• Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar

The Motivational Editor

Helping Writers Go from Unpublished to Published

  • Home
  • Services
    • Writing Coach
  • Book Store
  • Shopping Cart
  • Speaking
  • Resources
  • About
    • Contact
    • Guest Blog Guidelines

Advice from Children’s Author Janet Ann Collins

19 June, 2015 by Debra

Part of what drives us to be writers is our desire to share our message and make a difference in the lives of others.

Multi-published children’s author Janet Ann Collins does just that. Janet and her husband raised three foster sons with special needs, and you’ll find the complexities and challenges of special needs children occurring as a regular theme in her books.

Children's author Janet Ann CollinsWhy Did you write A Shadow of Fear? [Read more…] about Advice from Children’s Author Janet Ann Collins

Share this:

  • Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Pinterest (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on LinkedIn (Opens in new window)
  • Click to email a link to a friend (Opens in new window)
  • Click to print (Opens in new window)

Like this:

Like Loading...

Filed Under: Author Interviews

5 Upcoming Writers Conferences

15 June, 2015 by Debra

Debra L. Butterfield
Photo courtesy of Carol J. Sharp

Writers conferences are not only great places to learn, but they are a lot of fun to attend!

I enjoy teaching at conferences as much as I enjoy attending them. That’s me in the pic above, teaching at the Called to Write Conference in Pittsburg, Kansas, this past April.

At conferences, you’ll learn about writing and the world of publishing as well as be able to present your work to agents and editors. You’ll also be able to network with other writers and make new friendships.

Upcoming writers conferences [Read more…] about 5 Upcoming Writers Conferences

Share this:

  • Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Pinterest (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on LinkedIn (Opens in new window)
  • Click to email a link to a friend (Opens in new window)
  • Click to print (Opens in new window)

Like this:

Like Loading...

Filed Under: Marketing Tips, Writing Skills Tagged With: conference, editors, literary agents, publishers, writers conferences

8 Books on Writing I Recommend

9 June, 2015 by Debra

My 8 recommended books on writingWhat book on the craft of writing has been the most helpful to you?

I recently asked that question on my Facebook author page, but no one left an answer.

So I have to wonder if I’m wasting my time with today’s post.

But maybe it was a question that required too much thought.

Or they weren’t trolling Facebook that day (after all I posted that on a Monday).

Or maybe they didn’t find any book particularly helpful. And if that’s the case, [Read more…] about 8 Books on Writing I Recommend

Share this:

  • Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Pinterest (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on LinkedIn (Opens in new window)
  • Click to email a link to a friend (Opens in new window)
  • Click to print (Opens in new window)

Like this:

Like Loading...

Filed Under: Writing Skills Tagged With: books, writers, Writing Tips

What Inspires Your Writing?

29 May, 2015 by Debra

As writers we all have a purpose for writing. We want to entertain, inform, persuade, or inspire. The passions in our own lives drive what we write.

You care about the environment so you may include a character in your book that feels the same.

You are politically minded so perhaps you write political thrillers.

As a Christian, my own beliefs and desire to tell people about God compel me to write Christian-based nonfiction and fiction.

Today’s interview is with a like-minded woman. Catherine Ulrich Brakefield’s newest book, Wilted Catherine Ulrich BrakefieldDandelions released today. Though fictional, Catherine has set her story in the midst of the Second Great Awakening, a time in our history when godly revival gripped the nation.

Let’s dive in and learn more about what inspired Catherine to write this book and her experiences with the story. [Read more…] about What Inspires Your Writing?

Share this:

  • Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Pinterest (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on LinkedIn (Opens in new window)
  • Click to email a link to a friend (Opens in new window)
  • Click to print (Opens in new window)

Like this:

Like Loading...

Filed Under: Author Interviews Tagged With: Author Interviews, Catherine Ulrich Brakefield, fiction, Wilted Dandelions

What Is Clean Writing?

26 May, 2015 by Debra

On Writing Well by William ZinsserDo you think best-selling authors like James Patterson, J.K. Rowling, and Jerry Jenkins sit down and produce that best seller with their first draft?

