Sam Knight
@samknight.bsky.social
Sam Knight has curated over a dozen anthologies, authored six children’s books, four short story collections, four novels, and over 75 short stories, including three co-authored with Kevin J. Anderson.
Reposted by Sam Knight
@samknight.bsky.social 's #writingtips for new authors: No written word is wasted, it's all learning, but that doesn't mean it's ALL worth publishing or posting. Think twice before putting it out there. It will be less than years later you are embarrassed by it. Happens to all of us.
December 22, 2025 at 11:58 PM
@samknight.bsky.social 's #writingtips for new authors: No written word is wasted, it's all learning, but that doesn't mean it's ALL worth publishing or posting. Think twice before putting it out there. It will be less than years later you are embarrassed by it. Happens to all of us.
Reposted by Sam Knight
@samknight.bsky.social 's #writingtips for new authors: There aren't very many businesses where if they gather together they do better. Wineries are one. Furniture stores seem to be another. Writers are definitely one. Other writers are not your competition. They are your support.
December 21, 2025 at 3:08 PM
@samknight.bsky.social 's #writingtips for new authors: There aren't very many businesses where if they gather together they do better. Wineries are one. Furniture stores seem to be another. Writers are definitely one. Other writers are not your competition. They are your support.
Reposted by Sam Knight
@samknight.bsky.social's #writingtips for new authors: Writing is like a team sport: the more writers on your team encouraging you and enticing you to encourage them, the better you, and the team, will perform. You can go it alone but marathons are much tougher mentally and emotionally
December 20, 2025 at 6:33 PM
@samknight.bsky.social's #writingtips for new authors: Writing is like a team sport: the more writers on your team encouraging you and enticing you to encourage them, the better you, and the team, will perform. You can go it alone but marathons are much tougher mentally and emotionally
Reposted by Sam Knight
@samknight.bsky.social's #writingtips for new authors: One sentence more or less won't make or break your story. But every story starts with a sentence. And every story ends with a sentence. And if you don't write at least one sentence, you won't ever have a story.
December 20, 2025 at 12:56 AM
@samknight.bsky.social's #writingtips for new authors: One sentence more or less won't make or break your story. But every story starts with a sentence. And every story ends with a sentence. And if you don't write at least one sentence, you won't ever have a story.
Reposted by Sam Knight
@samknight.bsky.social's #writingtips for new authors: There's a lot in the news about companies using AI to scan your book for various (possibly nefarious) purposes. It's okay if you don't understand everything. Not many (If any) do. But don't be blasé either. It affects us all.
December 18, 2025 at 3:27 PM
@samknight.bsky.social's #writingtips for new authors: There's a lot in the news about companies using AI to scan your book for various (possibly nefarious) purposes. It's okay if you don't understand everything. Not many (If any) do. But don't be blasé either. It affects us all.
Reposted by Sam Knight
Subscribe to my Substack and you’ll get a couple of freebee eBooks, including the short story collection A Small Town Santa and a special surprise I wasn’t expecting to be able to give away...
Happy Holidays, everyone!
substack.com/@authorsamkn...
Happy Holidays, everyone!
substack.com/@authorsamkn...
December 10, 2025 at 2:55 PM
Subscribe to my Substack and you’ll get a couple of freebee eBooks, including the short story collection A Small Town Santa and a special surprise I wasn’t expecting to be able to give away...
Happy Holidays, everyone!
substack.com/@authorsamkn...
Happy Holidays, everyone!
substack.com/@authorsamkn...
Reposted by Sam Knight
@samknight.bsky.social's #writingtips for new authors: Don't worry too much about things being "unrealistic" in your stories, they just have to flow and make sense. The only things I've ever been called out on for being "unrealistic" were things that were historically accurate.
December 17, 2025 at 4:19 PM
@samknight.bsky.social's #writingtips for new authors: Don't worry too much about things being "unrealistic" in your stories, they just have to flow and make sense. The only things I've ever been called out on for being "unrealistic" were things that were historically accurate.
Reposted by Sam Knight
@samknight.bsky.social's #writingtips for new authors: It's okay to use current events for inspiration, but make sure you're writing a story and not just an op-ed. Unless you have a following who love your opinion, like a news podcast/blog, you likely won't sell it or gain readers.
December 16, 2025 at 1:23 PM
@samknight.bsky.social's #writingtips for new authors: It's okay to use current events for inspiration, but make sure you're writing a story and not just an op-ed. Unless you have a following who love your opinion, like a news podcast/blog, you likely won't sell it or gain readers.
