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About half my website hits (and I don't get a lot) come from writing forums, probably because I'm not very active on facebook and don't tweet at all. But I enjoy forums, especially when I can help new writers. JohnB

Like Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde were definitely related? You showed up on this site and immediately started promoting "someone else's" book. And continue to carry it on and on and on, no less. You altruistic scamp, you! You definitely have a flair for writing fiction. JohnB

As an update to my last post, CreateSpace doesn't have a pro-plan (which had cost 39.00) anymore. Everyone gets the lowest price. Which doesn't make me real happy, because I bought the plan for 3 books. JohnB

I just wasted a couple of minutes searching title and author at Kindle store and couldn't find it. How about we make it my birthday and sell one of my books because it would make ME happy? JohnB

I've used Smashwords and recommend them. There's also Amazon Kindle and, if you want to print copies, Amazon Createspace. JohnB

You're right, the calculations are for the cost of producing the book and the pubishing company's profits. But that's true for all novels, so it puts us on a level playing field. So you have to be conscious of cost-cutting measures. Have you considered changing your font? Times New Roman will...

James, contratulations on finishing your first book. Your site is awesome. I recommend Smashwords highly, but why stop there? Kindle will also publish your novel at no cost and Amazon's Createspace allows you to publish your novel in print at no cost - not even the ISBN (which must be different...

Konrad, Honest crit. Like most beginning writers, you're not ready for prime time. But that's true of nearly all of us when we set out to write a book. We learn how to write by writing. Like you, I used way too many words when I began. Example: They both collected their cups of coffee...

Friends in Dark Places I've just published a new edition of my first novel with a new cover. (Originally published by Sam's Dot Publishing, 2006) Brad Wilson returns to his desert hometown for the funeral of his parents. A young girl disappears and the sherrif remembers that Brad's...

As a writer myself, I think every writer needs honest advice. I looked at this last week and didn't want to comment. I don't think you want to send in a "story" with a glaring mistake in the very first sentence. her instead of here. I'm sure it's only a typo, but if I were an editor, it would...

I've just re-published Friends in Dark Places (Sams Dot Publishing, 2006) with a new cover. The original publisher chose a cover that made it look like a Y/A or juvenile book and I think it hurt sales. Brad Wilson returns to his hometown after 20 years for the funeral of his parents. When a...

Alexander, First off, congratulations on an excellent translation. We use a different style of quotation marks, but that's minor. Break up the paragraphs for reader comfort. Stylistically, there's an awful lot of "tell" rather than "show." Describe the surroundings for the reader and he'll...

Welcome, Turtle. Your piece is very nicely done. No crits. Take care, JohnB

The best advice I can give is not to seek advice solely on writer's forums. You'll get mostly advice from newbies and wannabees. Here's a link. Ralan.com - Writing Links Page Take care, JohnB

Yeah, how dare you use "I" and "me" when writing in first person POV? What could you have been thinking? Or is that, what could "I" have been thinking? It's not bad, but a bit passive. two soldiers were dead - two soldiers had been killed was praying with a rosary - ran rosary beads...

I do freelance editing for very reasonable prices, but can't really give you a quote unless I know length, scope (Just proofreading? Critique editing? Do you need formatting for e-book?, etc.) and quality of writing skills. The good news is I edit first chapters for free, no obligation when I...

Okay, I've got it. eXplain, eXpare, eXperience. You're really manuscriptX, aren't you? Come on, you've been eXposed. JohnB

Damnnickerlin, I gone to vacation for ein week and miss das best thread in years. I have GOT to go look at your site, Matt, old boy. JohnB

Thank goodness you copyrighted it. Someone with lesser talent might steal it.

Stay away from Dorrance, their reputation leaves a lot to be desired. Slow down and take the time to research how the literary world works. Getting an agent is hard going, but it's the traditional route to the big time. Take the time to research agents, here's a link to a free agent-search...