by Mary Ellis #1: Schedule your time carefully. Make a weekly calendar so you don’t miss a doctor’s appointment, dance recital, or the neighborhood cookout. Keep certain times “off limits”. Don’t sign up for meetings, exercise classes, or volunteer work if it interferes with the family dinner hour, Sunday morning church services, or other events you hold sacred. Make sure …
TURNING PRO, Part 2
by Cynthia Ruchti Yesterday, we took a look at what it means to “turn pro” as a writer. These questions arose: How can we turn pro even before we’re published, before we’re a recognized entity in the writing world, before our books start showing up on the bestseller lists or the awards announcements? And how do we remain professional after …
TURNING PRO Part 1
by Cynthia Ruchti The television talk show guest expert blessed the production crew interns with fashion makeovers. Her key piece of advice? “Dress for the job you want, not the job you have.” The advice came zinging through the television screen just as I put my fingers to the keyboard to write this blog post about “Turning Pro” as a …
Ten Tips for Effective Research Trips Part 2
by Vickie McDonough Yesterday day we touched on the first five tips for Effective Research Trips, and today, I’d like to continue our conversation with the final five hints. If you missed those, check yesterday’s blog post. 6. Talk to the locals. They love to chat about their town and its history. Ask them questions and ask if they can …
Ten Tips for Effective Research Trips Part 1
by Vickie McDonough I’ve just returned from my first cruise to the Caribbean. I never dreamed a sunset could be so beautiful or the color of the water so vivid. There was such an amazing difference in the houses of the poor, made from tin or only partially built with people still living in them to the lavish mansions of …
YOU. THE WRITER
By Tina Radcliffe Today I’m presenting a helpful guide to assist you with assimilating with the rest of the world. I understand that occasionally writers go out into the world and mingle with non writers. (But I don’t recommend it.) I suggest you print this helpful guide to understanding writers and share it with your non-writer friends, relatives and acquaintances. …
An Author Needs a Teachable Spirit
By Lena Nelson Dooley A teachable spirit is a major key to success in all areas of your life – family, work, any kind of relationship. You obtain wisdom when you become teachable. Giftedness is a dime a dozen, teachableness (Writers like to create their own words sometimes.) is a great treasure. All through the book of Proverbs, we are …
Something You May Not Know About Writing a Book
By Vickie McDonough The idea of writing a book sounds fascinating, and many parts of the process are. Research trips rank up at the top of the fun scale. Traveling to a place you may have never visited before and researching a town’s people and history is exciting–and tax deductible for writers. Brainstorming story ideas with friends can also be …
Benefits to the Digitization of Books
At a writing conference last year, industry professionals said publishing has changed more in the last seven months than in the last twenty-seven years combined. It’s true. Publishing is in frenzied state of mind-boggling change and rapid-fire flux. No one really knows what the new industry normal will end up looking like. While it’s a time of change, I don’t …
What I Learned on My Writing Journey
My writing journey began when I realized how much I like to make up stories and live in a fantasy world where I could create the perfect family, especially after my parents’ divorce. I made up stories for my paper dolls and my dolls using them as the characters. I wrote short stories as a teenager and my first novel …