Josh Vogt - Fantasy Author & Freelancer Posts

I filed my tax returns yesterday and found out I’ve a little bit coming back to me, which makes me happy. Nothing better than finding out you’re owed money for once, rather than having another bill to pay. The extra bit will probably go to the wedding prep or perhaps…

Oy. Another short story rejection. Though it’s been a while since I’ve heard from a number of submissions I sent about…most about 3 months ago. This one magazine I know has been deluged with entries, mainly because it is new, yet very professional, and so of course pretty much every…

Finally, some manageable weather here in New York. The wind still has a bit of a nip to it, but otherwise today is nicely sunny. People have emerged from their hibernation chambers (apartments) and are now frolicking through the park, using up their sun quota for the year. Oh, you…

You know that thing beneath your fingers that you use to make letters appear on your computer screen? Yeah. The same thing I’m using right now to post this blog. The keyboard. I’ve gotta give credit to Mir. She finds some of the coolest links out there. The other day…

Since we seem to be talking about details this week, let me throw another virtual tome in your lap. A Dictionary of Military Architecture Let me pluck a couple of interesting entries from it to display here: Parapet: (1) The top of a wall of either a fortification or fieldwork,…

Last night was fun. It’s not often you get to visit a Soviet KGB themed-bar with a bellydance troupe performing downstairs. For those outside of NYC, the KGB bar does a lot of author readings, poetry performances and other theatrical venues to highlight both local and touring artists. This was…

Does anything in your story go bang? Okay. Now cross out the hastily opened doors, the firecrackers, the spontaneous combustion, and see what you’ve got left. If any of your plot occurs in modern day, likelihood is, someone just took out a gun and shot at your protagonists. Or maybe…

I feel more than incredibly lucky with my job in publishing. Anyone who works either with an actual publisher, or in a bookstore or any other facet of the industry knows the peculiar joy that comes with discovering and reading an author’s new book months before it’s available to the…

I have treat for Trixie (who is dog) if she would ever deign to visit this writer’s (who am not dog) blog and snuffle around a bit. I don’t even care if she leaves anything on the lawn. And for those of you who think I’ve gone off the grammatical…

Writing talent is all well and good. It takes a lot to develop consistently good, if not great writing ability. Those first drafts always tend to turn out very jagged around the edges indeed. But let’s say we’ve got the writing part down pat. Aside from my belief that the…