Writing and Publishing News

Writing is a rather self-serving activity, don’t you think? We derive great pleasure from the process of stringing and weaving words together. We thrill at the idea of moving someone to tears or laughter through our writing. We love coming up with new and interesting ways of presenting a thought, dialog or information. And, as [...]

Have you noticed the little button just to the right toward the end of each of my blog entries? It says “Subscribe To My Feed.” How many of you have subscribed? Do you even know what this means? Well, RSS stands for Really Simple Syndication. And when you subscribe at my blog site, updated information [...]

I want to give you something to think about as you write your memoir, a true story about your cat or dog, for example, or an account of something you witnessed. While it’s not okay to fabricate to the point that some authors in the news have done recently—to write blatant lies—it is okay to [...]

I am frequently amazed and amused at how some writers shy away from using the period. Does it frighten them? Are they afraid that if they end a sentence, they will lose the essence of their message? On the contrary, the intent in a sentence that goes on and on is much more likely to [...]

I decided to present an excerpt from my latest book, Catscapades, Tales of Ordinary and Extraordinary Cats. This book is getting attention all over the net. Some people, upon hearing the title, think it is a book of fiction. Guess what? The stories in Catscapades are true. It’s nonfiction all the way—real life stories, except [...]

Do you use Google Alerts? Do you know what it is? Well, it’s a system that Google has created for keeping you informed about the happenings and writings in your genres or topics of interest. As an author of a book on marble collecting, for example, you’ll want to know about new collectors on the [...]

As an author with a book to promote, how do you know which of your promotional efforts are working? If you’re like many authors, you are putting yourself out there in numbers of ways. You’re speaking in public, sending press releases, writing articles for publications, keeping up a blog, participating in other blogs and have [...]

For those of you who write about animals—and I know that some of you do—I just read a press release printed in PRWEb (Press Release Newswire) reporting on the upcoming Business of Pet Writing Conference in New York. And guess what? Folks, this is a first. The professionals who will be present, indicate that they [...]

Are you making it during these difficult financial times? Is your writing suffering as you concentrate your efforts on a paying job or on finding a job? Are you a professional freelance writer or do you rely on the income from your published book? How are you handling the slowdown? Or are you experiencing a [...]

Sometimes I feel like a walking encyclopedia—not because I am so smart, but because I am constantly being tapped for whatever information I have gathered over my 35 years as a working writer/author. And do you know what? I enjoy it. From the first time a budding writer asked me, “How do you get an [...]