Writer’s Life
Protagonist Murdered!
Caution: Villains Can Kill Your Story! Your main character may survive the bad guy’s beating, shooting and stabbing him. But your story can suffer–and die–if you don’t know how to pick the right antagonist and how to integrate him into your story….
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Writers: Is Your Window Open?
People often have specific experiences or unique perspectives they want to share with the world. Yet something holds them back. The fact is: People WANT to hear what you have to say. Writing your story, in your way, with your unique flavor, is the freshest breath of air you’ll ever experience. Open that window on your life and share!
Quit Writing to Stop Procrastinating! Huh?
Procrastination is a demon in any writer’s life. So why quit writing to avoid it? Here’s a 5-step “Quit” trick that will find you writing more productively. Procrastination comes in many guises, but here are two that I see often…
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How to Escape Your Life, Live in Paradise, and Rule the World
Too good to be true? Not if you’re a writer. And not only if you write the next great blockbuster. Enjoy the multiple benefits of being a writer RIGHT NOW! Writers have advantages that people in NO other profession can enjoy. The…
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My Top 4 Trend Recommendations for 2016
A new year always brings trends to mind. So what will 2016 offer writers? Some interesting trends, some backpedaling, and some skewed perspectives too! Frankly, I think we dwell too much on those items on our “to do’s” that fell…
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Tricks to Killer Query Letters
Need a killer query letter for agents or publishers? Queries can be tough! Try these tricks so you can connect with publishing professionals to get a “Send more now!” response. First, realize that the statistics on queries are dreadful for most writers—rejection after rejection is…
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Is This the Definitive Way to Find YOUR Agent?
In my last post I offered the first rung of tried-and-true methods to find an agent. Here are two alternative (and opposite) ways to land an agent–one may be the perfect to get one step closer to your book deal! Agents have…
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Alert: The Gamble AFTER Readers Buy Your Book—and How to Be a Winner
What happens to your book AFTER it’s purchased? Huh? Why should you care? Publishers now DO care—and make decisions on marketing based on how readers read books! Too many writers concentrate only on: a colorful cover clever title and hot action on…
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Your Writer’s Blog to Book Ecosystem
Take a lesson from Harvard Business—without attending classes—and you can have a leg up on your writing competition. Writers need to know what to do BEFORE they write. Becoming a writer is more than just learning the steps to writing…
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Dealing with the Tough Part of Writing
How is a writer to get from that initial glut of ideas to the exact wording publishers demand? There IS a way! And I discovered it on a recent trip to the Oregon coast. I work with writers who struggle…
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