Here are answers to some things folks like you seem to ask, well, frequently! Simply click on the question to see the answer.

If you have a question you think might be right for this FAQ, please submit it on the Contact page, with my thanks!

Will You Narrate My Story?

Thanks for your interest in my Parsec Award-nominated voice acting and voice narration services for the audio version of your short story or novel. If necessary, I can also provide audio production and deliver distribution-ready audio files. Please visit my creative services company, MWS Media, and submit your inquiry using the contact form on that site, with my thanks.

Due to time and resources constraints, I do not typically provide voice or audio services without monetary compensation.

Are You A “Planner” Or “Pantser?”

When it comes to fiction and non-fiction, these days I’m almost exclusively a “planner” (meaning I plot and outline before writing the first draft) rather than a “pantser” (one who just writes “by the seat of their pants” and lets the story go where it may.)

It’s important to understand that the real difference between being a planner or pantser is really just a matter of when certain aspects of the storytelling process occur. Being a planner means that I’m front-loading a lot of the discovery, meandering, and re-thinking a pantser does either during the first draft or during the editing phase.

By working out all the details of the story ahead of time, I’m saving myself from potentially writing hundreds or thousands of words I might ultimately end up not using.

Another advantage to planning / outlining is having a holistic, 10,000 foot view of the entire story, its themes, and the real “intention” behind the tale. I find this to be really helpful when writing each scene.

Finally, when you plan, there’s no writer’s block, no writing one’s self into a corner… none of that. You’ve worked all those things out before you sit down to begin your draft.

When it comes to songwriting, though, I’m much more of a panster… but that’s another story!

(Thanks to Chrispian H. Burks for suggesting this question!)

If you have a question you think might be right for this FAQ, please submit it on the Contact page, with my thanks!