Markus McDowell

Author, editor, ghostwriter. Overeducated with a serious case of wanderlust. Writing, reading, scotch, and Cuban cigars. #author

[Markus McDowell @markusmcdowell]

When editing a novel, I look at the the final paragraph of a scene and the opening of the next. I rewrite the two in isolation so the second carries forward an unresolved desire/consequence from the previous. I try to keep only one sensory detail, then read aloud and edit until it flows like a single accelerating arc instead of two vignettes.
#writingcraft #writingcommunity #writingtips

[Markus McDowell @markusmcdowell]

It's decided. The corporate offices for Seven Planets have moved here. (That is, I'll be working on my novel here for a week 🙂)
#DigitalNomad #writinglife #writingcommunity #sevenplanetsnovel #brightstartrilogy #sciencefiction

[Markus McDowell @markusmcdowell]

I enjoy independent cafés, and this is a wonderful one to write in. I wonder why writers enjoy coffee shop so much? #writinglife #sevenplanetsnovel #brightstartrilogy #sciencefiction #DigitalNomad

[Markus McDowell @markusmcdowell]

What shapes a writer’s voice? For me, it’s the pressure of years in philosophy, theology, history, law, and music, combined with the storytelling lessons of Heinlein, Asimov, and Hemingway (we even share a birthday).
The result: forward momentum on the surface, quiet moral depth below. No ornament. No easy redemption. Just honest, human stories that let the iceberg do its work.
Read the full reflection on how my writing style evolved → https://t.co/ujs0ZihYE0
Fellow writers and readers, I’d love to hear what shaped your voice. Comments welcome.
#DigitalNomad #writinglife #voice

[Markus McDowell @markusmcdowell]

Now this is an interesting place to write. #writinglife #nomadlife #teslabout1 #odessa

[Markus McDowell @markusmcdowell]

The most effective chapter endings resolve one immediate tension while planting an emotional shift and a subtle unanswered question tied to character stakes. End with mid-revelation or decision where the protagonist’s internal state has changed but external consequences remain uncertain. Better than cliffhangers or simple scene cuts.
#WritingTips #NovelCraft

[Markus McDowell @markusmcdowell]

Life in the fast lane. Or the slow lane. Whichever lane, enjoy every moment with the people who ride life with you all the way. #nomadlife #teslabout1 #writihglife

[Markus McDowell @markusmcdowell]

Breakfast and prep for a full day of rewriting for my last day in Arizona. I find changing locations helps my writing. Anyone else?
#nomadlife #writinglife #arizona #sevenplanetsnovel

[Markus McDowell @markusmcdowell]

A new writing environment in AZ! And before you get the wrong idea: it's the name of the coffee shop. 🙂
#writinglife #nomadlife @betterbuzz

[Markus McDowell @markusmcdowell]

Joyce spent 700 pages on one day in Dublin. Turns out that’s not excessive. A single day, or a single decision inside one, can carry the weight of a life, if the writer is willing to look long enough. #jamesjoyce #streamofconciousness #
https://t.co/5sti8j1ZyC

[Markus McDowell @markusmcdowell]

Never sweat a FIRST DRAFT. Like a stone slab an artist uses to create a statue: it begins as a rough shape that only slightly resembles a human. Using hammer, chisel, and fine sanding tools the artist hones it—draft by draft—to its final form. #seconddraft #sevenplanetsnovel #firstdraft #writinglife

[Markus McDowell @markusmcdowell]

#nationalbourbon day.
I'm usually critical of commercialization. But in this case, I'll make an exception. #buffalotrace #phoenix #nomadlife

[Markus McDowell @markusmcdowell]

@whataimeereads_ @ulyssesapp the best that I found for the way that I write.

[Markus McDowell @markusmcdowell]

Listening to this new album by Sir Paul McCartney. He played almost all of the instruments on every track. Enjoying it!
#mccartney #nomadlife #teslabout

[Markus McDowell @markusmcdowell]

Use unresolved momentum — a quiet decision with weight, a revelation that reframes what came before, a tonal shift the reader feels before they can name it. Cut the scene at the moment curiosity peaks. Don’t summarize. Don’t resolve. Imply. That’s not a trick. It’s craft.

[Markus McDowell @markusmcdowell]

Revision isn’t just cleaning up prose. It’s where structure gets built. An underused tools: the chapter ending. (More in comments)
#writingtips #writingfiction

[Markus McDowell @markusmcdowell]

Leg 3 of my journey is 278 miles. I'll be listening to draft 2 of my WIP #SevenPlanetsNovel along the way, making notes for revision to draft 3 (7 in total). #teslabout #writinglife #nomadlife

[Markus McDowell @markusmcdowell]

Writing fuel. #beetsalad #pistachiobutter #goatcheese

[Markus McDowell @markusmcdowell]

An effective scene in a novel can use sensory details to advance plot/character. Use sight for revelation, sound for tension, touch for intimacy. This creates an immersive texture that feels lived rather than just lists of details. #WritingTips #NovelEditing #AuthorLife

[Markus McDowell @markusmcdowell]

Late-night desert sky. Stars turning overhead. Thinking about Jay Adam stepping out of prison into a world that no longer makes sense. Writing To and Fro Upon the Earth forced me to sit with doubt, loss, and the search for order. Honest reflection on faith and story:
https://t.co/eHT8IYSXkL

#WritingLife #FaithAndDoubt #ToAndFroUponTheEarth #WritingDoubt #MarkusMcDowell