Sometimes the camera just can’t capture the wonderful colors.
December 16, 2025 at 2:14 PM
Sometimes the camera just can’t capture the wonderful colors.
Reposted by Sam Knight
@samknight.bsky.social 's #writingtips for new authors: I have found that when my "writing brain" poops out, the parts that like to do art, formatting, cover design, etc., still work. So I do those instead. That's how/why I tend to juggle multiple projects.
December 15, 2025 at 6:42 PM
@samknight.bsky.social 's #writingtips for new authors: I have found that when my "writing brain" poops out, the parts that like to do art, formatting, cover design, etc., still work. So I do those instead. That's how/why I tend to juggle multiple projects.
Reposted by Sam Knight
@samknight.bsky.social's #writingtips for new authors: No writing prompt works better than a pro-paying open call. If you feel you don't have ideas, go find open calls that pay and that excite you. If you "only write novels," remember, short stories are where you explore ideas.
December 14, 2025 at 1:56 PM
@samknight.bsky.social's #writingtips for new authors: No writing prompt works better than a pro-paying open call. If you feel you don't have ideas, go find open calls that pay and that excite you. If you "only write novels," remember, short stories are where you explore ideas.
Reposted by Sam Knight
@samknight.bsky.social 's #writingtips for new authors: There is a reason I don't watch made-for-cable scifi/fantasy movies anymore. Poor writing, acting, directing, special effects, etc., are the norm. Be wary of putting out unedited work, less you too become a thing people auto-avoid.
December 13, 2025 at 5:21 PM
@samknight.bsky.social 's #writingtips for new authors: There is a reason I don't watch made-for-cable scifi/fantasy movies anymore. Poor writing, acting, directing, special effects, etc., are the norm. Be wary of putting out unedited work, less you too become a thing people auto-avoid.
Reposted by Sam Knight
@samknight.bsky.social 's #writingtips for new authors: As much as it pains me, the "PC", MS Word, and Adobe PDFs are pretty much the industry standard. Using other programs, even those "100% compatible" like Google Docs, will eventually cause you problems. Nothing is 100% compatible.
December 11, 2025 at 10:19 PM
@samknight.bsky.social 's #writingtips for new authors: As much as it pains me, the "PC", MS Word, and Adobe PDFs are pretty much the industry standard. Using other programs, even those "100% compatible" like Google Docs, will eventually cause you problems. Nothing is 100% compatible.
Reposted by Sam Knight
@samknight.bsky.social's #writingtips for new authors: If you feel like writing Holiday stories now, do it! But don't expect to sell them until next year. Write all the stories! And them put them in a folder and mark your calendar to watch for calls during the summer-fall months.
December 12, 2025 at 6:43 PM
@samknight.bsky.social's #writingtips for new authors: If you feel like writing Holiday stories now, do it! But don't expect to sell them until next year. Write all the stories! And them put them in a folder and mark your calendar to watch for calls during the summer-fall months.
If you know someone who is a Jack L Chalker's Well World fan, this would be a no-brainer holiday gift!
books2read.com/u/4NngJG
books2read.com/u/4NngJG
December 12, 2025 at 3:15 PM
If you know someone who is a Jack L Chalker's Well World fan, this would be a no-brainer holiday gift!
books2read.com/u/4NngJG
books2read.com/u/4NngJG
Reposted by Sam Knight
@samknight.bsky.social's #writingtips for new authors: Keep a list of things you have problems with. Words you can't spell, punctuation rules you can't remember, words you know you overuse, lay vs lie...whatever is a problem. Just putting them on that list starts to fix the problem.
December 10, 2025 at 3:09 PM
@samknight.bsky.social's #writingtips for new authors: Keep a list of things you have problems with. Words you can't spell, punctuation rules you can't remember, words you know you overuse, lay vs lie...whatever is a problem. Just putting them on that list starts to fix the problem.
Subscribe to my Substack and you’ll get a couple of freebee eBooks, including the short story collection A Small Town Santa and a special surprise I wasn’t expecting to be able to give away...
Happy Holidays, everyone!
substack.com/@authorsamkn...
Happy Holidays, everyone!
substack.com/@authorsamkn...
December 10, 2025 at 2:55 PM
Subscribe to my Substack and you’ll get a couple of freebee eBooks, including the short story collection A Small Town Santa and a special surprise I wasn’t expecting to be able to give away...
