KN Magazine: Articles
This Crazy Writing Life: Four Million And Counting! Please, Somebody, Make It Stop!
In this installment of This Crazy Writing Life, Steven Womack examines the explosive rise of AI-generated books and the growing challenges facing today’s writers. With millions of titles flooding the market each year, he explores how shifting publishing models, algorithms, and emerging technologies are reshaping the industry—and what it means for authors striving to create meaningful, lasting work.
ON TIME
In this reflective essay, Clay Stafford shares a painful early career lesson about deadlines and reliability. After missing an important screenplay deadline tied to an opportunity with Mary Tyler Moore’s production team, he discovered that even great work can be overshadowed by missed commitments. The experience reshaped how he viewed professionalism, discipline, and what it truly means to deliver creative work.
There’s No One Right (or Write) Way
In “There’s No One Right (or Write) Way,” bestselling author Lois Winston reflects on the overwhelming flood of writing advice that authors encounter online and in the publishing industry. From contradictory craft rules to questionable experts, Winston reminds writers that every author develops their own process over time. Through humor, personal experience, and practical insight, she encourages writers to think critically about advice, trust their instincts, and remember that there is no universal formula for success.
Drop the Pen! What Every Writer Should Know about Real Police Work: PTSD
PTSD is not a plot device—it’s a lived reality for first responders. In this candid and deeply personal craft article, David Lane Williams explores how trauma shapes veteran police officers, paramedics, and firefighters, and why writers must understand its psychological, emotional, and cultural impact. From dark humor to hypervigilance to private coping rituals, this piece offers essential insight for crafting authentic, layered law enforcement characters.
This Crazy Writing Life: When Publishing Throws You A Curve Ball—Again—And The Scammers Circle Above
Publishing is a people business—until it isn’t. In this installment of This Crazy Writing Life, Steven Womack shares the rollercoaster saga of his novel Pearson Place, from near-acquisition heartbreak to unexpected second chances. But just as hope resurfaces, scammers swoop in with AI-generated flattery and too-good-to-be-true offers. This candid, sharp-edged craft essay offers hard-won wisdom about perseverance, publishing politics, and protecting yourself in a predatory literary landscape.
Writing Historical Fiction
Historical fiction demands more than dates and dusty facts—it requires knowing how to transform real events into compelling narrative. In this practical craft article, James L. Hill explores three major approaches to historical fiction, from time-period-based storytelling to alternative history, and explains how much research each truly requires. Whether anchoring your story in the Battle of Trenton or rewriting the fate of the American Revolution, Hill shows how to balance accuracy, imagination, and storytelling power.
Between Pen and Paper: Flaneuring Through a Writer’s Mind – Time Travel Through Memory’s Imaginary Paths, or How the Brain Edits Your Past
A reflection on how memory constantly rewrites itself and how this natural editing of the past can become a powerful tool for writers of fiction, memoir, and thrillers.
This Crazy Writing Life: AI And Indie Pubbing—Is This The End Of The World As We Know It?
A deep dive into how AI is transforming indie publishing—from audiobook narration to foreign translations—and what this disruption means for authors, narrators, and the future of creative work.
This Crazy Writing Life: Some Random Reflections On The Reality of This Crazy Writing Life
In this candid and insightful column, Steven Womack dives deep into the overwhelming realities of the publishing world—from sobering statistics to the evolution of indie publishing. With wit and honesty, he unpacks the frustrations, surprises, and small victories that come with living this crazy writing life.
Between Pen and Paper: Flaneuring Through a Writer’s Mind – The Many Flavors of “No”
Rejection isn’t the exception in a writer’s life—it’s the main course. In this wry, heartfelt essay, Andi Kopek serves up strategies for transforming rejection into nourishment for the creative soul, reminding writers they’re still cooking—even when they’re not the flavor of the day.
Overcoming Blinking Cursor Syndrome
USA Today bestselling author Lois Winston explores the reality of writer’s block—aka Blinking Cursor Syndrome—and offers practical, experience-backed advice to overcome it. From news-inspired story prompts to the fine art of eavesdropping and setting boundaries, this article delivers insightful tips to reignite your creativity and get your writing flowing again.
The Importance of Honest Feedback
Writers can’t improve in isolation. This blog explores the importance of honest feedback—critiques, alpha and beta readers, and professional editing—offering a roadmap for refining your manuscript and growing as an author.
Crafting Killer Back Cover Copy
Back cover copy can make or break a book's chance of being bought. Learn how to craft compelling back cover copy that hooks readers and drives sales with these simple steps, using GMC—goal, motivation, and conflict.
If They'd Mentioned This in The Beginning…
A candid look back at two cops-turned-authors sharing coffee, early dreams, and the long road from writing craft to traditional publishing—complete with hard lessons, heartfelt reflections, and a touch of gallows humor.
The Writer’s Playbook: Interview Your Characters
Struggling with writer's block? Try the "Kohl method" of interviewing your characters with unexpected questions to discover new aspects of their personality and move your story forward.
No One Wants You to Fail
The deadline is looming, and you’re wondering whether to apply for a Killer Nashville panel spot. Should you submit your application or back out? Remember, no one wants you to fail. Everyone has been where you are, and the only real failure is never trying.
Getting Started In Indie Pubbing (or Good God, what have I gotten myself into?)
Thinking of self-publishing but overwhelmed by the noise? Whether you’re new to the game or a veteran author rethinking your strategy, this guide offers a grounded starting point to navigate the indie pubbing world—without blowing a fuse.
The Difference Between Passive Voice and Passive Verbs
Too many writers confuse passive verbs with passive voice—and avoid “was” like the plague because of bad advice. USA Today bestselling author Lois Winston sets the record straight with clarity, nuance, and real-world writing examples.
Character as a Haunted House
What if your character was a haunted house? In this evocative metaphor, Aimee Hardy explores how to build emotional depth and complexity by layering secrets, fears, and façades into character development.
Editors- You DO Need Them
Editors aren’t optional—they’re essential. Whether you're self-publishing or submitting to a publisher, investing in the right kind of editing at the right time is crucial to your success as a writer. Here's what you need to know.
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