If you want writing tips... from someone who just makes things up as he goes along...

Squarespace called this section ‘Course’, as in offering courses. I was initially going to scrap this part. But I had an idea.

Publishing one book and promoting a course on writing would be like lecturing Patrick Mahomes’ last Super Bowl performance, to his face, because you were a High School Quarterback. It’s presumptuous. However, I have figured out a thing or two. So if you’re a writer, or you have a potential book in that head of yours, and could use some tips, I can try and share what works for me. I’m going to make emailed tips free. For all I know you could be fucking great and could make something I’ll enjoy. Win win, you know?

I’ll give you one tip off the bat, though. Just start writing. Make a cup of coffee (ideally avoid the meth pipe), sit down, and force yourself to write a paragraph. Then another. Then another. They could objectively suck, but you can fix that later. Writing is like working out. If you haven’t done it in a while, you’re not going to be able to lift as much as you used to. But if you have a foundation, you wrote a lot of papers in college twenty years ago, for instance, you can ‘work out’ and build back up. That’s what I did.

And fuck everyone who tells you you can’t do it. But do consider constructive criticism, because more often than not, people in your life will have useful thoughts you can grow off of. For example, my aunt helped me with this for When in Rome.

I’m not an expert writer by any means. When in Rome is me picking up writing again after years of neglect. I essentially tired of running my mouth and selling people bullshit to try and make a living (sales), and wrote a book as a passion project.

However, as I write my second book (an entirely different series; so yes, I essentially gave myself a shit ton of extra homework), and have roughly a third of When in Rome’s sequel finished, I’ve noticed that I’ve refined my writing. Simply put, it’s better now. Much better.

So, if you have any questions, or want general feedback/tips for your own book, whether it’s in your head or you’re half-way through, email me at ianjamesqualitybooks@gmail.com (the email was just something available and made me chuckle. It’s important to amuse yourself in life).

I’ll answer for free, when I can. But if you want some Zoom advise, or want to discuss the craft with a guy diagnosed with severe ADHD who just makes shit up as he goes along (albeit with a rough outline and end goal inside my head), make a donation and I’ll have a fifteen-twenty minute Zoom conversation with you. I have no idea if or how many people will donate, so please be flexible. I may not be able to do this promptly. For all I know one guy in Albania might, or two hundred people might. You can donate anything from one dollar, or empty your entire checking account. I’d reconsider option two, though. Don’t drain your daughter’s college fund on me.

If you’re gunning to do that, do something lucrative with it. Go to a casino. This will be the time you win!

Good luck out there! (see appointments tab for more info on above)