Legacy By Susan Remson I am somewhere in the middle of middle age, and there are still many things I have never done. Until recently, one was to attend a major league baseball game. But that changed that last month, when I saw the Pittsburgh Pirates break a losing streak in a 5-2 win over the … Read more
By Melanie Bowden Many writers are so afraid of rejection that they jump at whatever fee an editor offers. Don’t do it! Writers are notorious for not getting paid what they deserve, especially when they are first starting out. We need to think more like my therapist who advises, “Honor the work you do.” His … Read more
By LJ Dovichi I’d always dreamed of becoming a professional writer but I was too busy working to take the time. Sure, I had free time, but I spent it doing things with my husband, not because I had to but because I wanted to. Then I gave birth to our son and the luxury … Read more
By Mary Emma Allen “What promotional materials do you have to make your book stand out and help us sell it?” a bookstore events coordinator asked. There are a variety of materials you can use to let others know about your book and help make it noticeable in bookstores. With today’s computer printing programs, you … Read more
By Mary Emma Allen Do you recede into the background when people meet you or do you present a memorable appearance? We’re told it takes 30 seconds to make a first impression. How do you want to be perceived as an author? This often is something we writers don’t think about. As writers who strive … Read more
By Mary Emma Allen Many writers are reluctant to “toot their own horn” or promote themselves. Writers often are shy people who’d rather write than market their work. However, in today’s writing and publishing world, you can’t hide in the closet, as one writer said at a workshop. An excellent way of obtaining free publicity … Read more
By LaShawn M. Wanak I don’t do much online chatting anymore, which is a shame because I like shooting a quick message to my husband or saying hi to a friend. But ever since I started writing seriously, I just can’t do it anymore. Yes, I understand that IMing during my writing time should be … Read more
By Lorraine Archer Titles like these make my fingers do the writer’s polka across the keyboard. I try to make them stop, but my ten dancing digits refuse to listen. I watch in quiet disbelief, as my keyboard-tapping fingertips fill my computer screen with ridiculous sounding words and phrases. I can’t escape it. Even a … Read more
Peter Bowerman. The Well-Fed Writer: Back for Seconds. Fanove Publishing, 2004. For any writer interested in tailoring her freelance work to business clients, Peter Bowerman’s The Well-Fed Writer: Back for Seconds deserves prime shelf space on her desk. Packed with how-to information and tips from his personal experiences and those of other freelance professionals, Back … Read more
By Larry M. Lynch During a slow period in my writing career, I found myself writing only queries. With article assignments temporarily in a slump I soon started losing the “edge” that kept my writing tight, sharp, and crisp. As a new or practicing writer, it is important to establish and maintain good writing habits. … Read more
