Jeff Haws

Independent author

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3 Lessons from the Cubs on Dramatic Writing

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As a lifelong Chicago Cubs fan who writhed happily on the floor after they won their first World Series in 108 years last fall, and who just finished reading Tom Verducci’s terrific new book “The Cubs Way,” I’ve had a lot of time to think about what happened a few months ago. It’s stayed in my mind often and, between the book and the banner raising earlier this week (along with the ring ceremony tonight at Wrigley), I’ve been thinking about it even more lately. [Read more…] about 3 Lessons from the Cubs on Dramatic Writing

How to Write a Beta Reader Checklist

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Last weekend, I patted my next novel “Separation” on the butt and sent it out into a little slice of the world, letting my beta readers explore the town of Alessandra and its various characters. Hopefully, they’ll enjoy the read, and won’t ultimately tell me to toss my computer in a fire and start over from the beginning. [Read more…] about How to Write a Beta Reader Checklist

How to Hook the Reader from the Start

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During a recent Facebook discussion about my new book, “The Slingshot” (available now on Amazon), an awesome fellow writer named Aurora Gregory said, “I swear, opening sentences are your super power…seriously…what a start!” It’s nice to know I have a super power, though I’m not sure Opening Sentence Man (“Leaping comma splices in a single bound!”) is gonna get invited into The Avengers any time soon. [Read more…] about How to Hook the Reader from the Start

Why I Write Every Day (And Why It Matters)

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I have a confession to make … for much of the time I was writing my next novel, I was a bad writer. That’s not to say not to say I was writing a bad story (though I haven’t read the thing, so I wouldn’t put it past me), but that I was doing a bad job at the physical act of writing. [Read more…] about Why I Write Every Day (And Why It Matters)

Behold, as I Insult the Written Word

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Making the rounds of the indie publishing world lately has been this HuffPo piece from Laurie Gough about the scourge that is self-published books, and how those books are “an insult to the written word.” It’s, shall we say, harsh toward indie authors. It’s also typical HuffPo click bait. But that doesn’t necessarily mean it’s all wrong. [Read more…] about Behold, as I Insult the Written Word