Query Etiquette
Agent Kathleen Ortiz posts some really bad sentences to include in your query letter. Please, follow her advice.
How to Decide What Blogs to Read
I’ve gotten a little ruthless in my blog reading, and I cut quite a few out of my Google Reader. It has helped me not only keep up with the blogs I need to read but also stay on track with my own writing rather than wasting all of my time blog surfing.
Be a Joiner, But Don’t Be a Sucker
Christina Katz offers her thoughts on how to select a membership organization or writer’s group to join.
Self-Publishing: Is It a Viable Alternative for Authors?
This post from Entertainment Weekly is an interesting look at self-publishing. Would you consider it a more valid method of publishing success if, say, Stephenie Meyer and Stephen King began going the self-pub route?
Being Part of a Community
Should editors and publishers be part of the reader community? mean, most of them went into this line of work because they love books and reading, right?
Writing More, Writing Better: 6 Ways to Find More Time to Write
The key to improving your craft is by writing more. 10,000 hours of focused practice can make you an expert, according to Malcolm Gladwell. Laurie Pawlik-Kienlen shares ideas to help you get those 10,000 hours in.
P.D. James and Detective Fiction
Keith Oatley attended one of P.D. James’ speaking engagements, and he shares some of what he learned. The nice thing is that he discusses how James’ words made him reconsider his novel and decide what worked and what didn’t. If you get that much out of a seminar or a talk, you have spent your time wisely.
Two Critiques and a Challenge
Can you sum up your story in one sentence? One engaging and thought-provoking sentence that makes people want to read the story? Randy Ingermanson critiques two summaries and offers a third up for reader critique.
I Wrote a Novel
Ready for a little inspiration? Read Stephen Parrish’s publication story.
Don’t Be a Victim: Stop Content Thieves Dead in Their Tracks
Good tips for preventing your hard work from being claimed by or sold to others without your knowledge.
How to Tell When Its Time to Take a Break
Another reminder of the need for downtime. Billable hours are awesome, but make time for rest, too.
oDesk: One Writer’s Experience and His Plea to Clients
Freelancers thrive when they feel trusted by their clients. Does monitoring software, such as that used by oDesk, make you feel as if you aren’t trusted.
Staying Relevant with Targeted Email
Looking for ways to generate better response to your email marketing? Try targeting your messages better.
What to Do If Your Marketing Plan Fails
Everything needs to be tweaked or updated every now and then to stay effective. Your marketing plan is no different. This post gives you tips to figure out when your marketing plan is due for an update and how to update it.
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- Book Review: On Writing by Stephen King I feel a little like I'm cheating because I discussed Stephen King's On Writing before, but I hadn't finished it then. King's book is a combination memoir and writing guide. At first it seemed odd to combine these two types of books. From a financial standpoint, two books means......
- Writing Roundup Ten Characteristics of a Good ClientUse these tips when evaluating whether you will continue to work with your current clients. Also, the comment from Kelly Parkinson has great tips to evaluate a potential client.Proving You're Worth More MoneyIn this post, Heather Boerner helps you negotiate for higher rates from current......
- Writing Roundup, Aug. 14 So many great resources, so little time. Thus, I avoid preamble and move directly into this week's links. The Business of Writing 5 Reasons Pitches Can Be Detrimental Rather Than Helpful Jane Friedman, who took pitches at the Willamette Writers Conference, offers a little advice to writers making pitches: Don't......
- Writing Roundup, February 5 The Business of Writing Craft Fiction Freelancing Platform The Business of Writing Perseverance Without the ability to stick to our goals and complete our writing projects, all of the talent and study in the world won't mean a thing. How do you keep your motivation up even when you......
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After a career of 35+ years in education, collaborative sales and sales management and marketing, I started my own freelance writing and editing business in July of 2008. My company, Writing It Right for You knows that “It Matters How You Say It”! I work with individuals, graduate and post-graduate students, and businesses throughout the United States, Canada, the Middle East, India, Russia, Australia, New Zealand and the United Kingdom on a variety of academic and business writing and editing projects.
















