Michael Logan

The writing rule that trumps them all: do it for yourself How to be a happy writer

This is my one #writing rule:

open.substack.com/pub/michaell...

The Em Dash Responds to the AI Allegations “In recent months, a curious fixation has emerged in corners of academia: the em dash. More specifically, the apparent moral panic around how it is...

The em-dash is not amused with the gen AI hunters: www.mcsweeneys.net/articles/the...

A New You A story, and a story about why you should never procrastinate

A story, and a salutary lesson for writers on what happens when you procrastinate. open.substack.com/pub/michaell...

I am quite disappointed that new author-impersonating bot friend didn’t take the bait.

Alternatively, this is an extreme close up of my scalp after a week of laying off the Head and Shoulders.

It’s taken a while, but got my first fake author bot scam attempt. There were many giveaways, but my favourite was in a DM, when the person purporting to be an author who has sold oodles of books said they were working on a new ‘fiction novel’.

Do you like free books? Do you like to have your sins forgiven? Head over to my Instagram account for a giveaway of Hell’s Detective from @crookedlanebooks.bsky.social, which offers both! www.instagram.com/michaellogan...

Nail, head. Debating, arguing and calling the “other side” stupid doesn’t work. Making friends and modelling behaviour does.

YouTube video by NPR Music IDLES: NPR Music Tiny Desk Concert

Proudest moment in new book is that I managed to squeeze in a mention of Never Fight a Man with a Perm by @idlesband.bsky.social as a reason for a character not to fight a man with a perm. youtu.be/wMehItNQKAA?...

James and the Giant Peach (with my daughter), The Dutch House, and Mirror of the Nameless by Luke Walker. Just to keep it eclectic.

Enjoying it so far.

Look what arrived in the post @lukewalkerwriter.bsky.social

I joined 99 guys to fight a gorilla. The gorilla definitely won.

The Midbook Slump: Why Great Writing Can’t Save Your Novel (And How to Fix It)

Are you dealing with a mid-book slump? It's important to know--and fix--BEFORE you query.

reneefountain.substack.com/p/the-midboo...

YouTube video by FluxFM The Burning Hell "Fuck The Government, I Love You" live (acoustic) @FluxFM

The Burning Hell is possibly the most criminally underrated and under listened to band of all time. youtu.be/T0HtRSQFEqs?...

Doesn’t work, rather.

Glad I hit your h-spot. Humour is so subjective, you never know if it will land with or not. Particularly in fiction, when you need the reader to have the same timing as you for a joke, or it does work.

I’m giving it increasingly serious consideration, if only for fun and to stop people nagging me. Need to finish the book I am working on first. Should be done with that in a few weeks, then will see how I feel. It helps that sales of the cow books have gone up recently.

Just got a blaring civil alert on phone in Italy. My son crapped himself, thinking there was a big disaster. It was a message to say that St. Peter’s Square will be closed from 5pm tomorrow. Seemed a bit extreme.

Guardian writers on their ultimate feelgood movies: ‘Unfailing ability to cheer me up’ Our writers highlight the films they find endlessly rewatchable, including Notting Hill, The Wedding Singer and Mamma Mia!

In what universe is Withnail and I a feelgood movie? That final soliloquy is heartbreaking. www.theguardian.com/film/2024/de...

In Kenya, death notices were often headlined ‘Promotion to Glory.’ In the pope’s case, is it a promotion? He was CEO on Earth but Heaven is full of angels, saints and popes with their feet jammed well under the wispy tables. Will he even get a seat on the board?

Grand. Will start there.

Which book is your personal favourite?

I see a lot of authors on #authorsky saying they want to support other writers. Here’s a chance to show you mean it at a critical moment for one of your colleagues.

My #EarthDay message is simple: A healthy planet is central to prosperity and human health.

Yet we continue to put Mother Earth at risk.

The challenges are clear, but so are solutions.

Protecting the many shades of our 🌍 is everyone's responsibility, today & everyday.

www.un.org/en/observanc...

He’ll probably nip out to Marco Simone for a round when nobody’s looking.

To those who played the game, the Last of Us shock was no shock at all. I think this is why I abandoned the show after season one. It feels too familiar and weirdly passive to be watching rather than being involved and controlling the characters.

Building A House of Cards: Story Without Structure Why Every Story Needs A Plan (Even for Pantsers)

Your writing can be brilliant, but that's not all that's required to carry your story. A strong premise is about more than just a cool idea.

open.substack.com/pub/reneefou...

Good grief, man. How many books have you written? Seems like every time I look you are writing something new. You’re a beast.

Caged Mags Campbell Listen to Mags read her story For a time in the beginning, we held the vampire in the strongest cage ever built, one that could contain a minor angel, if ever the need arose. How that…

I have but on a notebook or in my phone. It's such normal writer behaviour but alarming for non-writers!
I wrote a whole flash story in my phone once and didn't find it for weeks. Had no memory of it. Really thought someone else put it there but it had a touch of my voice.

trashcatlit.com/caged/