The end of the year is a perfect time for reflection. It can be really easy to focus only on what’s to come — what new goals we’re setting, what new accomplishments we’d like to achieve–and not look at what we’ve done. I think this can be particularly true for writers– we can have a… Read more »
Hey there word nerds! Today I’m delighted to have Britt Alan on the show, talking about self-publishing his debut novel: Tiananmen Ascending. But before we dig into the nuts and bolts of writing and self-publishing, let me share a short anecdote that I think captures Britt’s longtime passion for that intersection between world politics and… Read more »
Writing can be a bit lonely. We stare at our computer screens all day, interacting with imaginary people who can feel more real than the people around us. This makes writing friends invaluable. Not only do they understand the process, but they can help us out along the way—as critique partners, brainstorming buddies, or just… Read more »
Wasting time puts our writing on the back burner. It simmers there as we reorganize an already immaculate pantry, neatly handprint our grocery list, or update that oh-so-very-important calendar to remember birthdays of family and friends. Time wasters. But, tell me your birthdate. I’ll take the time and add it to my list. My motivation… Read more »
Hey there word nerds! Domestic suspense has been getting a lot of buzz lately, but crafting a great book in this sub-genre is a challenging endeavor. Today I have the pleasure of interviewing mystery and thriller author Cate Holahan about her latest book The Widower’s Wife. In this episode, Cate gives us a behind-the-scenes look… Read more »
Each social network is unique. They have different demographics, features, channels and overall cultures. Don’t even try to pretend that SnapChat and Twitter users behave the same. However, there are some basic best practices that will serve you well no matter what platform you are on. Follow these guidelines any time you are taking the… Read more »
This is the third installment in my latest Writer Fuel sequence. You can catch up on the previous posts about writing as service and responsibility via these links. As always, newsletter subscribers get to read these essays before I post them here. Join the community to receive the WRITER FUEL newsletter and be part of our private Facebook group. In a… Read more »
Today, we depart slightly from our usual #5onFri programming to share a couple more installments of the Writer Fuel essays. Stay tuned for this afternoon, when I will share the third essay in this series. Newsletter subscribers get a sneak peek at these essays before I post them. They can also help crowdsource this column, by replying to… Read more »
Last week, I started writing letters to my email list in response to the recent political events. I got a landslide of replies, and it seemed fitting to share these essays more broadly. “Writer Fuel” is a series of posts where I adapt essays from my newsletter to share as blog posts here on the website. Newsletter subscribers… Read more »
Hey there word nerds! Boy are you going to love this episode. It’s a bit of an adventure for me, because I have not one, not two, but three wonderful guests joining me on the show. Today, I’m speaking with Anne Trager, founder of Le French Book, and two members of her team: Amy Richards… Read more »
