I am flattered that anyone takes the time to read my books and comment about them. Different readers will have different reactions to the same book, and I get more good reviews than bad, so can just chalk up the pans to a matter of taste. But I also read bad reviews carefully to see what I can learn from them in the hope I can use this information going forward, keeping in mind the words of Vladimir Nabokov: “What reviewers call a strong novel is generally a precarious heap of platitudes or a sandcastle on a populated beach, and there are few things sadder than to see its muddy moat dissolve when the holiday makers are gone and the cold mousy waves are nibbling at the solitary sands.”

Writing is easy; marketing is hard.

I wrote short stories in college, and started my first novel, Five Ferries, in 1978. Forty years later I published this book and after that was able to pick up the pace to publish novels in 2021 (Backstory) and 2022 (Pandion), and I plan to publish another (Two Degrees) this summer in 2023.

Keep plugging to get something down on paper and then be prepared to discard what doesn't fit the story when you begin the real work of self-editing. Once you feel you have a complete, worthwhile manuscript, get comments from as many readers as you can trust to read it thoughtfully and comment honestly, pleading with them to criticize the work in ways that will help you improve it. (If you are looking for early readers of your draft to tell you they liked it and it was well-written, you might be in the wrong line of work.) Then plan on multiple rewrites to incorporate comments and your own evolving understanding of the story and the mechanics of writing a novel. It all takes as long as it takes. Don't rush any phase because, once it is published, it will last forever.

I build a plot from a basic idea into a rough outline, which I discuss with anyone who will listen. Then I write the parts of this story that appear most clearly to me, in no particular order. When the creative flow dries up, I return to the beginning and draft a detailed outline, scene by scene. Once this is done--at least in draft--writing to fill in the story is easy. I try to begin with at least one main character with some distinguishing features, and then fill in the other main characters as needed for the story. In a separate document I list details of each character (age, location, occupation, education, background, unique characteristics), which becomes a reference tool and an organic document that helps me further develop and distinguish these characters.

I typically rewrite the opening 25-30 times, understanding this is the hook that will convince people to keep reading.

James Joyce. I'd even pay for the beers.