John Briggs Books

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EDITING BRAIN VS. WRITING BRAIN: WHAT YOU CAN LEARN ABOUT WRITING FROM DONALD TRUMP’S COVID CASE

Want to know what you can learn about writing from the top story du jour? Then read on because you’re a writer and you need to find the story in everything.

October 5, 2020 · Leave a comment

Why We Like Satire Even When Things Don’t Change

In 1729, A Modest Proposal shocked a staid and stiff England. Readers were immediately repulsed by the anonymous author’s suggestion that people eat children in order to stop children from starving. They rose up and demanded that action be taken to stop the immense poverty sweeping Ireland. Aristocrats and scholars, the primary targets of A Modest Proposal, quickly threw money and workable solutions at the problem. That satire, one of Jonathon Swift’s many masterpieces, produced sweeping changes.

We’ve had a three-hundred-year drought since then.

So why do we keep reading satire?

April 27, 2020 · Leave a comment

Book Birthday: A Vote for Jesus Releases Today!

A Vote for Jesus, an old-fashioned political satire that confronts modern politics, releases today. While bookstores unfortunately remained closed due to COVID-19, print and ebooks can be ordered through Amazon, … Continue reading

April 14, 2020 · Leave a comment

Cover Reveal: A Vote for Jesus (Political Satire)

A Vote for Jesus, a political satire that savagely attacks our corrupt and ridiculous campaigns, is now available for pre-order.

So, what’s the book about? It’s a satire in the classic sense. Jesus Christ, a poor, unknown carpenter from Bethlehem, PA…

March 24, 2020 · Leave a comment

How to Keep Your Story Moving

Would you like to keep your story from getting bogged down?

Famed linguist and literary critic Kenneth Burke once wrote that “Action equals motivation plus momentum.”

It’s a simple and accurate quote about plotting a story as you’ll ever see. And the good news is that it doesn’t just apply to action stories and thrillers, but all fiction writing, no matter what the genre.

January 17, 2018 · Leave a comment

Comedy Sayings That Can Improve Any Author’s Writing

Want to know what stand-up comedy can teach you about writing? There are about as many types of comedy as there are genres of literature. Prop comedy. Political comedy. Observations. … Continue reading

December 19, 2016 · Leave a comment

Does Your Book Need a Sequel?

Should your book be part of a series or a stand-alone? Creating sequels to books is big business these days. It’s the popular thing and profitable thing to do, spurred … Continue reading

December 11, 2016 · 1 Comment

What to Read Wednesday: God Made Us Monsters

Looking for good books for yourself or others? Join me every Wednesday for solid recommendations. God Made Us Monsters by Bill Neary is a seamless blend of historical and religious … Continue reading

October 19, 2016 · Leave a comment

The Most Misunderstood Writing Advice: Write What You Know

Write what you know is good advice, if you do it correctly. We’ve all heard it a thousand times: “Write what you know, write what you know…” It’s practically a … Continue reading

October 9, 2016 · 2 Comments

Can You Learn More From Fiction Than Nonfiction?

Learning a little something from everything you read. I’ve said it a hundred times if I’ve said it once: “Write what you know, read what you don’t.” Writing what you … Continue reading

April 28, 2016 · 1 Comment