You’ve spent months revising and editing your manuscript. Now comes one of the most exciting and nerve-racking stages in the writing process: getting feedback. Yes, sending your story to beta-readers and asking for their thoughts on what works and what needs improvement. And while any constructive comments can help, it’s a good idea to let… Read more »
Calling nature a “force to be reckoned with” might be an understatement. Between the seasons, myriad landmarks, and extreme weather events, it can wreak havoc with our lives on one day, then let its beauty take our breath away on the next. Plus, remember how often we read or hear news about survivors of floods,… Read more »
A few years back I published a couple of non-fiction books with the largest independent publishing house in America, Kensington. After the second book, I had exhausted what I had to say on the subject of how Americans funeralize their dead and moved into fiction. Unfortunately, the market for genre fiction was a bit softer… Read more »
Today I’d like to tell you a story about a little book called Keeper of the Dawn. I’ve learned an incredible amount from this book, about myself, my writing process, and the basic nature of creativity. You see, Keeper of the Dawn is my debut novella, scheduled for release this April. It was also my… Read more »
What do you do when the genre you write is commonly referred to as trash? Not just by non-readers, but by the key audience demographic as well? The romance genre, dominated by a female readership whose novels most often involve sex, would have to be referred to as trash in a culture still affronted and… Read more »
Writing from multiple points of view can be a fantastic way to tell a story, but it can also be a difficult one. Managing multiple story arcs, information and reader experience is tricky enough with just one character! But having different perspectives can also make for a richer reading experience. It’s not right for every… Read more »
Growing an online platform is about that long tail growth. Just like writing a novel, it’s a marathon, not a sprint. The way you keep it growing is by consistent, small steps that add up to meaningful growth over time. What are the next steps for your online author platform? No matter where you are… Read more »
As we’ve talked about on DIY MFA in the past, setting goals can be a powerful tool to helping achieve our writing dreams. But what sort of goals should we be setting? There’s the obvious ones–like writing every day, finishing a certain project, or sending out queries. But there are many other ways to improve… Read more »
Why do you write? That’s a question I’ve been asking myself a lot lately. Not because I’m questioning my identity as a writer, but because with the dawn of a new year filled with global uncertainty, I’m feeling the need to commit myself to a higher calling. I know I’m not alone in this; the… Read more »
I imagine every editor has, at one point or another, dropped their head into their hands and ululated, “Why didn’t I tell my author this one tiny thing before it became a massive catastrophe?!” So, in an effort to prevent further histrionics, here are some things you, the author, can do to streamline the editing… Read more »
