Stephen Michael Roth

The First Word

Hello and welcome back to the blog! I know it has been a while since my last post, and for that I must apologize. My intention had been to take a couple of weeks off as I wrapped up the first draft of a novel. A health scare with my wife extended that break a few more weeks. On a related note, what does a writer do when he finds himself a visitor in a hospital without a laptop in a city where he doesn’t live? Write flash fiction on his phone, of course. To make things interesting and more difficult because I had the time, I started each story with the last word of the previous story. That means the last word of story #1 is the first word for story #2. A note to those who haven’t read my writing before, I write horror, so some of these are on the dark side. Now that I’ve explained things in unnecessary detail, let’s get started with the first story.

Shanna’s Kingdom

Shanna was awakened by screams in the distance growing closer with each blood curdling emission.

Beatrix—the name bestowed upon her trusty rifle—was in hand before her eyes had fully opened.

A thick blue tarp covered the broken window of room 5104 in the Oaklawn Hospital’s ICU. She flung it aside, got into position, and sighted the scope.

A decaying flap of skin hung from the zombie’s forehead, blocking its vision, and forcing it to hunt by instinct. Unfortunately for its prey, it was adept at the task.

Ten yards away was the source of the screams, a middle-aged man running toward Shanna’s Kingdom.

She chambered a round and squeezed the trigger. The man fell to the pavement of the hospital’s parking lot.

Her dwindling supplies couldn’t support another person, neither could her patience.

Shut up and Wait

Patience was a virtue most people weren’t blessed with. As for Bryan? Well, he had it in spades. When your dad’s response to the age-old question of arrival was a wild sweep of the backseat with his nondriving hand, you learned there were times when it was best to shut up and wait.

Like when the old man came home after a long night of boozing and carousing with the two Jimmy’s—Jimmy’s Tavern and Jim Beam. On those nights he was often too inebriated to climb the stairs to the bedroom where Bryan’s bruised mother tried to escape the monster she’d married through sleep.

Shut up and wait.

In the dark Bryan was doing just that, shutting up and waiting.

The front door opened and slammed closed. Clumsy footfalls shuffled along the carpet.

Shut up.

The shuffling stopped, followed by a belch and the sudden compression of couch springs.

Wait.

When Bryan couldn’t wait any longer, he stepped out of the shadows and approached the monster.

The Creek

Monster Creek looked as ordinary as I had feared. Macabre tales of serpentine creatures lurking in the creek’s depths and shadowy humanoids watching from the trees. Tales that I doubted as I watched the water’s surface ripple in the gentle breeze.

A laugh escaped my lips. To think I had been afraid of such a serene location.

A deep throated growl chased that thought away. My eyes darted to the tree line near the shore of the creek. Two red orbs glowed in the darkness.

A chill went down my spine. It was supposed to be a story.

Something large splashed in the creek.

At eighteen I was an adult and deemed myself ready to put childish things behind me. Though warned not to, I had come to prove the stories were just that, stories.

As a second and third pair of eyes appeared in the trees, I realized the stories weren’t of the fictional variety.

Someone screamed as the shadow cloaked creatures stepped out of the tree line. They were nearly upon me when I realized the screams were my own. Water splashed in the creek. A serpentine shape darted from the water. They met me as one.

It was only a story, only a—

(A note: some will say I cheated by ending the previous story abruptly. I agree.)

Face in the Fire

A bustling accusatory wind rattled the window in its frame. The view outside showed a torrent of snow and ice covering a grave weeks old. The wind had penetrated the manor, which had caused an unrelenting chill to overtake its confines. That same chill had settled deep within Phineas’ insides.

Cornelius had built a roaring fire in the hearth before retiring to his chambers for the evening. The flames crackled and hissed, as if a song sung by a demon.

Murderer.

Could that possibly have been the wind or was it a figment of a mind that had lost the sharpness of youth?

Phineas pulled the blanket tighter around his shoulders and leaned closer to the fire. He watched the red and orange flames dance as the fire fed upon the wood. A face appeared in the flickering inferno, as if by miracle or sorcery.

“No,” the single word escaped Phineas’ lips.

Murderer. The wind accused again.

The face in the fire stared back at him, eyes filled with accusations.

“Murderer,” the face hissed.

“No,” Phineas said to the face of his beloved.

The fire cracked in response, causing the elderly man to flinch. Phineas jumped out of the straight back chair. Cornelius. He needed Cornelius.

The figure in the doorway brought him to a stop. Madeline stood there, reeking of death. It was the same name carved into the headstone in the manor’s cemetery.

The fire cracked again as his beloved crept closer to return the favor.

Not Prey

Favor had not been shown to our family in the eyes of the Little One. He stood on top of a rusty metallic chariot once used by the old ones. He surveyed the surrounding crowd with a pompous expression. We were on our knees in front of the chariot.

I watched as everyone looked away when the Little One’s eyes fell upon them. Fear firmly gripped them, shattering what spirit these people—my people—once had. Gone was the hope I had witnessed so shortly ago.

It was my fault.

The Little One’s gaze became that of stone as he came to my family. My Da, Ma, Suz, and Nik looked away, as was the custom. When his eyes fell upon me, I didn’t look away. Instead I smiled.

Fire burned in the Little One’s eyes at my audacity. He bared his teeth, as a predator eyes its prey. His feet lifted off the surface of the metallic chariot.

Lightning sparked in the sky above. The Little One looked up in surprise, for he didn’t know the magnitude of my power.

The lightning struck the Little One out of the sky. His chard body fell to the chariot with a thud.

I was not prey.

Those From the Sky

Prey—or humans as they were once known—scattered at the sight of Those From the Sky.

A metal orb hovered three feet above the ground.

It spun in a continuous circle, as if surveying its surroundings with imaginary eyes.

Zara watched as her kinfolk pushed each other aside in their effort to flee the seemingly innocent object.

Unlike her kinfolk, she was finished running.

She held a long wooden stick that she had been using to play a rudimentary game with the other kids.

They had thought it was only a game. It wasn’t.

Zara dug her heels into the pavement and squeezed the stick tight.

The orb picked her out of the fleeing prey; the only prey that wasn’t so.

