Writing Memoir: Author, Narrator, Protagonist
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March 17, 2015

Writing Memoir: Author, Narrator, Protagonist Memoir has become nearly as popular a genre as fiction. It’s the stuff of which movies are made. Almost everyone I meet thinks they have a story worth telling.  And today nearly everyone thinks they can publish their memoir. Brooke Warner, publisher of She Writes Press, recently suggested in The Huffington Post the pursuit of publication is a birthright. Finding… [Read More]

‘Get Smart’ About the Business of Your Book
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March 3, 2015

‘Get Smart’ About the Business of Your Book Distribution is not a dirty word. No one talks about it much in literary circles and it is something you may not have thought much about as an author. Perhaps you are more conscious of its importance when it comes to films and music. Distribution determines what movies appear in which theaters. What selection of music is… [Read More]

Query Letters
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February 24, 2015

Query Letters: When to send them and what to write. The single most important key to opening the door to an agent or acquisition editor is your query letter. You will only get a response if your reader is interested in knowing more about your book project. No response is a no. If you don’t receive a reply within a week, move on. Maybe there… [Read More]

Check your facts
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February 17, 2015

Check your facts. You might not be Brian Williams. Maybe you don’t plan to write a memoir about your experience in the war against terrorism, cancer, death, or addiction. If you are a professional writer, you need to know facts still matter. Especially to your readers. If you write nonfiction, your credibility as an author depends on it. Corroborate your facts with additional documentation. Immerse… [Read More]

Writing Workshop on Facebook
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February 4, 2015

Now that the new year has begun I have been asked repeatedly whether I’ll lead any winter workshops for writers. Since we live where it’s snowy and cold I’ve decided it’s too difficult for me, and likely for you, too. With all the snow in the past week, I am ready for a road trip.  I’m headed to Tampa tomorrow where I’ll offer an intensive… [Read More]

My Top 10 Digital Tools for the Business of Being an Author
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January 27, 2015

Today I’m going to share my top 10 digital tools for the business of being an author. Most of these are free and all of them are easy to use. I recommend them to you because I use them and find them valuable and think you will too.   (1) WordPress for website and blogging – Hands down there is no better platform for authors… [Read More]

Take the Passive Voice Test
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January 20, 2015

Passive voice weakens your writing. It obscures responsibility for action. Those who learn English as a second language struggle to make sense of the many ways in which Americans use passive verb constructions in everyday speech. It often finds its way into our writing. Rarely is the writer conscious of this problem in their writing. Passive voice is used by victims. Instead of actors, they… [Read More]

7 Day Writing Challenge
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January 13, 2015

  January is a time for new starts and creative bursts. Despite the bitter cold and desolate landscape, this is a wonderful time to generate fresh content. Take this One Week writing challenge. Spend 15-20 minutes every day for the next week.   Day 1 Pick a photograph that speaks to you. One with a story behind it that isn’t entirely contained in the visual… [Read More]

Getting the editorial feedback you need
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January 6, 2015

Will you read what I’ve written? As soon as I think I’ve finished writing a new piece, there’s that irresistible urge to get feedback from a reader. What do you think, eh? It’s more than yearning for instant ego gratification. That’s pretty nice, too. But it won’t help me take my writing to the next level. The sense of accomplishment from getting it down on… [Read More]

Read more books in 2015
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December 30, 2014

If you are a writer who seeks publication, you need to read. Yes, more books. I often hear from writers who tell me they don’t read because they don’t want to be influenced by others’ works. Bah Hambug! Everything is a Remix! To combine or edit existing materials produces something new. Original ideas aren’t created in a vacuum. You don’t read because you don’t have… [Read More]