Challenge. Does that word strike fear and trembling into you or get you pumped? Perhaps it’s my Marine Corps training or just part of my DNA, but I love learning. And I challenge myself to continually improve professionally and personally. A few weeks ago I was listening to the Novel Marketing Podcast episode “How to…
As an author/business owner what deductions can I take on my taxes? In the coming months, I’ll be going through my all my paperwork, ensuring I have listed all my income and all my expenses, ready to submit to my certified public accountant (CPA). If you’re like me, you cringe at all this number-crunching stuff…
You never know how someone else might use you as an example. I want to relate a quick story that I hope encourages you in your journey. My daughter lives in another state, but she calls on a regular basis to visit. Earlier this year she called to tell me how she had shared my…
Though I’ve never asked, I can’t imagine anyone considering sentence structure in their every day conversation. They just say what they want to say. However, writers (and public speakers) must consider sentence structure because poor structure impacts the readers’ ability to comprehend the message, as well as their enjoyment of your story. Defined, “sentence structure”…
Based on the nonfiction submissions I get for freelance editing and those I receive at CrossRiver Media Group, it seems as though a lot of people are writing nonfiction these days. People read fiction for varying reasons, though entertainment leads the list. However, I doubt most people read nonfiction for
If there’s one thing in the writing community that seems to cause overwhelm and confusion, it’s self-editing one’s manuscript. Many new writers have the false belief that the first draft of their story is supposed to be publication ready, clean of errors and a gripping read—a home run, a slam dunk, a touchdown (plenty of…
I’m a homemade cookie kind of grandma not really a pop culture grandma. Nonetheless, I was among the thousands of comic con fans, cosplayers, podcasters, and vendors who descended on the Mid-America Convention Center on July 13, 2018, for Omaha, Nebraska’s O Comic Con. My first ever comic convention brought a culture shock similar to…
In today’s world of technology, independent publishing is easier than ever. Almost so easy, a dog could do it. Let’s take a quick look at the basics involved. First let’s define a few terms. Traditional publishing: a publishing company contracts with you to publish your book. They pay all costs of production and pay you…