author platform resolutions

3 Author Platform Resolutions for 2022

As we end one year and start another, it’s a great time to take stock of what we’ve done, and where we want to go next. Yes! Resolutions! I know these days a lot of people are over resolutions. And I get it—why set goals based on a milestone in time when time hardly even… Read more »

writing community

Want to Write Your Best? Find Your Writing Community!

Something my students hear from me all the time, and which I’ve probably written about in one or more of my DIY MFA columns, is that writing doesn’t occur in a vacuum. At least, our best writing doesn’t. What I mean by that is, even the best and most seasoned writers have always found it… Read more »

reframing rejection

Strategies for Reframing Rejection

As authors, surviving rejection is one of our top challenges. However, by reframing rejection, we can bolster our dedication instead of allowing it to chip away at our souls. What is Reframing?  Reframing means looking at something from another angle. When we use our imagination to view an issue from another direction, the fear or… Read more »

recapture joy

Speculations: Recapture Joy in Your Writing

Greetings, Speculators! Last time, I made my public autism disclosure. That article was written in the middle of August and since that time, I’ve been struggling creatively. Autistic burnout has made my go-to place of joy largely inaccessible. It’s ironic that the very thing that’s pulled me out of depression and anxiety in the past… Read more »

freelance editor

The Long Road to Freelance Editor: Part Two

Welcome back, friends. In my last article, I discussed my long and difficult road to becoming a freelance editor. In this part, I’m going to give you some tips and tricks that I’ve learned over the last year and a half about what it takes to run your own freelance editing business. If you haven’t… Read more »

writing contests

Why You Should Enter Writing Contests

Welcome to the Author Marketing Toolkit, where you can learn from 20+ years of time-tested marketing and insights expertise, translated for authors. I’m Carol Van Den Hende, an MBA and strategist who’s known for bringing chocolate when I speak at conferences (surely, we’ll get back to in-person events one day!). I’m thrilled to be joining… Read more »