For most authors, a story is more than a collection of words—it’s a living extension of themselves. Characters, settings, and themes often carry fragments of their own memories, hopes, and fears, whether placed with intention or revealed without realizing it.

One of the joys—and challenges—of writing a good thriller is keeping readers on their toes. Twists, red herrings, and surprise reveals are essential tools in a writer’s arsenal. After all, no one wants to breeze through a story and correctly guess the ending halfway through.

When I first began writing, I thought I had to choose a lane—thriller, mystery, science fiction, fantasy—and stick to it. But stories don’t always respect boundaries. Neither do the characters who live in them.

One of the trickiest things for me as a writer—right up there with getting the grammar right—is dialogue. It sounds easy. You just make people talk, right? Wrong.

Not in the very distant past, could an author only compete for readers by using established publishing houses. Those houses were very selective in the manuscripts they chose to print. Unless you have a well-recognized name, or are just plain lucky, most authors submitting their work rarely stand a chance. Enter vanity publishing, where authors pay to have their work printed, usually only in large numbers. If you are good at hustling, maybe you may manage to eke out a living from writing. Print-on-demand is now the predominant method for printing books. But who reads hard copy, right?

First, identify the symptom. For example, I often find it challenging to determine the direction of my writing, spending several hours on a single paragraph. This leads to fatigue, prompting me to conclude my work for the day. This issue occurs because I am one of those writers who prefer to edit while writing. Generally, my other difficulties include a lack of creativity, low motivation, self-doubt, and indecisiveness. For myself, I have found that the most effective approach is to set my writing aside—sometimes for days or weeks. Upon returning to the story, I usually have a fresh perspective. Moreover, I do not feel guilty ignoring my story because I still consider it while resting. I also remind myself that the only deadline is self-imposed.

I composed six works that I categorize as poetry. My I Speak for the Earth series of free text poems expresses my feelings about the natural world. Readers may either agree with my interpretations or form their own, as intended. Nonetheless, my works contain the ingredients to be called poems. However, there are those who would argue that what I wrote is really prose. The internet is full of articles that differentiate the two. Their authors aim to show various distinctions that would categorize them as prose. But unless you’re a student of word distinction and form, who cares? Sit back, relax, and read each line and I’m certain you’ll bring forth your own thoughtful enjoyment, as intended.

As an author, my primary objective is to craft a good story. As important, however, is addressing the various challenges necessary to ensure that my readers experience a gratifying read. The main challenges are typos and grammatical errors. Even multiple reviewers and word programs can miss them. My biggest issue is ordering my adverbs; oops! There are also factual inaccuracies to consider. While writing fiction allows for some creative freedom, I strive to ensure that the ideas and content I present are primarily grounded in fact. Finally, having too much or too little dialogue can be an issue. While my personal taste influences my writing, I know it doesn’t always agree with reader’s tastes. But if I craft a good story, maybe that could be overlooked. The following links provide other challenges facing us writers:

I have toyed with using a pen name or the initials of my first and middle names in publishing my books. My thought stems from other famous authors who have used pen names for some of their writings. Agatha Christie is one of them. She authored a few novels using the name Mary Westmacott. Why would she deviate from her own famous name? Reportedly to explore her imagination more freely and avoid influencing readers’ perception of the work. Others may have used it to test the waters by writing genres different from what they typically publish.

“I really enjoyed the writing style. It is smooth, easy reading. It has a fast pace with great interaction between the main characters, Neil and Reese, as they explore the underworld of the Boston mafia. Secondary characters have purpose and help to drive the plot forward. The ambiance and tone of the novel feel authentic, and you can really imagine yourself in locations in the book, whether it is in Boston's Back Bay visiting art galleries or searching for clues at the historic White Mountains resorts. The only thing I thought could have been better was the book's title. ― M J Campbell”

Halfway to MMXX The Year 2020: It Begins was published August 27, 2019. I have been surprised it has not been widely read. Although almost six years has passed, the story backdrop is as relevant today as when I wrote it. Russian military activities in the arctic form the setting to a group of scholars trying to prevent a cataclysmic event. The relevance lies in the fact that portions of the Arctic landmass are now being exposed due to retreating ice sheets, presenting opportunities for the extraction of Earth's resources. My fictional account blends exploration with a natural event and was accorded the LIFE (Literature for Environment) Award. A better synopsis can be found in this review: www.yeahlifestyle.com/book-review-halfway-to-mmxx-the-year-2020-it-begins-by-anthony-mays/

I find that genre is most accepting of my short story skills. Initially, I planned to write only one collection of short stories but quickly found that the stories were coming rapidly. Consequently, I authored a second book. Now all of them, plus others, are incorporated into my Bizarre Stories book. My inspiration is derived from various everyday experiences and situations, as well as from my childhood television viewing. I was especially inspired by Alfred Hitchcock and The Twilight Zone. In my writing, I focus on conveying thoughts and concepts rather than incorporating detailed imagery. To me, that is what separates creepy from horror. At times, I deliberately omit certain details, preferring to allow the reader's imagination to complete the picture. Writing short stories helps me continue working while taking breaks between writing novels.