Uncategorized – Page 19 – Mark Bruce, Writer

Screw Writer’s Block

My friend and somewhat mentor Jane Cleland (well, she chose my story for the Black Orchid Novella Award in 2018 and I attend her webinars on writing, so I’m calling her a mentor) recently gave a little web talk on writer’s block. She had a number of suggestions for getting out of writer’s block, whichContinue reading “Screw Writer’s Block”

Mr. Not Quite

Well, it happened again. In my email this afternoon was the following response to a short story submission: “Hi Mark, well you made it right down to the wire. We enjoyed Love Potion #10 for UNMASKED. It was clever and amusing, and several members of our editorial team (eight grad students and me) picked itContinue reading “Mr. Not Quite”

Not Thankful At All

So it’s the time of year when everyone, and I mean everyone, does a little blog on what they’re thankful for. I call bull. The human heart is never thankful. It always thinks that it deserves more. If you disagree I can only say you are lying to yourself. For instance: I see a pictureContinue reading “Not Thankful At All”

My Madness

Christmas is a’comin’ and if that doesn’t terrify you, you’ve never raised a child. My beautiful son is now grown and living in Michigan while he pursues his Ph.D in Aerospace Engineering. Yes, my son is a rocket scientist. (Some years ago, when he was getting his Masters at Purdue, I went to a dinnerContinue reading “My Madness”

Nanowrimo, Anyone?

Every November I go crazy. There’s no other way to describe it. I start on Nov. 1 writing a novel. I write anywhere from 1500 to 2000 words a day until I finish the novel. When I’m done I have added to the storehouse of the Literature of Mark Bruce. National Novel Writing Month, orContinue reading “Nanowrimo, Anyone?”

Women of Mystery

Although I am a man, I am jealous of the reputation of women in mystery. In particular, I want women to be portrayed as real people in mystery stories. I have to say, I am more often disappointed than not. Take your average spy thriller (which is a sub-genre of mystery). Usually you have aContinue reading “Women of Mystery”

Home Sweet Victorville

So. One of these posts talks about my time in Sacramento, but I wanted to make sure you knew that I work now in San Bernardino. In fact, I have opened an office near my home. The office is in Victorville on Bear Valley road. It’s a pleasant office, roomy and full of the debrisContinue reading “Home Sweet Victorville”