Happy Holidays, everyone!
substack.com/@authorsamkn...
Happy Holidays, everyone!
substack.com/@authorsamkn...
The gingerbread baking in the oven smells great. The Christmas music is festive. The lights are lit on the tree, the gas fireplace is on, spreading a warm glow through my living room. And yet, my house feels like a house instead of a home... books2read.com/u/3LN1Y1
December 10, 2025 at 2:41 PM
The gingerbread baking in the oven smells great. The Christmas music is festive. The lights are lit on the tree, the gas fireplace is on, spreading a warm glow through my living room. And yet, my house feels like a house instead of a home... books2read.com/u/3LN1Y1
Reposted by Sam Knight
@samknight.bsky.social's #writingtips for new authors: Write on typewriter, phone, desktop, distraction-free word processor, or by hand in a journal, notebook, or legal pad. Whatever works for you is the right way to do it. As long as you can read your writing. If not, maybe dictate?
December 9, 2025 at 3:39 PM
@samknight.bsky.social's #writingtips for new authors: Write on typewriter, phone, desktop, distraction-free word processor, or by hand in a journal, notebook, or legal pad. Whatever works for you is the right way to do it. As long as you can read your writing. If not, maybe dictate?
Reposted by Sam Knight
@samknight.bsky.social's #writingtips for new authors: Once you're published, make an Amazon Author Central account. Amazon often sells books, randomly, at lower prices than even the publisher can get them. It's a great way to watch price drops and get copies to resell or give away.
December 8, 2025 at 4:49 PM
@samknight.bsky.social's #writingtips for new authors: Once you're published, make an Amazon Author Central account. Amazon often sells books, randomly, at lower prices than even the publisher can get them. It's a great way to watch price drops and get copies to resell or give away.
Reposted by Sam Knight
@samknight.bsky.social's #writingtips for new authors: Short stories can be complex as a novel. A novel can be simple as a short story. Like many things, we put labels on them to talk about them, but reality doesn't fit neatly into categories. Write what you want, just make it good.
December 7, 2025 at 4:54 PM
@samknight.bsky.social's #writingtips for new authors: Short stories can be complex as a novel. A novel can be simple as a short story. Like many things, we put labels on them to talk about them, but reality doesn't fit neatly into categories. Write what you want, just make it good.
It's about that time when you feel that panic about getting someone something when you don't know what to give them. If they're a reader, consider giving this. It'll be like giving twice, as all royalties go Annmarie, who still needs the help... amzn.to/3YaEA6G
December 6, 2025 at 9:32 PM
It's about that time when you feel that panic about getting someone something when you don't know what to give them. If they're a reader, consider giving this. It'll be like giving twice, as all royalties go Annmarie, who still needs the help... amzn.to/3YaEA6G
Reposted by Sam Knight
@samknight.bsky.social 's #writingtips for new authors: J.A. Campbell came up with the idea for this anthology. My story idea was about a ghost-hunting goldfish. No idea is too too far out there or too unrealistic. If you want to write it, write it. Just make sure it's a good story.
December 6, 2025 at 5:54 PM
@samknight.bsky.social 's #writingtips for new authors: J.A. Campbell came up with the idea for this anthology. My story idea was about a ghost-hunting goldfish. No idea is too too far out there or too unrealistic. If you want to write it, write it. Just make sure it's a good story.
My Daughter Liked It.
open.substack.com/pub/authorsa...
open.substack.com/pub/authorsa...
My Daughter Liked It.
And that's what counts...
open.substack.com
December 6, 2025 at 5:37 PM
My Daughter Liked It.
open.substack.com/pub/authorsa...
open.substack.com/pub/authorsa...
If you feel inclined to subscribe to my Substack, you'll get a couple of freebee eBooks, including the short story collection A Small Town Santa and a special surprise I wasn't expecting to be able to give away...
Happy Holidays, everyone!
authorsamknight.substack.com
Happy Holidays, everyone!
authorsamknight.substack.com
December 6, 2025 at 5:21 PM
If you feel inclined to subscribe to my Substack, you'll get a couple of freebee eBooks, including the short story collection A Small Town Santa and a special surprise I wasn't expecting to be able to give away...
Happy Holidays, everyone!
authorsamknight.substack.com
Happy Holidays, everyone!
authorsamknight.substack.com