Do you know what people find when they Google your name? Do they find you? Do they find out that deep, dark secret you’ve tried to keep hidden all those years? (We know what you did; we still love you.) Or do they find someone with a similar name to yours? Maybe they’re in the same line of work, maybe they’re well-known in their own field, or maybe they’ve got their own deep, dark secret they’ve been trying to keep … Read More »

Here’s something for the nonfiction writers and people who aren’t just posting short stories and poems to their blog. When you get down to it, blog posts are one of the easiest pieces you could ever write. You just flop your fingers on the keyboard for a while, and whatever you come up with, you publish. (That’s what I’ve been doing on here for nearly a year. And if I can fool these guys, then you can surely do this!) … Read More »

I’m spoiled as a writer. I’m so plugged into my technology that I never pay attention to it unless it stops working. That’s a situation I’m facing now, as the T, R, 5, and -(dash) key have all stopped working on my laptop. That probably means a $500 – $600 repair on a laptop that’s about six months from its “best by” date anyway, so I bought a rechargeable Bluetooth keyboard instead. That inspired me to take a look at … Read More »

If you love technology and gadgets, it’s rather frustrating as a writer, because there’s not much to help us do our jobs better. Photographers have apps that help with lighting issues and improving their photos. Visual artists can sketch and draw on their phones and tablets. Even musicians have apps to help them record, mix, and share their music. Meanwhile, writers have word processors and, well, more word processors. There are things to help us be writers, but not much … Read More »

Last month, I encouraged everyone to start a blog as a way to show fans and friends some of the things you’ve been up to. With a blog, you can tell them anything you want, whether it’s your latest writing adventures, information about your stories and the worlds you’re creating, or even information about writing and publishing. Your blog is an excellent way to share information with people, especially if you like to keep your social networks smaller and more … Read More »

If there’s one tool every writer should have, one place they can send interested readers, it’s a blog. A blog is basically your centralized hub where you send readers from your other social networks. Think of your social media as a wheel — the different networks are the spokes, and your blog is the hub that joins them all. Your blog (which doubles as your writer’s website) is a public journal where you publish posts about things you’re working on, … Read More »