April 2003 1: Miguel   Miguel dropped back to pass, and after a quick read of the receivers, threw a sixty-yard bomb […] The post Indie Author Answers #53: The Kitchen’s Sinking! appeared first on Jim Heskett.