She was prepared when it flew at her. With a mighty swing, she connected with the orb containing an alien within. The orb flew through the sky and out of sight.

Zara was still watching when a mass of orbs appeared in the sky flying in her direction.

Heels dug in and the stick gripped firmly, she awaited their arrival.

I hope you enjoyed these short stories. Remember to follow your dreams, even if they terrify you.

Stephen Michael Roth

Daydreams & Time Machines

Hello and welcome back to the blog! From Darkness Comes… was queried to its twentieth literary agent this week. That’s half the total Breaking Character had in a year. Not bad for two months of querying. Of course, when you make sure to keep ten queries out in the world at once, well, the total builds up rather quickly. It also helps that I didn’t quit querying to pursue self-publishing, only to change my mind at the last minute (I had queried twenty-one agents when I gave up querying, if you’re wondering). That’s what happened the last time around. If you can’t tell, I’m feeling introspective today. In fact, this blog post is nothing more than me throwing some thoughts out into the universe.

My current work in progress, titled A Grave Awakening, is the second book in the Breaking Character Series. If you’re new to the blog there’s no need to search. I can save you the trouble, it’s unpublished for now, possibly forever. The first book was a writer’s dream experience. The words flowed fast and free, without any trouble or obstructions. In most cases the characters turned out better than I had envisioned, with the one exception dealt with in the second draft. My vision for the book at the beginning matched the end result. It was my fifth completed novel (not to mention a dozen others that were abandoned in my younger days). I had never had a writing experience like it before. Where was the distress at the unruly characters, the anger when the words either failed to come or showed up begrudgingly and ill-suited for the purpose, the consternation of a plotline shot straight to hell? All were absent. Yet as I struggle with the second book in the series, I wonder should those feelings have been present?

I won’t lie, the writing experience for this book hasn’t been an enjoyable one overall. It’s like being in a time machine set for ten to fifteen years in my past. In those days if a manuscript was being problematic or the writing was hard, I often gave up. Yeah, I had a lot of quit in me in those days. I like to think I’ve worked that problem out. My focus now is making the current ~~piece of~~ work in progress as good as it can get.

I haven’t experienced many of the problems I talked about with other books. The plotline is still firmly in place, despite my repeated delays in making small decisions that will affect it. The characters are still as good as ever (at least I think so, you can never be sure until the first reading). While I have had a problem finding the words at times, when found, they are more than adequate. Finding motivation to continue with the series has been a struggle. Once a week I start a writing session by staring off into space, daydreaming of a return of the magical writing experience from the first book, while other times I pick that manuscript apart for errors. I don’t want you to get the impression that the problems lie with the book. My progress has been slow, but what has been written is good.

The truth is I decided to write about my experience with A Grave Awakening because I have spent so much time contemplating the problem. I have some ideas, though whether they are accurate I’m honestly not sure. It’s a mental blockage of some form. That’s not to say that I’ve been experiencing writer’s block. I believe that to be a different problem that I haven’t experienced. The first book is the source of the blockage. A few weeks into Book #2, Book #1 was retired from querying without netting an agent. I started the second book knowing this could happen, and decided self-publishing was an option. One literary agent requested a reading of Book #1 and held onto it for two months before rejecting it without a comment. That gets inside of a writer’s head. I took some chances with that book other writers don’t normally take regarding the plotline. Since there are spoilers involved, I’d prefer not to reveal what those are. I have wondered if those influenced the agent’s opinion, despite being told by those that have read the book that the decisions made on my part only added to the plot and in no way hindered it. Also, this is the first time I have returned to the same characters for a book. All my other writing experiences have been with fresh characters.

Though I have listed the above problems both for introspective purposes and for your reading enjoyment, I don’t think they had much bearing on my experience. Oh, don’t get me wrong, I have spent time picking the first manuscript apart a time or two. (Here is the part where I lose some of you.) Before I begin, I would like to state that I don’t have anything against self-publishing. It’s a good fit for some writers. I, however, don’t fit in that group for reasons I won’t explain because it would make this already long post longer and because I have done so before. Self-publishing is a backup plan for me (Twitter hated this by the way). I’m a traditional publishing kind of guy. (Could lose some here too) Not all self-published books are good and the same can be said of the writers that write them. Look, I’ve never been a very confident guy. I had written four books before I worked up the courage to send one to an agent. With time that has changed, at least in my writing life. I’ve read a lot and in the last few years I’ve submitted a lot. I’ve had compliments from magazine editors and literary agents, who rejected my work ironically. There are some bad writers out there and I’m not one of them. I think the point got lost somewhere in there. The point is this, traditional publishing has always been a dream for me. The rejection of the first book in the series killed that dream for the series and made working on the second book difficult to say the least.

The dream of being a traditionally published author didn’t die with Breaking Character. It will have to be another book that brings that dream to fruition. As far as A Grave Awakening goes, the writing will continue. I’m not going to quit a story after writing twenty-eight thousand words of a planned forty thousand book. I look at it as a positive experience considering I didn’t quit, when years ago I would have. Personal growth, I guess.

For those of you still reading that I didn’t offend, thanks for reading. Until next time, remember to follow your dreams.

You can receive free email updates about the blog by clicking “follow” at the bottom of the screen and entering a valid email address. You can follow me on Twitter and Instagram. My handle is StephenRoth316 for both.

Stephen Michael Roth

Can You Improve Your Writing?

Hello and welcome back to the blog! For those that read last week’s post, yes, I have managed to stay motivated with my current work in progress. However, a new problem has surfaced, because doesn’t it always? I have started to question my decision making regarding the series I am writing. I would tell you about those problems, but it involves spoilers. Of course, that would mean publishing the series at some point, which I am still unsure of. Anyway, enough blabbing. To the docket we go! Today’s post is about whether it is possible to improve your writing. If you have read my post on the 10 Truths About Writing, you already know the answer.

I’ll get the answer out of the way right up front. Yes, you can improve your writing. A blog post like this would be a waste of time if the answer were anything different. Heck, this entire blog would be a waste of time as well. This blog started out as a way for me to share my writing journey as I am still traveling along it. Several of you have flattered me with comments regarding my views and insights on writing. To know that I am helping other writers with what little knowledge I have accumulated over my years of meandering along this path has been a humbling and rewarding experience. At some point along the way it became more about helping other writers with my story, than just telling my story. Sixteen years of failure has got to be good for something, right? (Editing note: That last sentence is sad. True, but sad.)

