Five Nursery Rhyme Origins to Spark Your Next Story

The true stories behind nursery rhymes are often historical, political, or just downright dark. With a little research, any of these delightful ditties can lead you to a compelling story idea. I’ll delve into five particularly juicy rhymes here and give you some resources at the end to further your research. 1) Ring Around the… Read more »

E-books versus Print:  Which do we Retain Better?

E-book sales skyrocketed in 2007 when Amazon unveiled the Kindle. Some said the demise of paper books was imminent. After a few years, however, e-book sales declined as the novelty wore off and consumers discovered e-books weren’t always cheaper than print books. It wasn’t until May of 2017 that e-books once again saw a small… Read more »

#5onFri: Five Reasons to Write Short Fiction

Many writers picture their name on the cover of a book and march toward that goal in a straight line, not stopping to enjoy other great opportunities to get published along the way. If that sounds like you, you might be missing out on some very rewarding writing time. Writing a short piece of fiction… Read more »

Improve Your Writing By Thinking Like a Copywriter

Have you ever read the side of a Chipotle cup while you eat your burrito? Browsed a company’s home page? Ever chuckled at an online recap of your favorite TV show? What about the little descriptions next to clothes in magazines? Then guess what — you’ve read something created by a copywriter. Copywriters write a… Read more »

Three Ways to Show Instead of Tell

How many times have you heard an editor or agent tell you to show more in your writing? It’s okay if you’re answer is “A lot.” This was the number one comment I received during my first writing class. Heck, I heard it in my next two or three writing classes, which got me thinking:… Read more »

#5onFri: Five Reasons Writers Need Community

When I started writing—which, for me, was a very DIY venture—I subscribed to the popular notion that the craft required solitude. In fact, I think many writers cling to an image of the profession in its classic form: quill in hand, crackling fireplace in a quiet study. And it’s no wonder why. Countless notables have… Read more »

How to Create Killer Graphics to Promote Your Writing

As I write this article, I am mid-launch for my third book. There are a lot of tactics that go into generating excitement around a new release, but let’s be honest—some are more fun than others. One of my favorite ways to celebrate a new release is with teaser graphics. A good teaser graphic creates… Read more »