Author Dana Lockhart

-My Second and Final Gateway Con- It is with a heavy heart that I write this, because the wonderful convention known as Gateway Con has officially been cancelled, probably forever. The three-day writing retreat I’d recommend first above all other writing conventions is being replaced with a one-day writing retreat, "Writers in the Park." The situation is disappointing to say the least. Supposedly, it wasn’t making enough money to sustain itself. I’d argue that money isn’t the point, it’s inspiring and educating prospective writers, that the friendships we made along the way were worth more, but unfortunately it’s not my call. Goodbye, Gateway Con. I will miss you. You helped me become the writer I am today. Hopefully Writers in the Park will be half as fun. But with bad news comes good, and here’s my trip back in time to Gateway Con 2019 and the events that transpired. -Meeting Old Friends and Making New- This year was different in so many ways. Gateway Con 2018, my first co...

I know, I know, I've dropped off the face of the earth. My articles on DVS dropped from four a week to maybe one if I'm lucky, and my blogging here has suffered, too. But I promise it's for a good reason. - The Un-Life Coming June 2019- The big reason that I've stopped my side-writing gigs is because I've gotten back my mini-edit of The Un-Life of William Moore . Applying the critiques is my number one priority right now. I'm in a rush to get everything done in time for Gateway Con to have my grand first book release there. And I'm a little behind schedule. I'm still on target for the June release, but I'm feeling the pressure. Big thank you to Ryan P. Freeman for providing way more feedback than I anticipated. I ordered story editing and he still pointed out several copy-editing suggestions he didn't need to do. On one hand I'm glad he did more than I was looking for, and on the other I'm exhausted at the thought of all these things I s...

Authors, I got to tell you guys, it’s a pleasure talking to you. It’s amazing how quickly we can chum up with fellow writers because we’re all worried about the exact same things. Query rejections, editor critiques, cover design, marketing, the next story, website views, ratings. Holy moly is there a lot to worry about when you’re an author! Especially a self-published or small time author that hasn’t been able to stand out yet. It’s refreshing to know that everyone else is worrying about the same thing. And then you can complain to each other about all of it and everything they say is so relatable that it hurts, and yet it makes you feel better. Misery and company and all that. And then you guys are just so supportive, too. I’m floored by how quickly a stranger that also writes will wish you the best of luck and support you without even really knowing you yet. We know the struggle, we know the pain, so we lift up others when we can. It’s like we’re all cousins. Maybe distant...