Surf City Mysteries | Writers In The Storm

5 Rules to Keep Writers Sane on Their Creative Journey

Guest Blogger — Fri, 05 Dec 2025 09:43:00 +0000

Veteran author, James Preston, gives five "rules" to help keep writers sane. . .in finding their backups AND navigating this crazy writing life.

The post 5 Rules to Keep Writers Sane on Their Creative Journey first appeared on Writers In The Storm.

For the Love of Books

Guest Blogger — Fri, 06 Jun 2025 08:23:00 +0000

We know you love books. If you didn’t love books and stories, you wouldn’t be reading this. Come tell us stories about your early reading experiences...

The post For the Love of Books first appeared on Writers In The Storm.

The Shadow Before -- Thoughts on Foreshadowing

Guest Blogger — Mon, 10 Mar 2025 08:51:00 +0000

Author James Preston explores foreshadowing in fiction. How it keeps readers engaged, links your story together, and why it's such a useful writing technique.

The post The Shadow Before -- Thoughts on Foreshadowing first appeared on Writers In The Storm.

Get Out from Behind the Keyboard

Guest Blogger — Fri, 04 Mar 2022 09:21:00 +0000

Three tips for lowering your writing stress and elevating your writing inspiration, from James R. Preston. #1 Tip: Get out from behind the keyboard!

The post Get Out from Behind the Keyboard first appeared on Writers In The Storm.

The Death of Print Books?

Guest Blogger — Fri, 04 Jun 2021 09:07:00 +0000

James Preston shares his love of books, explores the differences between e-books and print, and examines the popular concept that physical books are dying.

The post The Death of Print Books? first appeared on Writers In The Storm.

Shifting Gears in Your Writing

Guest Blogger — Fri, 05 Mar 2021 11:38:27 +0000

What does it mean to shift writing gears? Why would you do it? James Preston offers examples of writers who cross genres successfully.

The post Shifting Gears in Your Writing first appeared on Writers In The Storm.

Time and the DVD Shortcut

Guest Blogger — Wed, 05 Feb 2020 12:00:00 +0000

Time is your friend . . . and your enemy. In this super-entertaining post, James Preston shares quick writing hacks that save time while they provide learning.

The post Time and the DVD Shortcut first appeared on Writers In The Storm.

Drive On, Writers - Reasons to Keep Plugging

Guest Blogger — Fri, 17 Feb 2017 16:44:32 +0000

James Preston I want to tell you a story. No, not one I wrote, one I lived. This story is an illustration of a lifetime of reading, and a story that I bet you read and say, “Why, yes, I remember a book like that.” This story illustrates the seismic changes that we have witnessed. […]

The post Drive On, Writers - Reasons to Keep Plugging first appeared on Writers In The Storm.

Reading as a Writer -- Is It Different?

Guest Blogger — Wed, 08 Apr 2015 11:02:00 +0000

James Preston When I was growing up I read a lot. I had a pattern, a way that I approached books that just evolved sort of on its own. I'd read for a while, get to a really good part and then go off and do something else, something mindless. Often I'd dig a hole. […]

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Writing Conference Wisdom: A Whirlwind of Speed Dating

Guest Blogger — Mon, 01 Dec 2014 12:00:29 +0000

James Preston We write to entertain, to share our experience, or because we have a story that simply must be told. But it's not easy. Let's be honest. If you studied piano for the same number of hours you put into your writing you could at least pound out "Jingle Bells" at the company party. Writing […]

The post Writing Conference Wisdom: A Whirlwind of Speed Dating first appeared on Writers In The Storm.