Writing and Publishing News

Do you stress and strain over every word you write? Are your sentences sometimes difficult to form? Do you have trouble writing what you think you want to say? Do your paragraphs seem a little rough when you reread them? Or do you firmly believe that, because you have worked so hard on your manuscript, […]

I often hear writers say that there is no longer a market for fiction. I can’t let statements like this go unchallenged, so I went into research mode. What did I find? Following are a sampling of the opportunities I located. And most of them are paying markets. You might be surprised at some of […]

This was my blog post in March of 2006. It still contains wisdom four years later. What distracts you from writing? Do you have cats wandering in and out of your office while you write? Are there children in the house? Maybe your spouse is retired and at home a lot. Perhaps you’re distracted by […]

Are you an author with one or more websites? You might ask, why would an author need more than one website? If you have one book to promote or a line of books, and you offer nothing more than these books for sale, one website is probably enough. I interviewed an author a few weeks […]

It has taken a while for the trickle-down effect to reach some writers. Even while high unemployment figures were being quoted on the evening news and during the time massive layoffs and failed businesses were being reported, most working writers were still writing. But things are changing and I’m wondering if you’re feeling the crunch. […]

Most authors are intimidated by the thought of preparing a book proposal. Many of them bypass this opportunity all together. Others struggle through the process hating (and pretty much feeling confused) by the whole procedure. If you’re an author or you’re gearing up to become one, you may have already tackled the book proposal, at […]

I’ve been working with 360 Digital Books as my printer for years—ever since Linda, Keith and others broke away from Fidlar Doubleday Printing. And I have been pleased with their work, their attention to detail and their availability. I practically require a prompt response from the people I work with. And this company provides that […]

Are you having trouble finding opportunities to speak? Do you feel you are running out of options? Are you at a loss as to how to locate venues where you can speak about your book? Here are some ideas: • Visit your colleagues’ sites—those professionals and authors in your field. Check their “appearances” page to […]

Do you go out and speak as part of your book marketing plan? You should be. Most professionals agree that the best way to sell books is through personal contact. You’ve probably noticed this already. When you talk about your book to someone in person, they are more apt to purchase it than if you […]

Does this seem like an oxymoron? Well, think about it—there are many instances when you must rely on your fiction-writing skills in nonfiction. What about the memoir? I’m working with a client now whose book manuscript features depictions of actual people as examples throughout. She is a give-me-the-facts type of more academic writer and I’m […]