Stephen King’s On Writing is a book that every writer should read, in my opinion at least. He’s a straight shooter that doesn’t have time for BS and I respect that. Take this quote, “…while it is impossible to make a competent writer out of a bad writer, and while it is equally impossible to make a great writer out of a good one, it is possible, with lots of hard work, dedication, and timely help, to make a good writer out of a merely competent one.” Maybe it has to do with King being my favorite writer or that I first read this book as a young man, but I agree. I’ll cover bad writers in a minute. By a “competent writer” I think King is referring to writers who understand the basics of writing such as grammar, punctuation, voice, style, vocabulary, etc. I agree with his statement that it is possible for a competent writer to get better for one simple reason. It happened to me.

If you want an in-depth look at how my writing has improved over the years, then I invite you to read my post “How Self-Awareness Helped Me”, I’ll provide an overview for the rest. Having gone back through and read some of my early writing, I think I was a competent but not spectacular writer. I did a lot of reading, even more writing, and editing with a heavy hand. Throughout those early years I was submitting short stories to magazines, most of which were rejected. Few magazines offered a critique of the submitted work, but I did receive one that wasn’t flattering. I tossed it aside and went about my writing. At some point down the line, maybe a year, possibly two, I had a revelation regarding my work. I tended to slip out of past tense and into present tense at any given moment. Once seen I couldn’t unsee it. Had I listened earlier, I would have saved myself some time and aggravation. Several other mistakes were realized in those days by reading other writers or while editing. It took time with me and it will with you.

Let’s go back to that quote from Stephen King for a moment. You know that part about it being impossible to make a competent writer out of a bad writer? I believe that to be true as well. Bad writers either don’t understand or disregard the basics of writing. Of course, some are aware of the basics, but are hopeless at putting them to use. If you’re a bad writer there’s probably no hope for you. However, in my experience most bad writers aren’t aware of their own abilities or lack thereof. Since you’re reading my blog, I’m going to assume you don’t fall into this category.

This is the paragraph where I give you some advice on how to improve your own writing. While preparing for this post I did some research to see what other writers were saying about improving your writing. Honestly, most of it isn’t worth reading. It was a mixture of common sense that every writer worth his/her salt should know to downright lies. Here’s all I have on the subject and what worked for me. Read a lot. Reading both good and bad books gives you examples of what to do and what to avoid. Write a lot. They say that practice makes perfect and they’re right. Edit with an open mind and fresh eyes. After the first draft is finished, I set every story aside for at least two weeks, and up to a month. I work on something else during that time, so when I return, I am further removed from the story. Having a fresh eye is important to the edit, and the edit is crucial if you want to improve your writing. When you get a critique, listen. Lastly, and most importantly remember the story is king. Writers think too much. You’re a conduit for the story. DO YOUR JOB.

There is no quick fix to becoming a better writer, at least that I’ve found. If you’re looking for one, exit now. It’s a long and lonely road. It takes work, but if you’re like me, it’s an obsession, a compulsion, something that I can’t imagine not doing. If that’s you, cool, stick around, let’s talk writing.

Stephen Michael Roth

Motivation

Hello and welcome back to the blog! You’ll have to excuse me for not posting last week. I’ll get to the reason for my absence towards the end of this post. For a brief period this week, I was contemplating doing a post on social media etiquette. I would have vented on people who deem you worthy of adding you to a list, but not of actually following. Or people who inundate you with multiple direct messages and tags in a brief period. Also, if I block you on Twitter and you refollow me with a new username, at least change the profile picture so I’ll be fooled into thinking it’s someone else. No, let’s not talk about that. Instead let’s turn to something constructive. Motivation is on the docket today.

I know we’re all adults here and you know the meaning of basic words. Yet we’ll start off with a definition to get us going. Merriam-Webster defines motivation as “the general willingness or desire for someone to do something.” I have no doubt that if you’re reading this blog that the something in this definition is probably writing related. Perhaps you’re writing a short story or a novel. Maybe you’re pursuing some other creative outlet such as poetry or song writing (my oldest daughter has ventured into this realm recently). Call it drive, ambition, determination, or motivation. Call it whatever your heart desires, but without it that novel won’t get written.

The things that motivate us are as wide ranging as we are as people. Money and fame might motivate one person, though I caution you that this is the wrong reason and not likely to come true. While another person might be motivated by the simple act of exploring one’s creative side. I sincerely hope that you lean more towards the latter than the former, as it is the way I lean, though with a few more complexities thrown in. Whatever your motivation is, it’s best to identify what it is exactly that motivates you.

The best way to identify what motivates you is to think about what you want. What are your dreams and desires? What is it about those dreams and desires that makes you want to achieve them? How would you feel if those dreams came true? How about if they are never realized? What would you do? Answering these questions and others like it is a critical step in reaching whatever dream you are bold enough to reach for.

Yes, it’s important. I would argue it’s important because you might not always feel like writing. Sure, it’s easy to write when everything in your world is going right or the words are coming easy. Big deal. Anyone can do that. But when you’ve been working a full day at your day job, life is too busy, or you just received a rejection email from a literary agent about another project, the chances are you won’t feel much like writing. Yeah, that last one is oddly specific because it’s mine. It’s also the reason I only open emails from magazine editors or literary agents after a writing session, not before.

When I don’t feel like writing for various reasons, I simply think about what motivates me to do it in the first place. Usually the simple act of being creative is enough to push me towards the laptop. Another incentive is the feeling I get after a good writing session. I’m sure I’m not the only one that gets a buzz akin to drinking a glass of wine or two after a successful session at the keyboard. I implore you to think about the reasons, your motivation for writing, when you just don’t feel like it. Then go write.

