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 »

November

Book Nook — November Edition

I know I’ve been complaining all year about time’s unnatural speed, but seriously? I cannot believe that it’s November and the year is almost over. I have met my Goodreads goal for the year, but I haven’t read nearly as many books as I would have liked, and there’s not much time left. This fall… Read more »

writing love scenes

#5onFri: Five Tips for Writing Love Scenes

The thought of writing love scenes sends many authors running for the hills, but love scenes are my favorite scenes to write. It’s a chance for two characters who have spent a good chunk of the story pining for each other and bantering to take things to the next level physically.  Here are five tips… Read more »

write sex that sells

Making Love to the Page: How to Write Sex that Sells!

When I published my first erotica in 2015, I quickly realized there was still a certain level of judgment related to the genre. Sure, we had come far thanks to trailblazers such as Zane, EL James, and Noire (to name a few), but there was an overarching stigma present that the literary community was afraid… Read more »

poetry books

Gushing about Poetry Books

Hello, my poetry-nerd friends! Today I can’t help gushing about poetry books I’ve read recently and loved.  First off, I want to talk about the poetry collection What Kind of Woman by Kate Baer. Then I want to delve into a classic book on poetry as a craft, A Poetry Handbook by Mary Oliver. We’ll… Read more »