Helping Writers Go from Unpublished to Published
Writing magazine articles is a good way to bring in steady extra income while you work on your book. But do you struggle to find ideas?
Let the following list of 11 types of articles you can write serve as a springboard. Each type has it own requirements and purposes.
If you are a regular subscriber of one or two specific periodicals, consider how their articles fit into the following categories. Then think about [Read more…] about 11 Kinds of Magazine Articles You Can Write
So there you sit, staring at the book you’ve written. You’re proud of your hard work, and you should be.
Now you’re faced with “What do I do next?”
If you’ve only just finished the draft, then it’s time to start in on revisions.
Maybe you’ve revised and revised, and then revised some more and feel it’s time to start submitting to potential publishers.
I know beyond a doubt, you truly want to get your book published. I’ve been there, and [Read more…] about You’ve written a book. Now what?
Lately, I’ve noticed several of the same kinds of mistakes occurring in the manuscripts I’m reviewing, so I thought I’d address them here today. Let’s start with the easiest one to fix.
You can find this mistake with ease, and fix it just as quickly. It happens most often when writers give their characters an action prior to the dialog.
Gary turned to me and said, “I don’t make that mistake.”
Readers know quotation marks indicate speech. The words and said are superfluous.
Laughing, Gary said, “I don’t make that mistake.”
In the example above, [Read more…] about 3 Common but Easily Avoided Mistakes in Fiction
It’s National Ice Cream Month. Now there’s an idea I can sink my teeth into…brain freeze!
I like ice cream. My favorite flavor is Bordeaux cherry chocolate. Mmmm, heaven on earth.
But what does that have to do with writing?
I thought I’d give you some story ideas to play around with while you enjoy your ice cream and watch the fireworks (Happy 240th Birthday, USA!).
Focusing on the idea of ice cream, here are some scenarios to have fun with.
Flashbacks.
You know what I’m talking about. When a writer rips us from the present moment of the story and catapults us into the past.
And that’s the problem. It stops the forward momentum of your story. Like a driver slamming on the brakes and you go flying through the windshield.
First, realize a flashback is not equal to backstory. In The Portable MFA in Creative Writing, Tim Tomlinson tells us backstory is: [Read more…] about The Problem with Flashbacks
For people dipping their toes into the vast sea of publishing for the first time, knowing how to find a publisher can be an overwhelming task.
I’m talking to those who have ventured into these waters from another field. Doctor, teacher, business exec, stay-at-home mom. And now God has given you a story or message to share.
Where do you start?
Today’s post is by Ben Wolf, Founder and Editor-in-Chief of Splickety Publishing Group. I had the privilege of meeting Ben last month at PenCon (a conference for editors). He gave an inspiring keynote speech on day 2 of the conference.
I enjoyed his keynote so much, I decided to ask if he’d be willing to guest post on my blog—and yes, I had to encourage myself to be brave enough to ask. He graciously said yes.
3 Things You Need to Know About Flash Fiction
by Ben Wolf
Founder and Editor-In-Chief of Splickety Publishing Group
Instant gratification reigns supreme in today’s fast-paced society. I could go into a spiel here about Twitter, DVR, multi-tasking, and Big Macs, but we all live it (and, in most cases, love it) every day. [Read more…] about 3 Things You Need to Know About Flash Fiction
As I write this, I’m sitting in my son’s living room, located in beautiful Colorado Springs. This past weekend, I attended PenCon, a conference for editors. Yes, editors need conferences just like writers.
I can’t say enough good things about this conference organized by Kathy Ide and members of The Christian Pen. I heard terrific speakers, made new friends and connections in the editor world, and learned so much. I’m going home a better editor and a better person. Success all the way around for attending a conference.
Part of what I learned was to nurture your heart, to do things you enjoy and that refresh you.
And I planned this conference well, because in addition to the conference, [Read more…] about Nurture Your Heart