If you’re trying to get a publisher to accept your manuscript, then you’re a salesperson, as well as a writer. Think of the door-to-door salesmen of the past. They had products to push and a well-rehearsed spiel to help them get the job done. As a writer, your “spiel” is your query letter—the letter you … Read more
Most writers dream of becoming a best-selling author someday. With a global audience, anything is possible. Some books are more likely to hit the best-seller lists than others, however. Why is that? It might be because top-selling books often have several elements in common. This doesn’t necessarily mean that if your book does not have … Read more
Is there really such a thing as perfect grammar? It seems logical to assume that the average person will make grammar mistakes now and then. Writers make them, too—heck, even editors make them. However, with a system of checks and balances in place (I.e., writers submitting their work to editors for review) such errors can … Read more
Ideas, ideas, ideas—writers are full of them—or, at least, should be, if they hope to earn a living at their craft. If you happen to be a best-selling author or have gained celebrity status in a certain niche (e.g., world famous inspirational speaker) you could probably write just about anything, and people would buy it. … Read more
If you plan on earning a living from writing books, you’ll have a lot to learn about the publishing process, marketing, royalties and other financial issues. There are several key issues to be aware of if you happen to be a married person who is contemplating divorce. What do these two topics have to do … Read more
There’s likely not a writer alive who has not, at some point, experienced frustration in the task. People attend workshops and tap into myriad resources to help them overcome “writer’s block” or to improve their skills in various ways. If there’s one quality that’s essential to being a writer, it’s “perseverance.” Some people like to … Read more
Imagine your dream of becoming a best-selling author coming true. A publisher accepts your manuscript. Your story becomes available for purchase, and boom! It goes viral! Everybody wants to read it, and anyone who’s anyone in the writing and publishing industry wants to talk to you! Podcasters want to invite you on their programs. The … Read more
Before we address the topic of this blog, there’s something you should know: It is always—as in, always-100%-of-the-time, a bad idea to submit a manuscript for publishing consideration without first sending it through a thorough (and preferably professional) copy-editing process. Sadly, many writers do just that, only to receive polite rejection letters and be left … Read more
Whether you always struggled with writing assignments in school or have enjoyed writing for most of your life, it’s always a good idea to practice helpful tips to improve your skills. Every writer has room for improvement, no matter how experienced he or she happens to be. Some types of writing may come more easily … Read more
The human brain is a fascinating organ. In an average adult, it weighs approximately three pounds and is the most complex component of the body. It’s important to keep the brain as healthy as possible because it controls thoughts, movements, emotions, muscles and all systems in the body. A healthy brain is essential to a … Read more