Dean Wesley Smith

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  • About the Author
  • Fiction
  • Nonfiction Books
  • Smith’s Monthly
  • Privacy Policy
  • Online Workshops
  • Las Vegas Workshops
  • Contact Me

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  • Killing the Sacred Cows of Publishing,  On Writing,  publishing

    Killing the Sacred Cows of Publishing: Beta Readers Help You

    September 22, 2017 /

    This chapter came from me just hearing over and over about how writers are using multiple beta readers. And I honestly just got tired of shuddering every time I heard that stupidity. Chapter Six Beginning writers have a belief that the more people who read their work, the better their work will be. Of course, that flies in the face of any creation of art by an artist. But the fear is great among young writers, most of who are indie writers these days. Long term pros? What do they do? Maybe have one first reader, maybe not. Most not. Why? Because creating original fiction is not a group effort,…

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    dwsmith
  • Killing the Sacred Cows of Publishing,  On Writing,  publishing,  Topic of the Night

    Killing the Sacred Cows of Publishing: Traditional Publishing Takes Less Time

    August 15, 2016 /

    This chapter came from a conversation at a writer’s lunch and hearing this myth from dozens of writers over the last few months. Finally just got fed up with it. And when I am fed up, duck. Chapter Five There is this belief that if a writer could just get a traditional publisher to take care of them, all would be great, they could only write, create great art, eat candy all day, sign books for adoring fans, and roses would grow in the dark out of their asses. Or something like that. This myth comes from traditional publishers because, in this modern world, it’s about the only thing they can…

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    dwsmith
  • Killing the Sacred Cows of Publishing,  On Writing,  publishing

    Killing Even More Sacred Cows of Publishing: #3… Getting An Advance to Help You Write Your Book

    March 16, 2016 /

    Book three in this series. Book one was KILLING THE TOP TEN SACRED COWS OF PUBLISHING. Book two was KILLING THE TOP TEN SACRED COWS OF INDIE PUBLISHING. Both books are available everywhere in electronic, paper, and audio. What I call a “Sacred Cow” is basically a myth spread around publishing like the truth. Myths such as “rewriting must be done for every story.” Myths such as “you need an agent to sell a book,” or “sell a book to a different country.” And so on. You can either buy the first two books to get all twenty of the Sacred Cows, or just click on the tab above and read them…

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    dwsmith
  • Challenge,  Killing the Sacred Cows of Publishing,  On Writing,  publishing,  Topic of the Night,  Writing in Public

    Another Sacred Cow Treatment

    March 16, 2016 /

      ANOTHER SACRED COW TREATMENT Well, read one too many articles about the stupidity of giving a traditional author an advance so they could be free to write their book. That myth had to be stabbed at with my little sword. Oh, and I got back to work on the novel.  —— THE DAY Did an interview for a podcast this afternoon. Great fun and I’ll link to it when it comes out. Then off to walk, then to the mail, the store, and back to WMG offices where I worked on different stuff until 7 p.m. including starting on the Sacred Cow chapter. Home to cook dinner, watch some television,…

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    dwsmith
  • Killing the Sacred Cows of Publishing,  On Writing,  publishing,  Topic of the Night

    Killing Even More Sacred Cows of Publishing: #2… Getting a Critique is a Good Way to Learn

    March 9, 2016 /

    Book three in this series. Book one was KILLING THE TOP TEN SACRED COWS OF PUBLISHING. Book two was KILLING THE TOP TEN SACRED COWS OF INDIE PUBLISHING. Both books are available everywhere in electronic, paper, and audio. What I call a “Sacred Cow” is basically a myth spread around publishing like the truth. Myths such as “rewriting must be done for every story.” Myths such as “you need an agent to sell a book,” or “sell a book to a different country.” And so on. You can either buy the first two books to get all twenty of the Sacred Cows, or just click on the tab above and read them…

    Read More
    dwsmith
  • Killing the Sacred Cows of Publishing,  On Writing,  publishing

    Killing Even More Sacred Cows of Publishing: #1… Novels Must Be A Certain Length

    February 15, 2015 /

    Here we go… Book three in this series. Book one was KILLING THE TOP TEN SACRED COWS OF PUBLISHING. Book two was KILLING THE TOP TEN SACRED COWS OF INDIE PUBLISHING. Both books are available everywhere in electronic, paper, and soon audio. What I call a “Sacred Cow” is basically a myth spread around publishing like the truth. Myths such as “rewriting must be done for every story.” Myths such as “you need an agent to sell a book,” or “sell a book to a different country.” And so on. You can either buy the first two books to get all twenty of the Sacred Cows, or just click on the tab…

