Writers ask lots of questions, and the writing community pays it forward quite well. I see many questions on a regular basis. One is “what program do you use to format your manuscript?” These writers aren’t talking about how to format their manuscript for presenting to agents, editors, or publishers, but programs to format the…
Last year while I was stumbling around in the midst of having my blog shifted to a new domain, my blog fell off the cliff. In early 2020, I decided to shift my writing website from one domain to another. I hired Marta Goertzen (Trail Guide Webworks) to do all the migrating and such, and…
MJ Scholz, a good friend of mine and part of my writers critique group, just published her debut book, Connecting Colors, Feelings, and Words. I’m so excited for her because this book was 2 years in the publishing process—from contract to finished book, with lots of questions in between! This unique children’s book—a coloring book…
Doing research for your book isn’t restricted to those who write nonfiction. It’s just as essential for fiction, even more so if you are writing historical fiction or have set the story in a region of the world you are unfamiliar with. Later this month, I’ll be making a trek to Montana for just this…
Updated August 16, 2021. You mean I have to build a platform at the same time as I write my book? you ask. Yes. And as I look at what September, October, and November hold for me—teaching at 3 writers conferences, a trip for book research, finishing book 2 of my Her Inheritance series, maintaining…
Quoting the Bible is a frequent occurrence for Christian writers. But do you know your limits on what you can quote, understand how to format your verse(s), and the know the copyright credit you must give? As I edit writers’ manuscripts, I find errors in all these areas, so let’s dive in and look at…
Updated July 5, 2021 Have you ever been reading a story and suddenly found yourself saying, “Wait a minute, in that last chapter spring was just beginning and now suddenly it’s wintertime?” I know I have. And it’s like a train crashing through the middle of the story. Sometimes it’s not that stark, but I…
(Updated June 2021). Jane M. Tucker is the author of the Lottie Braun series, which released as a kindle box set earlier this month. Janes series came about much like my own–unintentionally. The series includes Lottie’s Gift, Lottie’s Hope, and Lottie’s Freedom. Jane is a lifelong reader and writer who has a deep love for…