Helping Writers Go from Unpublished to Published
Just make a decision!
How many times has someone said that to you?
Many people struggle to make a decision. Should I or shouldn’t I do this? Is this a good idea for my business (or life)? What will my friends think of me if I do this? What if I make a mistake?
[Read more…] about 4 Simple Questions for Decision-Making
As I write this (Feb. 28), my daily Bible reading took me to Jeremiah 15.
Wow, if any prophet ever had hard, it was Jeremiah! He is known as the “weeping prophet,” and yes, like us all he got discouraged at times. Chapter 15 is one such point.
A little backstory: Israel and Judah had turned their backs on God so many times that God himself says “You have abandoned me and turned your back on me…I am tired of always giving you another chance” (vs. 6 NLT). Jeremiah constantly warned them that God’s destruction bore down on them.
I imagine that can weigh a person down. And it did.
[Read more…] about Jeremiah and Words From God
This is a continuation of guest blogger Kristin Noland’s post on ghostwriting. If you missed part 1, you’ll want to go back and read it.
[Read more…] about The Ghostwriting Process – Part 2This month’s posts are from guest blogger Kristin Noland.
With over 80 manuscripts to her name—including two bestsellers, one a military thriller—Kristin has spent her career helping authors bring their stories to life and position their work for success. From intricate world-building to sharp pacing, intricate plots, and characters who stay with readers long after the last page, she has her clients’ backs.
As a ghostwriter and editor specializing in speculative and crime fiction, she works with authors to strengthen narrative structure, ensuring every plot point builds toward a compelling conclusion; refine style and voice, polishing language to capture her client’s unique storytelling voice; and prepare their books for the marketplace by aligning the manuscript with what agents, publishers, and readers are looking for.
[Read more…] about The Ghostwriting Process – Part 1
Crafting vivid story settings is all about making your readers feel like they’re actually there! But how does a writer accomplish that? I do great with dialog, never an issue coming up with things for people to say, but I still struggle with description. I have to work at it (usually in the self-editing stage), so don’t fret if you find yourself on the ship with me.
That said, let’s dive in.
[Read more…] about Crafting Vivid Story Settings
Change. Sometimes we willing embrace it—like getting a new computer. Sometimes it’s forced on us—like getting downsized. Either way, it’s rarely easy. Why is that?
Because we prefer to stay in our comfort zone, no matter how uncomfortable we are with what’s in our comfort zone. But like a caterpillar to a butterfly, change is essential to our growth.
I put off buying a new computer for more than a year, even though I knew full well I needed one. I put up with the glitches and the slow speeds because that was easier than the work involved in getting a new one up and running with all my special programs and my files transferred from my hard drive. (Transition made in late December 2024 and no, it wasn’t easy, though my IT-savvy son made it possible!)
[Read more…] about Embrace ChangeAs promised, here is a list of posts about marketing for writers I’ve done that you might have missed if you’re new to my blog. Clearly, I don’t have as many posts on marketing as I do writing. That’s because I’m a writer, not a marketer. But like all writers, marketing is a task I need to learn and do.
“Do You Have a Strategy or Just a Plan?”
“How to Brainstorm a Marketing Plan”
“6 Lessons I Learned about Marketing Strategy from Playing Board Games”
“Marketing Your Book to Local and Regional Businesses”
“What’s a One Sheet? Plus a free downloadable template”
“Marketing, Keywords, and Publisher Rocket, Oh My!”
Because marketing tactics change almost as regularly as a mother changes her baby’s diaper, I’ve kept these posts mostly limited to the methods rather than specific tactics. These will provide a basic information to help you develop your marketing skills during the holiday season and beyond.
I’m kicking back a bit this month to relax and get focused on my next book. At this writing, I still haven’t figured out what will come next.
There’s more than a decade’s worth of posts on this blog, and unless you utilize the search box in the right side bar, you’re missing out on some fantastically helpful posts.
With this post, I thought I’d offer a list of posts I’ve written geared toward developing your writing skills. And next time, a list on marketing.
[Read more…] about From the Archive – Writing Skills