I’ve read a lot of social media posts by and about writers and their angst with the process. Many don’t think they’re actually writing if they’re not actively typing or putting words to paper. They lament the fact that they only wrote (insert a number here) words within a certain timeframe. Some exceeded their goal while others fell short (by their own estimation). I’d like to challenge the myth that writing is that one-dimensional, one setting pursuit. Plot-Pondering There are … Read More »

How is your 2023 To Be Read pile stacking up? If part of your plan for the new year includes learning more about the writing process and the publishing world, you may want to add some tried and true titles to your reading list. Get started here with some books that can boost your creativity, awaken your imagination, and teach you about the publishing world. Okay, here’s my suggested reading list to make you a well-informed writer. The Artist’s Way … Read More »

As each new year approaches, we savor the feeling of a fresh start. We make plans, set goals, and even those of us who won’t openly admit it probably come up with a few resolutions for the new year. For many writers, those resolutions often involve word counts, page counts, and time in the chair. However, those quantitative measures can often leave us feeling like failures when reality hits and we just can’t measure up. Others of us experience a … Read More »

“You can’t wait for inspiration; you have to go after it with a club.”—Jack London Some of you may know I do farming, so sorry up front for my farm slang. My observation is that just as consumers increasingly want quality locally-grown farm products, readers want well-written books with a sway toward local authors. There are likely many reasons for this, but for me overall author marketing greatly resembles farmer marketing. Some Marketing Generalities First, some words about advertising’s role … Read More »

It’s gift-giving season again! I’ve written several times about appropriate gifts for writers. (See FWA blog posts on writer gifts: Dec. 9, 2020 and Dec. 3, 2021.) However, writers are needy, you know. They require all the help they can get. The items on those earlier lists remain excellent gifts for your whiny writer. But there’s always more to consider. How about gifting your writer with one of the items below? (And get me a little nosh, while you’re at … Read More »

The holidays are upon us, and already I hear your heart rates increase. “How am I going to maintain my writing schedule through all the family dinners, out-of-town visits, and Super Bowl games?” you’re moaning. “How am I going to maintain the inviolable code of Butt-in-Chair?” For all of our consolation, I’d like to suggest that there’s more to writing than writing. That’s right, and you already know it. For every page that gets typed, how much thinking, imagining, and … Read More »