There’s a place for you at Florida WritersCon. Whether you’ve just finished your first manuscript, are preparing to publish, or already have books on the shelves, every writer eventually reaches the same point: You know your next step is out there … you just need the inspiration, knowledge, or encouragement to get there! At Florida WritersCon 2026, you’ll be surrounded by fellow writers, bestselling authors, editors, publishing professionals, and industry experts who understand both the creative and business sides of … Read More »

Forget sitting in the back of a ballroom taking notes. Florida WritersCon 2026 is about rolling up your sleeves, practicing new skills, and connecting in-person. Throughout the weekend you’ll write, workshop, ask questions, receive feedback, meet other writers, and actively practice the craft alongside experienced authors and industry professionals. At Florida WritersCon 2026, you’ll have an opportunity to get hands-on with: 2-hour, hands-on craft workshops Master class with our keynote speaker, Shawn Welcome Introvert friendly networking (WritersConnect) Connections to industry … Read More »

Traditional publishing is an exciting place with a plethora of talented industry folks. But how do you get one of them to take notice of your book? The answer is to have a killer query letter. A query letter is a one-page document that shares about your book and introduces you as the author. Let’s start with breaking the query into its parts so we can analyze each piece. I’ll be using a real query letter submitted to me that … Read More »

Illustrators have beautiful, creative minds that can enhance your story exponentially. As with any working relationship, you want to have a good, productive one. The better you both work together, the better the book will turn out. If you are looking for an illustrator, check out this blog post: Where Can I Find an Illustrator? Once you’ve narrowed it down to one or more you’d like to reach out to, it’s important to follow the etiquette to get off on … Read More »

Book covers are one of your most important marketing tools. People will judge your book by its cover. Is it fair? No. Is it reality? Yes. So let’s help you get the best cover you can possibly have, whether you are creating it yourself or hiring a designer. Start with Research The great news is that we live in a time when looking at masses of book covers is quick and easy. No more venturing to the library and making … Read More »

My work is primarily traditionally published, and I’ve worked with a number of editors at several small, medium-sized and large publishing houses (think Random House, Houghton Mifflin Harcourt). Each editor has his/her/their way of working with an author. Over the years I’ve learned that if I can meet their needs a good portion of the time the whole process moves along pretty smoothly. Of course, there may be the unexpected catastrophe—an imprint folds, and editor leaves and your manuscript is … Read More »