Why I Removed My Fics from AO3

Mpepper/ August 18, 2023/ Writing

I really love sharing my fan fiction with the world. I’ve received more love and validation from the various fan communities for which I write than I have for my original works. I suppose that is to be expected; it’s easier to capture existing fans than create new ones. That’s one reason Hollywood is so focused on existing IP over

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Thoughts on the WGA Strike

Mpepper/ May 8, 2023/ Writing

I have complicated feelings about the WGA strike. As a writer, I probably shouldn’t. As a would-be screenwriter, I almost certainly shouldn’t. But that “would-be” is key. The film industry is notoriously difficult to break into. I’ve written scripts that got great coverage, and one that has won an award. I’ve had scripts optioned… and then go nowhere. Which is

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Things a Publisher
Should Do for You

Mpepper/ March 6, 2023/ Writing Advice

As the number of major publishing houses seemingly continues to shrink, and with more and more people seeking representation from an evaporating pool of agents, many hopeful authors turn to small (sometimes called “indie”) publishers. These are publishing imprints that don’t require agents to submit manuscripts. They’re often run by a small group, or sometimes even just one person. They

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Are Self-Published Authors “Real” Authors?

Mpepper/ January 3, 2023/ Think Pieces

This old chestnut of an argument has recently reared its head again: “Self-published authors aren’t real authors.” (See also: “Self-published books aren’t real books.”) So, of course, let’s go through the debate once more. What this pronouncement almost always boils down to is the idea that, in order for any book or author to be “good,” they must go through–and

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2023 Reading Bingo

Mpepper/ January 1, 2023/ Uncategorized

As promised in my most recent YouTube video, here is the bingo card for this year’s reading challenge:

2022 in Review: Writing

Mpepper/ December 9, 2022/ Flashbacks, Writing

Although the year is not quite over, it’s about time to start wrapping things up and examining what worked, what didn’t, and how to move forward. I intend to do this in bits and pieces by looking at different aspects of my life through the year. Naturally, I’ll start with my writing. Releases It’s difficult to believe I actually started

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Names in TSC

Mpepper/ December 8, 2022/ Writing

Every author has his or her own way of naming characters. For me, the characters often name themselves, but sometimes they tease me, kind of like a game of Rumpelstiltskin. They’ll make me guess. If they’re nice, they might give me hints like, “It starts with B” or, “It’s one syllable.” Then I have to figure it out from there.

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The Switchgrass Crown

Mpepper/ December 1, 2022/ Uncategorized

Out today! The ebook is exclusively at Amazon (and can also be read via Kindle Unlimited). The paperback can be ordered from any bookstore. As of release, I wouldn’t recommend ordering the paperback from Amazon; it is only being sold by third-party merchants at a steep mark-up. B&N has the correct list price, or you can always hit up your

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Loglines v. Tag Lines

Mpepper/ October 26, 2022/ Writing, Writing Advice

I read a tweet a little while ago about “high-concept stories” and how they can be distilled into a single sentence. This is, generally speaking, true. But then the example given was… Well, I’m not going to post it, but it was not a high-concept logline. It was more of a tag line. You know, the kind of thing you’d

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