by Rebecca Olmstead I had completed my first mystery novel and done a marathon of three writers’ conferences, my first ever, pitching my baby to less-than-enthusiastic agents and editors. Still, I loved my book, the first in a planned series. Nothing was going to stand in the way of myContinue Reading
Are you feeling overwhelmed in your writing life? It’s a common feeling for most of us. I’ve found a way of thinking about it, though, that has proven helpful. Turns out, it’s all about managing the eggs in your baskets! The Writing Life Balancing Act: Juggling Eggs I grew upContinue Reading
Many writers know that dreams and stories go together. Dream analyst Megan Mary helps people interpret their dreams, but she also uses dreamwork in her novels. Discover her tips for creative writing below! by Megan Mary From a young age, I’ve been captivated by dreams. As a child, I oftenContinue Reading
Did you know that little daily choices can help boost your writing career? Last weekend, I spent the bulk of my days working on my next novel. I had a lot of other things to do. Some of them I squeezed in before or after the writing, but many ofContinue Reading
The emotional roller coaster of writing—have you experienced it? Most likely, your answer is “yes,” as it’s a rare writer who hasn’t. Sometimes, writing is an amazing high. The story is going so well that you write furiously for hours without noticing the passing of time. Your email inbox isContinue Reading
As an author, one of the things you may be expected to do is an author reading. This is where a group of people gather to hear you (and perhaps some other authors) read from your work. It’s your chance to connect with new readers who may go on toContinue Reading
I’ve been thinking lately about a topic that often comes up in discussion among writers: enjoying the writing process without getting too caught up in the outcomes. We all know how easy it is to get fixated on things like reviews, bestseller lists, or contest wins. They’re like siren songsContinue Reading
Romance and fantasy author Stephanie Fowers shares her solutions for writing in solitude—isolation, boredom, and plot issues! I’m very social and so the isolation kills me. And of course, without the proper support, the self-doubt and anxiety goes up. I think that’s why I’d let myself get so distracted withContinue Reading
When did you last update your author platform? Is it still eye-catching and interesting? Wherever you are on your writing journey—new writer, experienced writer, veteran writer—you need an author platform. It’s not something you can just do once and be done with it, however. It’s something that needs to beContinue Reading
Author and musician Gregory Duncan shares his journey from trauma to authorship, including the ups and downs on the way. Writing can seem like having an illness. The writer carries around something that mainly they are trying to get rid of, like a bad cough that won’t go away. IfContinue Reading
I recently discovered that ProWritingAid can save you money when editing your book. As a hybrid writer, I was thrilled with this discovery. In the past, I’ve paid for a human to complete both the copy edit and a final proofread. (Usually two different people.) That’s a significant investment, butContinue Reading
You know you’re supposed to be working on it—your author platform. If you’re like most writers, the word “platform” brings up visions of soul-draining promotional activities that most of us wish we could pawn off on a full-time publicity department. But the reality is that we’re usually “stuck” tackling thisContinue Reading