    Read More
    dwsmith
  • Killing the Sacred Cows of Publishing,  On Writing,  publishing

    Killing the Top Ten Sacred Cows of Indie Publishing: #10…There is Only One Way to Publish a Book

    June 23, 2014 /

    Myths ignore facts. Myths are often beliefs built from fear or past actions. In this series, and in the previous series of Killing the Top Ten Sacred Cows of Publishing, I call the myths that control writers “Sacred Cows.” Writers hold onto myths like lifelines that are keeping them from drowning in a raging river of information. Sometimes sane people in the normal world will follow a publishing myth that makes no sense at all because it has something to do with the publishing business. And they follow the myth without thought. So this new series is an attempt to help the new world of indie publishing with the growing…

    Read More
    dwsmith
  • Killing the Sacred Cows of Publishing,  On Writing,  publishing

    Killing the Top Ten Sacred Cows of Indie Publishing: #9… You Must Sell Books Cheaply

    June 18, 2014 /

    Myths ignore facts. Myths are often beliefs built from fear or past actions. In this series, and in the previous series of Killing the Top Ten Sacred Cows of Publishing, I call the myths that control writers “Sacred Cows.” Writers hold onto myths like lifelines that are keeping them from drowning in a raging river of information. Sometimes sane people in the normal world will follow a publishing myth that makes no sense at all because it has something to do with the publishing business. And they follow the myth without thought. So this new series is an attempt to help the new world of indie publishing with the growing…

    Read More
    dwsmith
  • Killing the Sacred Cows of Publishing,  On Writing,  publishing

    Killing the Top Ten Sacred Cows of Indie Publishing: #8… I’ve Missed the Boat

    June 16, 2014 /

    Myths ignore facts. Myths are often beliefs built from fear or past actions. In this series, and in the previous series of Killing the Top Ten Sacred Cows of Publishing, I call the myths that control writers “Sacred Cows.” Writers hold onto myths like lifelines that are keeping them from drowning in a raging river of information. Sometimes sane people in the normal world will follow a publishing myth that makes no sense at all because it has something to do with the publishing business. And they follow the myth without thought. So this new series is an attempt to help the new world of indie publishing with the growing…

    Read More
    dwsmith
  • Killing the Sacred Cows of Publishing,  On Writing,  publishing

    Killing the Top Ten Sacred Cows of Indie Publishing: #7… I Have To Sell Books Quickly

    June 10, 2014 /

    Myths ignore facts. Myths are often beliefs built from fear or past actions. In this series, and in the previous series of Killing the Top Ten Sacred Cows of Publishing, I call the myths that control writers “Sacred Cows.” Writers hold onto myths like lifelines that are keeping them from drowning in a raging river of information. Sometimes sane people in the normal world will follow a publishing myth that makes no sense at all because it has something to do with the publishing business. And they follow the myth without thought. So this new series is an attempt to help the new world of indie publishing with the growing…

    Read More
    dwsmith
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About the Author

New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of over 200 novels and hundreds of short stories.

Running Word Count

REPORTING August 1st, 2025

Total is from January 1st to July 31st…

571,852 words.

July turned out to be a great month, but not for words. I gained a little back on Pulp Speed One word count, but still slightly under. Just slightly. But all the good news in July has my brain freed up so I have a hunch August might be good.

Links to WMG Workshops

Here is where you can find more information on the basic WMG Workshops. Sign up for all classes and workshops on Teachable.

Teachable (Hit All Courses)

Some special workshops and in-person classes are also held on the WMG Writer Store.

Upcoming Online Regular Workshops

REGULAR WORKSHOPS STARTING SEPTEMBER 2ND.

All are six weeks long with five assignments that I respond to in person.

  • Heinlein’s Rules
  • Writing into the Dark
  • Writing With Depth
  • Killing the Critical Voice
  • Advanced Depth

All workshops are on WMG Teachable.

Header Art

Header Art is from my novel Melody Ridge: A Thunder Mountain Novel Novel. The art is copyright by Philcold.

 

To see the entire series of Thunder Mountain novels, go to Thunder Mountain on WMG Publishing Inc.

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