David Duggins: Creativity Coach and Writing Mentor

Dave Duggins, owner/creator of write-your-short-story.com, is an experienced, professionally published short story author. He's a writer, like you — in the trenches, bashing out pages, living and working as you do. He's the editor behind the colorful and melodramatic covers of Spacesuits and Sixguns, a contemporary pulp fiction magazine. And he's rounded out a 20-year career in the US Air Force, where he's spent the past 15 years learning effective mentoring and leadership techniques as only the military can teach them.

To this unique blend of practical skills add enthusiasm, a nurturing mentality, love of the craft, respect and admiration for its practitioners in all their many guises, and unrelenting positivity. All that's missing from the equation is you. •

Send Dave Your Writing Questions!

Do you have a writing or publishing question for writing coach Dave Duggins? Send it to him here for the chance to have it answered in his Love of the Craft column on the Creativity Portal.

Submit your question here.

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Features & Coaching Articles by David Duggins

Creative Careers Interview with David Duggins
By Molly Anderson-Childers
Learn more about Dave in this exclusive Creativity Portal interview as he discusses his roles as a writing coach, CEO of Voidgunner Press and the publisher and editor of the online magazine, Spacesuits and Sixguns.

Love of the Craft Q & A

Looking at Your Preferences and Passions
By David Duggins
A quick two-step exercise you can use to take a conscious look at your preferences and passions.

What is the best starting point in the first stages of writing?
By David Duggins
I LOVE to write, but find that I start things and never finish. I don't know if it is lack of self-esteem, lack of guts or just going about writing in an ineffective way.

How to Make Projects Work: Methods, Medium, Mindset
By David Duggins
Uncompleted projects are not failure. They are an opportunity for reflection, increased understanding and positive change.

You don't have to wear a blindfold, but you might find it helpful to close your eyes.
By David Duggins
I was raised with the idea that you have to work hard to get what you want. You have to struggle.

Making a Living as a Computer Software Game Artist
By David Duggins
Interview with Daniel Dociu of ArenaNet on the creative process and making a living as an artist.

Is Ghostwriting a Good Way to Make a Living?
By David Duggins
Learn about this severely misunderstood profession which conjures up images of minimally talented hacks slaving away under sweatshop conditions, turning out book after spiritless book.

How to Find Work as a Ghostwriter
By David Duggins
Listen in on the advice of three ghostwriting experts.

Why Learn "the Rules" of the Writing Craft?
By David Duggins
If you learn the rules of the writing craft, then you'll know how to effectively break them.

Dave's Top 10 Writing Books
By David Duggins
Recommended writing resources to help you learn the rules, explore genre writing, express creativity, and publish your work.

Publishers Who Will Republish Books
By David Duggins
And useful information about print on demand (POD) publishing.

Revealing Intimate Details about Your Life
By David Duggins
No other profession leaves you as vulnerable as writing.

Dealing with Critical Blockheads
By David Duggins
How do you ignore critical people and not let them discourage you into not doing anything creative?

Taking Command of the Greatest Power in Your Life
By David Duggins
What to do with the fears surrounding your writing life.

Start Write Now!
By David Duggins
It's never too early to start your writing career even if you don't know anything about book writing or publishing.

You and the Page
By David Duggins
There is no fame when you're in your writing space bashing out a thousand words a day. Still, do what you love and the money will come.