LAURENCE MACNAUGHTON

  • When you create great characters, they walk onto the page and make your story unforgettable. They can bring every scene to life. But creating characters takes tons of time and effort, doesn’t it? Not necessarily. I’m here to show you…

  • A little over a year ago, I did one of my favorite book events of all time. I joined New York Times bestselling author Carrie Vaughn and the fabulous J.L. Forrest at the BookBar. It’s a bookstore. And a bar.…

  • Ever wish you could write a novel in just a matter of weeks . . . and then sell it for good money? Lester Dent did exactly that. In fact, he wrote his first novel in just thirteen days. You…

  • For every brilliant manuscript that grows into a best-selling novel, untold thousands of others get dumped into the recycle bin. What’s the crucial difference between them? Ask Jamie. Over the years, James Persichetti has seen more unpublished manuscripts cross his…

  • Did you resolve to finish your novel this year? I salute you. The bad news is that 80% of those who set New Year’s resolutions give up by the second week of February, according to U.S. News. So, right about…

  • Do you know someone on your “Nice” list who would like to receive an autographed Dru Jasper book as a gift? I’m signing and sending out one of each book, and you can help me pick the winners! Just contact…

  • Countless best-selling authors have told me that in their early years, before they were published, they relentlessly studied the craft of writing. Consequently, I’ve had hundreds of writing books recommended to me. Here are the very best of them all,…

  • When it comes to publishing a novel, the actual writing is only half the battle. In order to get the attention of a publisher, you have to know how to “sell” your book. I think we can all agree that…

  • Perhaps the most popular character in my Dru Jasper series is Hellbringer, a black 1969 Dodge Charger Daytona that is literally possessed by a speed demon. In my new book, No Sleep till Doomsday, our anti-hero Hellbringer has a brand-new…

  • If you’re in the Denver area, come meet me this Friday at my very favorite bookstore: Tattered Cover. I’ll talk about the stories behind No Sleep till Doomsday, read my favorite pages, answer questions, and sign books. After the signing, head…

From the blog

  • Want to Get Published? Read This.

    I’ve talked to dozens of best-selling authors about their early years, before they were published. And the similarities between them are striking. On average, they wrote about half a dozen unpublished manuscripts before they sold a novel. (By the way, this is what I call the Myth of the First Novel. Because it’s hardly ever…

  • Compelling Character Arcs in 4 Easy Steps

    I’ll let you in on a secret: readers want your character to change. They know, deep down, that your character is unhappy with the status quo at the beginning of your book. Something is terribly wrong in your character’s life, and things can’t keep going on this way. Something’s got to give. Readers fervently hope…