Setting Your Own Standards of Excellence
I’ve been looking at the business practices of many of our authors and felt pretty overwhelmed by just how nasty things have gotten.
Don’t Use Sock Puppets
What is a sock puppet, and why do people create them?
MICE
Many new writers struggle with characterization. If you’re trained in the literary mainstream, you’re taught that stories are about characters. In other words, the character is the “focus” of the story. That’s simply not true. Some stories do focus on characters, but many of the best tales don’t.
The World’s Most Important Book Reviewer
The most important reviewer in the world, as far as your friends are concerned, is you!
Keeping Writers as Pets
Very often, I get asked, “What can I do to support my child/spouse/family member as a writer?”
4 WAYS TO OVERCOME WRITER’S BLOCK
Many writers never have a problem with writer’s block, and so we sometimes say, “There’s no such thing.” But that’s not quite right. The truth is, there are various reasons why people feel “blocked,” which makes it hard sometimes to figure out why a writer is having problems.
Dealing with Fraud
Do you know a phony when you meet one? In the world of writing a publishing it can be hard to know if a deal is TOO GOOD TO BE TRUE, so here are three ways to help you deal with fraud.
How Big is Your Pond?
Many new authors feel torn between two loves. They might ask, “Should I write science fiction, or should I focus more on young adult novels? Which way should I go?” There are three answers to this question.
Switching Gears
Sometimes as writers, when we give writing advice, we often give advice by telling “How I write” instead of “How to write.”
How to Attract an Editor
When you as an author are looking for a publisher, you need to know the hierarchy of a company. When you meet an editor, you need to know, “Am I talking to a real decision-maker here, or am I wasting my time?”