Writing Tips

Query Letters – Do They EVER Get Easier to Write?

Are You Having Trouble Coming Up with Winning Query Ideas? Here’s an email I got today from one of my current coaching clients: I am still having trouble with queries. The hardest part for me is coming up with ideas, but I am having a challenging time pairing up ideas and publications. It takes me such a long time to even formulate one that I... [Read more of this article]

The Dangers of Defending Your Manuscripts

Every month, I guest blog for Missy Frye at the Incurable Disease of Writing. For this month’s post, I decided to mix it up a little and do a short podcast with fellow author Susan Kimmel Wright to talk about the dangers of defending your manuscripts. Susan and I were both instructors for the Institute of Children’s Literature for many... [Read more of this article]

Writing the Middle Grade Novel: From Start to Finish – Part Three

Many writers who start a middle grade novel get halfway through the story and then give up on the project. That doesn’t have to be the case for you. Here are a few tips to help you FINISH your manuscript. 1. Don’t ask for feedback too soon. Any criticism too early can confuse you or make you stop working on your story altogether. Wait until... [Read more of this article]

Writing the Middle Grade Novel – From Start to Finish: Part Two

Plot Arc or Plot Triangle Note: If you missed Part One of this article, read it here first! In Part Two of Writing the Middle Grade Novel: From Start to Finish, I’ll give some tips for plotting and writing your novel. Every writer works a bit differently, but these are techniques that I’ve found work for me. Maybe they will work for you,... [Read more of this article]

Writing the Middle Grade Novel – From Start to Finish: Part One

Are you aching to write a middle grade novel but you don’t really know how to get started much less finish such a project? Then, read today’s post with tips and tricks that will help you get started. Then, check back here in a few days for Part 2 of Writing the Middle Grade Novel – From Start to Finish with tips to help you plot and... [Read more of this article]

Writers: Start a Success Journal!

If you keep a personal journal, you already know the many benefits of journaling. But you might not know the power of keeping what I call a Success Journal. A Success Journal is one devoted solely to your writing or your freelance writing business. In this journal, you keep track of your various writing projects. You also track your feelings and emotions... [Read more of this article]

Finding a New Writing Attitude

by Missy Frye The wise Suzanne Lieurance once said, “To truly enjoy the writer’s life that is joyful and exhilarating, focus on serving others through the materials you write.” She was right, you know. When I focused my efforts on turning my blog Incurable Disease of Writing into a resource for writers, my attitude improved, my energy increased... [Read more of this article]

Writers: Be Well-Dressed Readers!

Recently I came across a cool site for anyone who loves books! And that SHOULD include ALL writers! The site is called The Well-Dressed Reader. Here are some questions I asked one of the owners of this most creative little business: 1. I love the idea of reading-themed jewelry. How did you come up with the idea to start a business selling this type... [Read more of this article]

How to Choose a Title for Your Book

One of the most important parts of writing a book—whether you self-publish it or find a traditional publisher to publish it—is choosing a winning title for your book. Read my article here about 3 Reasons Book Titles Are So Important. But before you read that article, answer this question for me, please: WHEN is the best time to create a best-selling... [Read more of this article]

Your Professional Writers’ Resume

If you want to apply for freelance writing jobs, many times you’ll need a professional resume. But it shouldn’t be difficult to create your resume. Just remember – potential clients and publishers who will give you assignments or contracts don’t really care that you sold shoes during the summers when you were in college or... [Read more of this article]

Choosing a Best-Selling Title for Your Book: Three Reasons Book Titles Are So Important!

If you’re planning to write your own book, you should know that a great title is one of the most important elements of any best-selling book, especially a nonfiction book. Here are three reasons book titles are so important! 1. Many people will purchase your book just because the title appeals to them. For that reason, you shouldn’t simply... [Read more of this article]

Yes, You CAN Write a Novel!

Have you always wanted to write a book but haven’t even tried because you don’t know where to start? Maybe you tried to start a novel but found the writing to be far more difficult that you’d imagined. Perhaps you attempted to write a novel draft but got bogged down in the middle of it. Not sure how to get from your novel idea to a completed,... [Read more of this article]

Boost Your Freelance Writing Income through Affiliate Marketing

Most freelance writers who make a substantial income these days rely on affiliate marketing for a significant portion of that income. Yet, there are many writers who just never get the hang of affiliate marketing. Most of these writers tend to sign up for one or two affiliate programs and post a text link or graphic link to the product or products for... [Read more of this article]

Why Your Book SHOULDN’T Include Everything You Know!

When writing a nonfiction book for the first time, many new authors think they’re supposed to include everything they know about the topic. But actually, when writing a nonfiction book, you DON’T want to include every single thing you know about the subject. There are a couple of reasons for this. First, if you’re any kind of expert... [Read more of this article]

Grab This Bundle For Your Writers’ Reference Library

Every successful writer needs great books for his/her reference library. And, generally, you can expect to pay at least $12.00 for any great book about writing. That’s why this three book bundle is such a SUPER deal! You get these 3 books in this super bundle: Writing Wide: Exercises in Creative Writing Spice Up Your Writing: Write to Entice... [Read more of this article]

Answers to Your Questions about Freelance Writing

Every week I offer a free Q&A teleclass and answer your questions about freelance writing and creating your own freelance writing business. Sometimes these teleclasses are LIVE, other times they are simply recorded and those who register for the teleclass receive a link to the recording. Listen to last week’s recorded teleclass here: Register... [Read more of this article]

Writing Tip – Verbs

The PRESENT PARTICIPLE – always ONE word and always ends in -ING going, eating The PAST PARTICIPLE – always ONE word; can easily be found by pretending that ‘I have’ comes before it (I have) gone; (I have) eaten The INFINITIVE – can be found by pretending that ‘to’ comes before it: (to) go; (to) eat. The following... [Read more of this article]

Successful Freelancing – How’s Your Timing?

Timing seems to play such an important role in any kind of success. Whether you’re a writer, business owner, or even a struggling actor, ultimately, you’ve got to get the timing right. It’s easy to see how important timing is for actors. They’re usually on stage, or in a scene, with another actor or group of actors and every... [Read more of this article]

Unscripted Power – With Glenn Brooks and Claudia Gere

This morning I was a guest on Vibrant Living, a radio show hosted by Glenn Brooks. Glenn is working with publishing coach Claudia Gere to write a book on the radio. Listen to the show here: Learn more about Glenn Brooks at www.vibrantlivinginc.com Find out about Claudia Gere and her book coaching at www.claudiagereco.com Tweet This Post Read More →

Answers to Your Questions about Freelance Writing

Since we didn’t get to have a Build Your Business Write Q&A teleclass last week, I’ll be posting my answers here to those questions that were submitted last week. Here’s a question that came in last week from Karen. She says: I’ve had 10 years experience editing college papers (undergrad and postgrad) which produced mostly... [Read more of this article]

Read More Posts From This Category