Sometimes, however, that isn’t enough to push me towards the dungeon (my office is in the basement of our house and I write horror, so it fits). There are times when I need something more. Then my mind turns to a young reader pulling my book off the shelf and reading it with a smile. Someday, I might be their favorite author and that’s good enough to get me going. Or I think about my children, whom I try to both encourage and display that it’s okay to chase a dream. Yet my favorite thing to think about when I don’t feel up to writing is the reaction of my first reader, who also happens to be my oldest daughter. Despite her dislike of the horror genre, she has grown fond of reading the first draft of my stories. She’s become quite good at her job as a first reader, telling me when something works and when it doesn’t. In fact, she was emphatic when I was thinking about changing a surprise ending. It stayed. She reads the story and quotes lines of dialogue back to me, as she does with other books, forgetting that I know what was said. I wrote it after all. Yeah, that’s motivation enough for me every time.

Now is the time I reveal the reason I didn’t post last week. In fact, it’s the reason I chose motivation as the topic for this week’s blog post. Last week, I was having a hard time getting motivated to work on my current work in progress, Breaking Character: A Grave Awakening. That novel is the second book in a series, with Breaking Character: The Craven House being the first. About two months ago, I decided to stop querying the first book in the series. It had been sent to more than forty agents over the span of a year. I felt it was time. I would let the queries I had already sent out run their course, without sending more out. On Thursday, the timeframes given by the literary agents expired without a word from them. I knew it was coming, but that didn’t make it any easier to accept. Breaking Character: The Craven House wouldn’t be published by traditional means.

For those wondering, yes, I am considering self-publishing the novel, though it will be after I have gone through the querying process with another novel, From Darkness Comes… That’s down the line. Back to what motivates me for a minute. I have always wanted to see a book I wrote on the shelf at a bookstore. For those wondering, in the middle grade section it’s between Rick Riordan and J.K. Rowling (good company, I know). If the first book in the series wasn’t going to be on a shelf in the bookstore, what were the chances of the second? Slim to none, right? Well, my motivation to write suffered as a result. Oh, I still wrote and some of it was quite good, but the desire to do so was lacking a bit and my willingness to stay at the laptop was nonexistent. Honestly, I didn’t even realize what the problem was until the weekend with only a few thousand words to show for the week. Because of my meager output, I spent Friday, a day I usually focus on the week’s blog post, playing catchup.

So far this week (I’m writing this on Monday night because I have the house to myself), I have managed to stay motivated. I’ve done this by thinking about my first reader and her reaction to reading the next installment of the happenings between Calvin and The Writer, a character modeled after myself, with a sinister twister, of course. I wish you the best of luck staying motivated in your own writing. If ever you find yourself lacking some motivation, pull a bad book off the shelf and give it a read. You’ll be feeling better about your own writing in no time and be chomping at the bits to prove it. It works for me.

Stephen Michael Roth

Writer Hate

Hello and welcome back to the blog! I’m still chipping away at the second book in the Breaking Character Series, tentatively titled A Grave Awakening. More queries were sent out this week for From Darkness Comes… and I’m still awaiting query responses from the first book in the Breaking Character Series. The timeframe given by the agents on the latter are set to expire later this month. It’s looking like Breaking Character won’t net me an agent, yet I remain hopeful regarding my writing journey. This week I wanted to talk a little about writer hate. You know, writers that hate other writers. I have concluded that I know far too much about it.

There have been many notable feuds between writers. William Faulkner and Ernest Hemingway had a feud over each other’s vocabulary. Stephen King and James Patterson traded barbs several years ago over the similarities of all of Patterson books. King even took a slight at Stephanie Meyer once, saying Meyer “can’t write worth a darn.” Not to mention a backhanded compliment delivered by King to Dean Koontz, who “can write like hell”, while other times is “just awful”. Yes, you’ll have to forgive me, I’m a King fan, so I’m tuned into who he does and doesn’t like.

If you’re wondering, and I know you are, there are writers I care so little for that I would use the dreaded hate word. A couple of years ago I finally got around to reading The Hobbit by J.R.R Tolkien. Writers and readers alike have been praising this work, along with The Lord of the Rings trilogy, so I’ll admit my expectations were high. Tolkien didn’t live up to them. Don’t get me wrong, the overall story arc was entertaining. Yet, I found his writing subpar and grew tired of his tendency to describe the unimportant. Sorry to those of you who are fans, but I’m not.

After reading King’s comments about Stephanie Meyer I decided to give Twilight a try. My early impression was that he was right, she was at best an average writer. However, that wasn’t what got my blood boiling over Meyer. After all, if you read as much as I do, you’re bound to come across some bad writers. No, it was her respect for the horror genre or rather lack thereof. Her sparkly vampire disregarded the lore created by an entire genre that had made her book possible. When I got to the section where Edward’s sparkling nature is revealed, I put the book down and walked away, never to return. Also, as a horror writer I was miffed by the sudden onslaught of vampire stories that caused magazine editors to banish the nocturnal fiend from their pages.

My feelings for Meyer may have been influenced by King. However, the same cannot be said for James Patterson. Years ago (I believe this was before King even made his comment, and know it was before I read it), I read an article describing Patterson’s writing process. At the time it included a detailed outline, which he sent to a cowriter, who therein wrote the first draft of the story. It was then returned to Patterson, who completed another draft and turned it into a novel. Yes, that’s why every Patterson book seems to have a cowriter mentioned on the cover. Go ahead, look for it, it’ll be there. As a lover of the creative process involved in writing I didn’t understand this, and still don’t. It turns the writing process until a virtual assembly line. That’s something I just don’t respect.

A few weeks ago, I got into a Twitter argument with another writer over the use of adverbs in fiction. My stance: a writer worth his salt can come up with a more appropriate word that the adverb is trying to modify. This writer chose to address my opinion rather than stating his own and did so with snark. Ever the king of snark, I responded. After a brief back and forth, which involved an insult and a claim that “said” was an adverb (hint: it’s not), both on his part, I was blocked. Silliness is what it was. An argument over the use of adverbs? I usually walk away from such confrontations on social media but didn’t that time. Yes, I learned my lesson if you were wondering.

(Editing note: I’m keenly aware that I use adverbs, but it’s with discretion and never after dialogue tags, which was his main point, other than not understanding parts of speech. I had assumed he had blocked me because of our argument. While that might be true, I think making an error was also a big part of it. He was too busy attempting to twist my words against me, that he didn’t realize he was wrong. I was too offended by having my words twisted to realize his error. In hindsight, I’m glad I didn’t realize it, because I don’t think I could have passed up the opportunity to throw it in his face. I was that mad. Don’t go thinking too highly of me though, I assaulted his character for attempting to twist my words. Not a proud moment, but it happened.)

