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Michael Scott Bertrand

Goodreads Author

Born

in Virginia, The United States

Website

http://www.michaelscottbertrand.com/

Genre

Fiction, Classics, Historical Fiction

Influences

Robert Louis Stevenson, Mark Twain, Ernest Hemingway, H. Rider Haggard ...more

Member Since

March 2017

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Michael Scott Bertrand lived a hundred lives before becoming a storyteller. After a successful career in government and politics, he tore off his tie to become a full-time novelist and never looked back. Mike was born in Virginia, raised in Vermont and currently resides in Florida. He is a graduate of Penn State and Fordham Law. He is the author of Flying Conquistadors and Sword of the Spaniard. He is currently working on the final book in his Treasure of Tenochtitlan trilogy.

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Popular Answered Questions

How do you deal with writer’s block?

Michael Scott Bertrand I jump around when I'm writing - a LOT. If I'm stuck somewhere, I'll take a break, then come back and work on an entirely different section. Maybe I'l…moreI jump around when I'm writing - a LOT. If I'm stuck somewhere, I'll take a break, then come back and work on an entirely different section. Maybe I'll skip to another chapter, or some action scene that is more fun to work on, or even to the final chapter. I find that forces me to focus on my entire story, not just "what comes next."

Think of how a filmmaker works: she/he breaks the story down into components, then figures out how best to film those individual scenes. Rarely does a filmmaker shoot scenes in sequential order (yes, there are some very famous exceptions), and it is only in editing and post-production that the big picture comes together.

I'll add that there are times (too many!) when the gods of prose abandon me altogether. When that happens, and you can't come up with a good sentence to save your life, don't force it. Do some research, make some notes in your manuscript, and pat yourself on the back for moving the ball forward. Live to write another day.(less)

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What’s your advice for aspiring writers?

Michael Scott Bertrand That's easy: write.

Think of it as your job, and your writing station as the office you work at. Do you think your boss wants to see you reading yet-an…moreThat's easy: write.

Think of it as your job, and your writing station as the office you work at. Do you think your boss wants to see you reading yet-another book on writing, or see you watching "Masterclass" when you are supposed to be working? Of course not. She/he wants you to write. You will be judged by how much you write, and how well you write. So stop putting it off, and write.

One way I try to crack the whip on myself (esp. during the early phase of "raw material development") is to "grade" myself each day on how many words I write. I need to write a minimum 750 words a day for a "D", 1500 words for a "C", 2250 for a "B" and 3000 for an "A". I keep a calendar next to my writing desk and give myself a grade at the end of each day. At the end of the working week (5 or 6 days) I average my daily scores, and my goal is a "B" or an "A". That gets me anywhere from 11,000 to 18,000 words in a week, which I think is pretty darn good.(less)

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Michael Scott Bertrand’s books

Average rating: 4.0 · 12 ratings · 5 reviews · 6 distinct works

	Flying Conquistadors really liked it 4.00 avg rating — 10 ratings — 2 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	You = Happy: A Formula for Inner Peace it was amazing 5.00 avg rating — 1 rating	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	Sword of the Spaniard liked it 3.00 avg rating — 1 rating — 2 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	From Novice to Novelist: Quick Tips for Budding Writers 0.00 avg rating — 0 ratings — 2 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	From Memories to Masterpiece: Crafting a Compelling Memoir 0.00 avg rating — 0 ratings	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	Flying Conquistadors: Collector's Edition 0.00 avg rating — 0 ratings	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars

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Michael Scott Bertrand's Blog

99 cents for Sword of the Spaniard?

Yes, it's true ... for a limited time the ebook version of my new novel SWORD OF THE SPANIARD is only 99 cents!

Get the ebook now by clicking the link below. Please rate and review your purchase, it helps raise the book's visibility!

https://books2read.com/u/3krJXn

Thanks!
MSB Read more of this blog post »

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Published on November 27, 2018 08:11

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Michael is Currently Reading

Michael Bertrand is currently reading

Sword of the Spaniard

by Michael Scott Bertrand (Goodreads Author)

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Nov 30, 2018 11:54AM

Topics Mentioning This Author

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Historical Fictio...: Historical Fiction Suggestions??	61	310	Dec 19, 2017 10:13PM

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