The downside is that you've outlined so thoroughly that the actual writing can be a bore, and that can come through in the writing.

In November of 1987, I decided that I had to make a serious run at becoming a professional fiction writer, or forget about it completely.

I've got a near complete horror novel at my desk, plus a number of short stories, plus preliminary outlines for two other novels.

As well, short stories are hard to write.

I usually spend a month developing the idea into an outline. Two to three months to write the first draft. Another month or six weeks to revise.

I've devoted a lot of my time and effort during the past few years to developing my advertising copywriting business to the point of where I can support my family and don't have to depend on writing fiction for my income.

During that first year, I felt guilty that my wife was out working bringing in all our income, while I was at home playing on the computer, so I made myself treat writing like a job.

When I was a teenager, I got into SF, quite heavily, and that too has had a major impact on my writing.

Trying to break into the horror market seemed natural.

For each book, the time is also broken up.