So, why is it that adults who should know better make snarky or snide comments regarding another person’s abilities? Is it jealousy? A superiority complex? Or an inability to shut up? I’m sorry to say that most of us have forgotten something our mothers, grandmas, and teachers told us growing up. “If you don’t have anything nice to say, then don’t say anything at all.” Juvenile, I know. Yet so is ridiculing another writer because you don’t care for his writing ability or creative process (I’m guilty of both if you recall).

Several months ago, I unfollowed a self-proclaimed polymath (yes, you read that right) on Twitter who put both other writers and the writing community down on a regular basis. This writer/artist often complained about how other writers attacked him or instigated arguments. Ironic, right? He even went so far as to say the artist community was superior to the writing community and the latter was full of giant egos (yet his was the biggest I have encountered in eight months on Twitter). Look, pat yourself on the back all you want. I won’t stop you, nor will I join in on the patting. However, ridiculing others on a constant basis, then acting pompous and innocent when called out is where I draw the line. After reading several of his comments, I put my phone down and walked away for the rest of the day. The urge to sling mud at this man was strong, somehow, I resisted. The next day I unfollowed.

This is the part of the post where I reach for some sort of conclusion out of my rambling and try to sound profound. I’m not a psychologist, so I won’t try to delve into why we hate or what it does to our individual psyche, though I’m sure it’s not good (#insight). While prepping for this blog post I had a thought that struck me as useful, so I’ll share it. In the early days of this blog, my paternal grandma would read every post and still does from time to time. While I was writing, I often considered what she would say about the subject matter of my posts. That’s what I suggest for everything you write, say, or post on social media. Whether she be an earthbound saint, like my paternal grandma, or a heavenly one, like my maternal grandma, act like she reads everything and try not to make her blush.

Until next time, remember to follow your dreams, even if they terrify you.

(A post editing note: I have received several new followers in recent days and weeks. In fact, someone just emailed me regarding how to receive email updates from the website. I’m afraid something went wrong when I tried to respond via email. I’ll do it here in case someone else needs help.

When you’re on the website there is a small box in the bottom right-hand corner of the screen, which stays there. Click on follow in that box. You’ll be prompted for an email address to set-up a free WordPress account. After entering your email address you’ll receive an email to confirm. That’s it. You’ll receive emailed updates about the website.)

Stephen Michael Roth

10 Misconceptions About Writing

Hello and welcome back to the blog! On the last post, I listed ten truths about writing. At the end of that post I promised to tackle lies next. The thought is the same, though I have decided misconceptions about writing is more appropriate. Some of these are perpetuated by famous writers, while others are the result of popular opinion. Either way these commonly held beliefs aren’t true. Speaking of opinions and beliefs, the following list was formulated using my own.

Write what you know. These are in no specific order, yet I think this to be the biggest misconception most nonwriters and beginning writers believe to be true. If you’re a lawyer or a doctor, yes, feel free to write what you know. The rest of us should feel free to expand our horizons. That doesn’t mean that proper research and preparedness go out the window, but you don’t need to be a retired police officer to write a gripping crime thriller.
You’ll get rich writing the great American novel. When I was a newly married young man, I confided in our church’s life group that I was an aspiring writer. The leader of the group waxed poetically for several minutes about the great American novel. I have no doubt that many people think penning a book will make them rich or at the very least insanely comfortable. It’s just not true. Go ahead, write that book; just do it knowing you’ll be lucky to make enough money to quit your day job.
You can’t take a break from writing. When I’m working on a novel or a short story, I write a mandatory six days a week, maybe seven if I can spare it. I do this until the story is done. Then I take a break for a week or two. By that time, the laptop is beckoning my return to the dungeon (my office is in our basement). When necessary this break has been longer than two weeks, but that’s rare. Writing can be a taxing and lonesome venture. Taking a break is fine. Just remember the longer the break, the more rust you’ll have to shake off before returning to a serious project.
You need to be prodigious with your output. In On Writing Stephen King talks about new writers setting a goal of one thousand to one thousand five hundred words per day, with the eventual goal of hitting the two-thousand-word mark. Well, Stephen King is a fulltime writer and has that kind of time. Most of my writing sessions have come while children nap or watch cartoons in the hazy midafternoon. My time is limited. Most days I write around fifteen hundred words and am perfectly fine with the output. One day a week I only write around five hundred words. This is to keep the story in my head while having a lighter workload for the day. In my younger days, many novels went unfinished if I took too many days off from a story. This prevents that from happening. Remember, it’s about not losing the story.
Stay in your genre. Many writers stay in a genre because they have developed a relationship with the readership. Perhaps there is a fear of alienating the fans by trying a new genre. However, I’m a fan of Stephen King, as I’m sure you have guessed, and have followed him to other genres. Once I develop a fondness for a writer, I’ll read anything they write, within reason, of course. Plus, this lets new writers discover you as a writer.
All it takes is a competent writing ability. I have read books that were well written that didn’t hold my attention long enough to finish (I’m looking at you, The Historian). Also, if it were only about writing ability, I wouldn’t be getting rejection slips regarding the two novels I have written.
All it takes is a good idea. While some writers can get away with having a good idea held up by poor writing ability (I’m looking at you, Stephanie Meyer). Most of us will have to combine good writing with a good idea to get published for the first time.
You must enter into writing with a plan. In my opinion, writing is about feeling out the best way to tell a story. In truth, some writers are plotters, some are pantsers, and some are a hybrid. I have tried all three of these and can tell you, personally, I prefer a hybrid approach. A detailed itinerary isn’t necessary, though a few ideas of landmarks to visit along the way is recommended.
Fancy eloquent language is necessary. Some writers like to dazzle us with their prose. For instance, Dean Koontz can develop a brilliant plot, yet has spent several pages describing the Santa Ana wind unnecessarily. There are times when less is more. I had a short story published last year in which the editor complimented my use of simple language to weave a complex story. Putting an image into the reader’s head, that’s the important thing, and sometimes big words need to be left behind.
You should listen to published writer’s advice as if they were a sage from the promised land. Look, every writer’s journey is different, and they all have opinions. If you listened to them all, well, you would never get anything done. Now, literary agents, on the other hand, are another matter.