For some reason, many people believe this is how it happens. But that’s a myth.

“Submitting a novel without rewriting is like playing ice hockey naked.” ~Best selling author James Scott Bell in Revision and Self-Editing for Publication

Whether you are a seat-of-the-pants writer or one who plots first, the prevailing advice in writing your first draft is [Read more…] about What Is Clean Writing?

Share this:

  • Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Pinterest (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on LinkedIn (Opens in new window)
  • Click to email a link to a friend (Opens in new window)
  • Click to print (Opens in new window)

Like this:

Like Loading...

Filed Under: Writing Skills Tagged With: clean writing, revision, rewriting, William Zinsser, writing

Nancy Kay Grace and The Grace Impact

15 May, 2015 by Debra

Nancy Kay GraceI’m visiting today with author Nancy Kay Grace. Nancy is speaker and author loves to share about embracing God’s grace in everyday life. She has contributed stories to several anthologies and published magazine articles.

Nancy is married to her best friend, Rick, who is a senior pastor in northwest Arkansas. They have served the Lord for more than forty years. Now they enjoy the stage of life with two married children and an increasing number of grandchildren. To learn more about her ministry, please visit NancyKayGrace.com.

Why did you write The Grace Impact? [Read more…] about Nancy Kay Grace and The Grace Impact

Share this:

  • Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Pinterest (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on LinkedIn (Opens in new window)
  • Click to email a link to a friend (Opens in new window)
  • Click to print (Opens in new window)

Like this:

Like Loading...

Filed Under: Author Interviews Tagged With: Author Interviews, Nancy Kay Grace

Discover what’s so great about Scrivener!

12 May, 2015 by Debra

Scrivener, Scrivener, Scrivener.

You’ve been hearing about it from a lot of writers, including me. In fact, I recently taught a workshop on using Scrivener at the Called to Write conference in Pittsburg, Kansas.

You may be wondering what’s so terrific about this software and why you should consider using it.

So let’s take a look at it. [Read more…] about Discover what’s so great about Scrivener!

Share this:

  • Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Pinterest (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on LinkedIn (Opens in new window)
  • Click to email a link to a friend (Opens in new window)
  • Click to print (Opens in new window)

Like this:

Like Loading...

Filed Under: Writing Skills Tagged With: Scrivener, writers, writing, Writing Tips

The Top 3 Mistakes Writers Make When Submitting and How to Fix Them

28 April, 2015 by Debra

rejected book proposalDo you dream of getting published? What writer doesn’t?

But in their excitement and exuberance of completing a manuscript writers often make these 3 crippling mistakes when submitting their manuscripts to publishers.

The No. 1 Mistake

They don’t include a book proposal.

The book proposal is [Read more…] about The Top 3 Mistakes Writers Make When Submitting and How to Fix Them

Share this:

  • Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Pinterest (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on LinkedIn (Opens in new window)
  • Click to email a link to a friend (Opens in new window)
  • Click to print (Opens in new window)

Like this:

Like Loading...

Filed Under: Writing Skills Tagged With: book proposal, publishing, submissions, writers, Writing Tips

  • « Go to Previous Page
  • Page 1
  • Interim pages omitted …
  • Page 34
  • Page 35
  • Page 36
  • Page 37
  • Page 38
  • Interim pages omitted …
  • Page 49
  • Go to Next Page »

Primary Sidebar

Make your journey to publishing a whole lot easier.

Self-editing & Publishing Tips for the Indie Author
Learn how to publish on KDP. Find correct formatting and grammar tips, and a whole lot more. Get your copy today!

Will Sally and Chase finally get together? Clemmy tries to help.

Embracing Her Inheritance book cover
Saddle up and join Sally Clark on her journey. Get your copy today.

Catch my new podcast on Spotify

Reading Between the Lines podcast
I've been featured in the Top 50+ Tools and Resources for Christian Writers 2024.

Categories

  • Home
  • Services
  • Book Store
  • Shopping Cart
  • Speaking
  • Resources
  • About

Copyright © 2025 · Infinity Pro on Genesis Framework · WordPress · Log in

%d