Looking for the latest freebie fodder? Perhaps a tantalizing contest? Well look no further! Whenever a good deal tickles my fancy, I post it here for all to enjoy. C.L. Cannon's Fantasy & Sci-Fi Book Fair Discover over 150+ free,...
Writers have a lot of opinions about writing. I know that may sound like a pretty deep concept, so I’ll give you a minute (cue Jeopardy theme). Welcome to the Zeedub Inkwell, my catch-all for author-related brain droppings.
The Software That Builds My Authorship
Every author has a love-hate relationship with technology. It is absolutely critical to modern publishing, can save immense amounts of time, but can also be a huge source of frustration. I often beat my head against the wall when trying to learn a...
Destress Your Writing Life: A Practical Guide
Now that we're on year two of a century-defining pandemic, I noticed a peculiar anomaly. I am actually feeling better about my writing life. The last few years have been a maddening tornado of shifting tastes and marketing woes. Every author I know...
I Have Slayed the Twitter Dragon (And Bid Farewell to Social Media)
The final domino has fallen. I'm done. Finished. Elvis. Gone forever. Twitter was the last platform standing in a long-fought war with social media marketing. I had resisted the killing blow due to a misplaced understanding of what I needed from...
The Joys and Perils of Writing Humor
I am a science fiction humor writer. As of this post, I am about to launch a new sci-fi comedy series. And while I am very excited to get it into the hands of readers, I am also dreading the inevitable backlash. This is because all humor suffers...
Where in the World is Zachry Wheeler?
I honestly don't know how some authors do it. It seems like they're everywhere all at once. Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, Goodreads, Twitch, MySpace, Arpanet, the Moon, and lurking around my basement. Social media icons litter their websites like...
The Top Five Lessons I’ve Learned as a Published Author (So Far)
I have been in the publishing game for five years now, during which I have released six novels, four short stories, and two box sets. It's been a brutal learning experience, as self-publishing can be an unforgiving endeavor. After many trials and...
Let’s Talk About Writer’s Burnout: No Tips, Just Talk
Now that the dumpster fire of 2020 is officially in the rearview, I have enjoyed an unexpected resurgence of motivation. I'm back in the writer's seat and plowing through edits on the latest novel. Back in the summer, I was finishing up the first...
Embrace the Trinity of Ownership: Website, Blog, and Mailing List
In a previous post, I outlined my decision to abandon Facebook (and why you should too). I cited numerous reasons, one of which was ownership, i.e. focusing on the marketing venues that I can actually control. In the online world, that amounts to...
No, I’m Not on Facebook (And No Author Should Be)
I am fully aware that I will receive a lot of flack for this post, but it's one that I feel needs to be written. Most of my author friends are on Facebook. Hell, many of them have created their own communities on the platform and depend on it for...
To The Horses! The Heartbreaking Reality Behind Doren’s Tragic Toast
It's all too common to say "cheers" or "salud" when raising a glass in celebration. Within that arena, "To the horses!" may sound a tad bizarre, but it's been my default toast for the last 15 years. Whenever my wife and I raise our glasses, those...
Five Words that Need to Die Horrible and Painful Deaths
Writers will often get lost inside their own lingo swamps. First drafts are littered with sub-par and overused words, and for good reason. When you're just trying to get to the end, the most common terms will do. After all, that's what editing is...