Thanks for reading. Until next time, remember to follow your dreams, even if they terrify you.

Stephen Michael Roth

10 Truths About Writing

Hello and welcome back to the blog! It has been an interesting week in the Roth household. A failed hose caused our main floor bathroom to flood… with hot water. This happened for an unknown amount of time before it was discovered. When it was found water was leaking through the ceiling of the basement bathroom and laundry room, which is directly under the main floor bathroom. Well, it appears we are getting a bathroom remodel soon. Today, I would like to give you ten truths about writing, according to me. Remember, these are only my opinion and are in no particular order.

Read a lot. This is a basic truth for every writer, whether you write fiction or nonfiction. A writer that does not read is not going to show growth, after reading is a way of learning for a writer. A writer could unintentionally mirror another novel. (I’m sure every writer has had a brilliant idea for a novel in the back of their head, only to read a book that is too close for comfort. Or maybe it is just me.) Also, purchasing a book shows support for fellow writers, which is always a good thing.
Write a lot. I realize these first two are basic truths that you already know if you are a writer and read this blog on a regular basis. Yet I think it bears repeating due to the level of importance.
Editing is hard, but necessary. Most writers cringe when the subject of editing is brought up. I happen to be one of them. When a writer self-edits a novel they are searching for their own mistakes and fixing them. Growth as a writer can be the result. Writing is a creative process, while editing is more tedious in nature. My own editing skills have grown over the years, though I do not enjoy the process much.
It is possible to improve your writing. If you read a lot, write a lot, and edit your work, over time you should expect to see some growth. Looking back, my own writing grew steadily throughout the years. Now, I am a completely different writer. The only way for this truth to be applicable to you is to follow the first three truths.
Writing is hard. I wish I could lie to you, but the truth is there are a lot of bad writers out there. I have read my fair share, as I am sure you have. While I believe it is possible to improve one’s own writing, some are a lost cause. Bad writing often has grammar, vocabulary, and the elements of style to blame. These are essential to good writing; without them a writer is doomed.
People will not always understand. I have been chasing the dream of being a full-time writer since I was a teenager. (A quick note: I will never call myself an aspiring writer. I do not aspire to write; I write. I challenge every writer to do the same.) If you chase a dream for as long as I have, chances are you will run into some folks who do not understand your motivation. Some will openly question the decisions you make. My response has always been to smile in return. Explaining passion to the passionless is something I will not waste my time with.I have better things to do, like writing.
The story is King. I have killed characters, abandoned outlines (when I was still using them), ripped notes, and been completely surprised by a stories outcome. That is because I go where the story takes me. The story is King, and I am but a faithful servant who follows orders. If something is not right in a story, it is usually because I was not listening closely enough.
Resiliency is not recommended; it is a requisite. During my time as a writer I have been rejected more than the average nonwriter will face in a couple of lifetimes. Yes, I am still alive, kicking, and asking for more. I have moments when I feel overwhelmed like everyone else. However, if you do not have a thick skin, my recommendation is to think twice about entering this business. It could break you.
It is a responsibility that should be taken seriously. Stephen King said it best in On Writing, “You must not come lightly to the blank page.”
Writing is a creative outlet that should be enjoyed. Yes, I did just say that writing should be taken seriously. I do not think that means we cannot enjoy the process. If you are not enjoying yourself then it might start to feel like work.

Thanks for reading. The 10 lies of writing are coming next week. Until then, follow your dreams, even if they terrify you.

Stephen Michael Roth

Have Self-Confidence

Hello and welcome back to the blog! I’m about to be really busy, as I will be starting a new novel next week. Yes, it’s the second book in the Breaking Character Series. Full disclosure, this will be short. I didn’t plan on doing a blog post this week, but I felt inspiration strike. When that happens, I usually listen. Today, I would like to talk about self-confidence. Let’s get started.

The know-it-all that is the internet defines self-confidence as a feeling of trust in one’s abilities, qualities, and judgement. A sense of confidence in one’s abilities can go a long way no matter the profession you have chosen. Since I’m a writer, I’ll stick to self-confidence as it pertains to writing, though the parallels can reach anyone. As I sit here at my desk typing, I consider myself a confident person. That hasn’t always been the case. Once upon a time I let fear and self-doubt get in the way. I mostly consider that a thing of the past.

A lack of self-confidence doesn’t sound like that bad a thing to suffer from. After all, I’m sure we all know a few people who are so boisterous in their self-confidence that they come across as arrogant. Such people can be hard to be around. However, that’s not what I’m talking about. I believe there is a way to have confidence in one’s own abilities while remaining humble. It’s a fine line between confident and arrogant, but the same can be said for humble and meek. It’s about trusting in yourself and in your abilities, while using those to make decisions. Once a decision is made, you must have confidence that the right decision was made and see it through. If you don’t, self-doubt and regret rear their ugly heads. Believe me, I know.

In the past I have let self-doubt get in the way of achieving my dream of becoming a published author. I wrote three novels without sending any to literary agents for possible representation. The fourth was only sent to four or five before rejection got into my head, causing self-doubt. I have a full blog post devoted to rejection, so I won’t go into that any further. Breaking Character was the fifth novel I have finished and was sent to more than forty agents. I’m still waiting for responses on several of those queries, but I tried. While I believe it’s far better than the four novels that preceded it, those four still deserved a chance. From Darkness Comes… is just as good and is currently being queried.

Did something change from my first novel to my fifth and sixth? Yes, and I’m sure you know the answer. My self-confidence. After years of both reading and writing I realized something. My writing isn’t half bad, dare I say good. Sure, there are better writers on the shelves at bookstores or on whatever device you use to download books. However, in my experience there are a number that don’t measure up. I don’t think it’s arrogant to say such a thing, but simply a matter of confidence.

For me it boils down to this simple fact, I know I’m good enough to make it in this business. It has taken thirteen years to be able to say (or type) those words. Now I work each day to ensure the world knows it too.

