Writing advice and tips.
I’ve been reading a wonderful book written by Lynn Austin titled Hidden Places. More than once as I’ve read the gentle, lilting prose of this story I’ve said to myself “I wish I could write like this.” I bet you’ve found yourself saying the same thing as you’ve read books that gripped you with the…
Save yourself time and heartache over rejection. Analyze a magazine first, then submit to those that will be interested in your idea. Here’s what to look for. Front Page: design and headlines will help you determine the target audience. The ads: Who are their advertisers? Read enough of the ads to get a feel for…
Listed below are 11 types of magazine articles you can consider writing. Each one has it own requirements and purposes. The Devotional Article helps readers understand a biblical principle by applying a passage of Scripture to a life example. Devotionals are often short pieces of 300 words or less, but there are markets that accept…
I first met author J.A. Marx this summer when I interviewed her about her debut book, Destiny Defied. During that interview she spoke about publishing industry standards, so I asked her come back and share more. J.A. has made a special offer for my readers with her post today. See the details at the bottom…
Recently I had more than one person comment about their struggle with waiting. I’m talking about the wait between when you submit (or pitch) your work and when you hear back from the editor (or publisher). We all have a different tolerance level for waiting, and the instant society we live in compounds the problem. But we…
Platform, audience, tribe, fans, followers. Call it what you will, today’s writers must market themselves much more than in years past. In fact, there are many aspects of the writing world we must learn—unless you have a budget that allows you to hire someone to handle it. In no special order, here are 11 blogs…
Whether you submit with regularity or not, it’s important to track your submissions. How else will you follow up if you have no record of the magazines and editors (or agents/publishing houses) to whom you have submitted your work? I keep a simple Excel file with the following info: Date submitted Magazine name Editor’s name…
(Updated May 2026) As writers, we must continually seek to improve our skills. It is an ongoing process that can be accomplished in a number of ways to fit anyone’s budget. Here are several options: Participate in a critique group—it’s much easier to see someone else’s weak spots than your own. I’ve learned so much by critiquing…