A Lighter Look at the Writer's Life
Capturing That Little Idea
The turkey is gone and here come the reindeer. December is a busy month and not even writers are…
December 9, 2022-
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Magazine, Freelance, and CopywritingCreative Roadmap for Aspiring Authors: Practical Tips for Crafting and Funding Your Writing Journey
While many might try to dissuade you from embarking on a journey to becoming an author, sticking with it…
February 13, 2025 -
Kids LitBooks to Read BEFORE You Write
Mentor books are those an author studies before they do any writing. For a retreat last week, I had…
February 8, 2025 -
Book ProposalsMaintain a Submission Record & Follow-up
After you have the various parts of the proposal and sample ready, prepare a list of publishers to whom…
February 4, 2025 -
Devotions for WritersPuzzling Projects
One thousand pieces of the picture tumbled out onto the table. When the contents cleared the box rim, we…
February 3, 2025 -
Award-Winning AuthorAWARD-WINNING AUTHOR INTERVIEW — NON-FICTION —with Joni Topper
Can you share a little about your recent book? My book The Power of a Well-Placed Yes: God’s Abundant…
February 1, 2025 -
Writers ChatWriters Chat Recap for January
Writers Chat, hosted by Johnnie Alexander, Brandy Brow, and Melissa Stroh, is the show where we talk about all…
January 31, 2025 -
Writing with a Disability (Different Ability)New Direction
Late in 2024, I became extremely unsatisfied with my writing vocation. After spending six years focusing on sales, conversions…
January 30, 2025 -
Writing for YAEvaluating Your Writing Year: What Success Looks Like
How do you feel about end-of-year evaluations? Confession time: Shiny new planners excite me, but when we near the…
January 28, 2025 -
Uncategorized
How to Write an Obit.
Birth date. End date. And everything in-between. I Googled to see if there was a template to follow in…
December 4, 2024 -
A Lighter Look at the Writer's Life
What’s YOUR Story?
A couple of months ago, I attended a storytelling festival in my old college town, and it was an…
December 3, 2024 -
Writing with a Disability (Different Ability)
Live in The Moment
Recently, I spent time talking with a neighbor whom I got to know during the aftermath of Hurricane Helene.…
November 29, 2024 -
Book Proposals
Why to Never Submit Your First Draft
Your first draft is only the beginning, not polished enough to send to a publisher. When your proposal is…
November 26, 2024 -
Romancing Your StoryKnowing (and Meeting) Reader Expectations
All fiction readers come to their chosen stories with certain expectations. A mystery reader expects a puzzle to solve.…
November 23, 2024 -
The Picky PenVarying Sentence Structure
Do all of your sentences begin with “I,“ “we,” or a proper noun? Do all of them start with…
November 22, 2024 -
Writers Chat
Writers Chat Recap for November
Writers Chat, hosted by Johnnie Alexander, Brandy Brow, and Melissa Stroh, is the show where we talk about all…
November 21, 2024 -
History in the MakingBehind the Doors of the Grocery Store: INEVITABLE CHANGE Part 2
CHANGE —A Spark for Writers Seeking an Innovative Angle for Their stories. Change can bring new life or dread…
November 20, 2024 -
Marketing SenseYour First Step to Expand Your Author Platform: Develop a Community Built Upon Service
Our author platform will never grow until we reach beyond our circle of family-and-friends to those in our target…
November 12, 2024 -
Guest PostsHow to Write a Great Story in 5 Steps
People have always had a natural talent for telling stories. It is an essential means of communication and understanding…
November 10, 2024 -
Kids Lit
Writing is a Group Activity!
I recently went to an in-person retreat – one of the few I have gone to since COVID-19. I…
November 8, 2024 -
A Lighter Look at the Writer's Life
What Day is It?
What day is it? Although I sometimes find myself wondering what day of the week it is, that is…
November 6, 2024 -
Award-Winning Author
AWARD-WINNING AUTHOR INTERVIEW — FICTIOn, with Darlene L. Turner
Can you share a little about your recent book? In Yukon Wilderness Evidence,forensic botanist, Dr. Keeley Ash, is called…
November 5, 2024 -
Devotions for Writers
A Man with a Plan
Be strong and courageous, and do the work. Do not be afraid or discouraged, for the Lord God, my…
November 3, 2024 -
Writers Chat
Writers Chat Recap for October Part 2
Writers Chat, hosted by Johnnie Alexander, Brandy Brow, and Melissa Stroh, is the show where we talk about all…
October 31, 2024 -
Writing with a Disability (Different Ability)
Helping Hands
It has now been over a month since Hurricane Helene tore through north-central Georgia where I live. The historical…
October 29, 2024 -
Writing for YA
Jumpstart Evocative Writing During the Holidays
Does your prose suffer from overly mechanical writing? Your story gets there, but the scenery is somewhat bland? Or…
October 27, 2024