Thanks for reading. Until next time, follow your dreams, even if they terrify you.

Stephen Michael Roth

Ten Short Stories In Under One Thousand Words

Hello and welcome back to the blog! There is a lot going on in the world right now. Rather than talk about it, I thought I would attempt to entertain you instead. I gave myself the following challenge this week: write ten short stories in under a thousand words. I made it with two words to spare (not including the titles and this intro). For those that don’t know, I write middle grade horror. Most of the stories are skewed in that direction but are aimed at being read by all. Enjoy.

(Editing note: The original post touted ten short stories in under ten thousand words, which is wrong. It’s actually ten stories in one thousand words, which was every bit as challenging as it sounds. I was scanning through the titles as I uploaded a new post and thought, there must be some mistake! Yes, there was and it was mine. At least I noticed it as some point!)

The Grave

The darkness that had seemed eternal finally abated for Javi. Slowly his vision returned, bringing unexpected sights to behold. There had to be something wrong. The images his eyes were sending to his brain didn’t make sense.

Javi stood in a field of grass surrounded by slabs of granite, marble, sandstone, and bronze. He could see a wrought iron gate in the distance that ran along the field’s perimeter.

“No,” Javi whispered. His voice died as soon as it left his lips, becoming nothing more than the sound of a midnight breeze.

Knowing the truth, yet in denial because of its consequence, Javi turned to the nearest gravestone.

Javier Jordan

2001-2020

He will remain forever in our hearts

Shadow People

I know I’m not crazy, I know I’m not crazy. This has been my mantra in recent days, for reasons that will soon be obvious.

Have you ever seen someone in your peripheral only to find no one there when you look? I have a theory. There really is someone there, only it’s an alien. I don’t think they mean us any har—

Life

He smiled. She laughed. They loved.

The Grove

The sun was descending behind the treetops in the western horizon when Paige let the storm door on Sandra’s front porch slam closed behind her. She jumped from the top of the porch, skipping the steps entirely. Knowing Mr. Morrison, Sandra’s dad, wouldn’t mind, she cut through the yard.

Paige was supposed to be home before dark. “If the stars are in the sky and you’re outside to see them, then you’re in trouble, young lady,” her mother had said.

Of course, time had gotten away from both girls, as it often did. Mr. Morrison had offered to give her a ride as she hurried out of the house. She had refused. A quick shortcut along a trail that weaved through a grove separating the friend’s homes would save her at least five minutes.

Paige was only a few yards into the woodland area when a dark shadow moved in her peripheral. Yet nothing was there. She kept running.

An overturned tree lying across the path marked the halfway point of the grove. The shadows were as deep as she had ever seen them. Something moved in the darkness just off the path.

It was at this point she remembered something else her mother had told her. “Don’t go into those woods after dark.”

A menacing growl rumbled through the grove and Paige realized Mom’s warning had been warranted.

The bushes rustled on both sides of the path as the first creature was joined by a mate. A stitch appeared in her side, but Paige ignored it. This was no time for pain.

Relief flooded over her as the light from her back porch came into view through the trees. A moment later she burst from the grove and across her backyard. Paige ran without looking back, even when something snarled behind her. She didn’t stop until the backdoor was separating her from the outside.

Meanwhile, two sets of glowing red eyes watched the house. They were patient.

Moving Earth

The earth moved beneath my feet.

I jumped back, filled with horror.

The dirt where I once stood was pushed aside.

In its place a decomposing hand pushed through the soil.

The Doll

Niko stared at the doll sitting on her dresser across the room. The Japanese Geisha doll had been a gift from her great aunt Majo, whom she hadn’t met.

There was a blur of red and gold as the Geisha doll jumped off the dresser. The kimono clad doll shuffled towards Niko, who laid in bed. Niko screamed.

The Seed, The Bird, & The Tree

The life that I have lived has been long. Yet I still remember what it was like before I was even a sprout. Life back then was rather stifling, as I was surrounded by fleshy pulp.

I could feel myself growing with each passing day. Elation filled my entire being, for I knew that if I grew large enough, I might break free from my fleshy incarceration.

One day my domain was overcome with rumbling and quaking. Something sharp was tearing away at the fleshy pulp which surrounded me. I was free, but only for a moment. The sharp object, of which there were two, snatched me up.

Darkness overwhelmed me.

An unknown amount of time later I was purged from the darkness. I can still recall how it felt to fly through the sky, if only for the briefest of moments.

My flight ended as abruptly as it had begun. I hit the ground with a splat. There I laid for some time. In fact, I am still there now, though I look much different now.

The winged thing with the sharp weaponry had done me a favor. It had cracked my shell. As a result, I was able to grow beyond my wildest dreams.

Now the winged creatures land upon me and feed. Yet I don’t mind, for it was one of their kind that gave me life.

The Basement

Jacob stood at the top of the steps, looking down into the darkness.

A hissing sound echoed from the abyss below.

His foot paused on the top step.

A tremble went through his body.

Something was down there.

An Unwanted Pet

Candice didn’t really like animals. However, that didn’t mean she wanted any to get hurt.

While walking home from school she found an injured bunny. Not wanting to see a creature suffer, she took it home. After a few weeks of recouping, Bugs was released in a nearby park.

That night there was scratching on the front door. Candice opened it. Bugs sat on the welcome mat.

The next day, she walked to a park even further away. Bugs showed up that night.

After a week she gave in. Candice didn’t like animals, but Bugs didn’t care.

A Love Story

Belinda worked at a movie theater where she met a quiet coworker named Stephen. She decided to get him to talk. He did, but only to her.

The last story is dedicated to my wife, as it is our story. The real story is longer than the one above, but it really boils down to a girl deciding to talk to a boy. Thanks for reading.

Follow your dreams, even if they terrify you.

Stephen Michael Roth

What Other Writers Have Taught Me

Hello and welcome back to the blog! I’m sure you have noticed that things look a little different around here, including the web address. I upgraded the blog to a website with its own domain. I also took the time to do some tweaking. Everyone should be able to comment without being prompted for information. There is also a new tab on the menu at the top of the page, Books & Short Stories. Right now, the only thing under that tab is a link to a short story available on Amazon Kindle.

My plan for the blog this week had been to share the first of two installments of a short story I wrote last year. This weekend I prepared the short story by rereading it and doing a light edit. I then went to my Amazon Kindle Direct Publishing page to unpublish Service To Die For. It has been static for months and the only time it sold anything was for free. It was time. That was when I realized it was still part of the Kindle Unlimited program, which has a ninety-day exclusivity rights. I had been under the impression the enrollment in Kindle Unlimited had expired, which it had. What I didn’t realize is it automatically renews (I switched this feature off). The long and short of it is Service To Die For will have to wait until after April 18 to appear on the blog. In the meantime, I have done my best to make sure that if you wish to read a story by the writer of the blog you’re reading, then you have an opportunity to do so. The story is free today and tomorrow (Monday, March 23 & Tuesday, March 24) as an eBook on Kindle and always free for Kindle Unlimited users. There is a link under the aforementioned Books & Short Stories tab.

With that lengthy introduction out of the way, let’s get on topic. As you can tell by the catchy title, the topic of this post is what other writers have taught me. I don’t think that requires further explanation, so let’s get started.

I’m sure that it won’t surprise you to find out I don’t possess a degree in creative writing or have an MFA (Master of Fine Arts). Everything I know about writing I learned from reading and writing as much as possible. The degrees listed above aren’t necessary unless you want to teach writing or brag (don’t be that guy). Most of the learning that takes place as a writer is done in a gradual manner, without any awareness at the time. These are only some of the lessons I’m aware of having learned, taught by writers who didn’t realize they were teaching me.

R.L. Stine

This one probably doesn’t come as much of a surprise to faithful readers of this blog. Mr. Stine was my childhood hero and inspired me to start writing. The middle grade horror writer is on this list for two distinctly different reasons.

He taught me that reading could be fun. Eventually that evolved into finding joy in the writing process. This was a lesson learned as a child. It’s one that I still believe in. If a story doesn’t bring me joy, whether I’m the reader or the writer, it won’t hold my attention.
He is an example of what I don’t want my writing to become. This is a hard one to write about, but I have always promised to be truthful. R.L. Stine was my favorite writer as a child. As an adult who happens to be a writer of the same genre, I can’t say that I’m much of a fan. Goosebumps books are campy in an unintentional manner, silly in an intentional manner, and are full of cheap scares. That’s without mentioning the mediocre writing or the lack of credit given to the audience. The two unpublished novels I have written in the past year are as far from R.L. Stine’s Goosebumps as possible while remaining in the same genre.

Richard Chizmar

Mr. Chizmar is a relative newcomer to the list of influential writers in my life. He is probably most famous for cowriting a book with Stephen King. Classifying Chizmar’s writing is a little difficult. Some stories fall under the umbrella of horror, though most of the stories I have read are crime related. Grit, I guess you could say. Chizmar writes about grit.

There is more than one way to tell a story. While reading a collection of short stories by Chizmar about a year and a half ago, I stumbled upon a very good short story. The story was about a teenage girl spending the summer with her grandma (or possibly her aunt), who lives in a lakefront town. A teenage boy invites her to a party. During the story there are short macabre glimpses into the future. Call it foreshadowing, if you wish. I will simply call it brilliant. Chizmar found a way to make a perfectly ordinary story something much better. That’s what good writing should do.
It’s okay to write about the grittier and lesser known/talked about sides of life. Obviously, I have to be careful since I write middle grade fiction. Yet it’s doable. It’s for this reason I chose a foster child for my main character in From Darkness Comes… and will continue to shine a light where some might not want to look.

Jonathan Stroud

Stroud happens to be the writer of my favorite middle grade series, Lockwood & Co. He is the type of writer I strive to be. His books are well written with a serious tone. Yet the characters are lighthearted and know how to have fun with one another. The pacing of his books is second to none in the middle grade genre. Also, there aren’t cheap scares; those are very much real.

Start at the beginning. I have talked about this simple logic before and I’m going to do it again. Most writers, including myself, tend to start the story before we truly need to. We spend chapter upon chapter building character and giving backstory when we should really be getting to the point. Every book I have read in the Lockwood & Co Series starts with action. I have tried to replicate that in my own novels since becoming hooked on this writer.
Pacing is important. Like I said, Stroud’s books are brilliantly paced and second to none in the genre. There is a steady stream of action taking place. Yet the writer knows how to slow things down at times and still keep the reader engaged. It’s brilliant work. Jonathan Stroud is quickly becoming a favorite writer of mine.

Stephen King

As with R.L. Stine, I’m sure faithful readers of this blog could guess that King would be on this list. He is also the writer that has taught me the most about the craft. A high school English teacher before striking gold with Carrie, King wrote a book about writing aptly titled On Writing. The book is twenty years old now, but still worth a read for any writer wanting to better their craft. The list of things that I have learned is long, but here are the highlights.

Don’t let yourself be confined by genre. King is considered the master of horror. That doesn’t mean it’s the only genre he writes. Over the years King has written a lot of short stories and novels outside of the horror genre, with brilliant results at times. The Shawshank Redemption, The Body, and The Dark Tower Series are good examples.
A final draft is the first draft minus ten percent. This is a boring editing lesson that every writer should know or learn asap.
Habit is important and just write. I think these two go hand in hand. King writes everyday without fail and doesn’t leave his chair until his word-count is met. In On Writing he recommended to do the same. I have taken this advice to heart, though I’ll admit to writing six days a week instead of seven.
“If you don’t have the time to read, you don’t have the time (or the tools) to write.” This is a direct quote from On Writing. For writers it’s the simple truth. Luckily, I have never had a problem with reading. I read because I enjoy it. The same goes for writing. If you don’t enjoy either, well, I suggest you find something else to do.

That’s it for today. I have made some changes to my plans regarding my novels. I regret to inform you that I am going to keep those plans to myself for a while. My posts over the past month or so have been all over the place. From now on I will only put what I’m confident about on this website. You can trust that I finally know what I am going to do (yes, it is different from last week). What I chose feels right. There will be more news in the months to come. Thanks for reading.

Remember to follow your dreams, even if they terrify you.

Stephen Michael Roth