The very traits that can make someone a wonderful writer – humility, sensitivity and introspection – can also conspire to make that same person an absolutely terrified (and ineffective) marketer. That’s a problem because, as you likely already know, the ability to market oneself and one’s books is a must for the modern writer. If this is… Read more »
There’s a lot of fives in today’s article! That’s okay. I like the number five. My mom was born on 5/15/55, and I’m one of five kids. And none of that really has anything to do with this article except to say—five’s a good number. And here’s five reasons you’ll love my workshop on the… Read more »
As we have explored this year, flash fiction is more than a very short story. It is an excellent, skill-building practice. It can be used for various projects and applied to limitless assignments. One of the things everyone needs, especially writers, is an bio. When we submit work to magazines, enter contests, speak at events,… Read more »
This summer, I had the most fantabulous time at the Clarion Writer’s Workshop, doing what I love to do best—writing science fiction and fantasy. 6 weeks. 6 award-winning instructors. Critiquing 4 stories every night and writing a story every week. What did I learn from these 6 most intense weeks ever? I’m going to sneak some of these writing… Read more »
As a first-time attendee of Writer’s Digest Conference, I was thrilled to spend three days learning about the craft and business of writing. And with presentations offered on a wide range of topics including genre studies, writing techniques, and marketing strategies, I made sure to dabble in each. What I didn’t expect was that even… Read more »
Wouldn’t it be cool if instead of sending out dozens (or hundreds) of queries, writers could post their pitches in one spot for editors and agents to browse? A place where agents and editors could come shop for writers instead of writers shopping for them? Oh wait, it exists. It’s pitching on Twitter. It’s how… Read more »
It’s fall now, writers, and that means the Writer Igniter Con is just around the corner. October 24-25, ya’ll. It’s coming faster than you think. I’m so excited to be a part of it, building from my social media strategy posts to cover a ton of great info for anyone trying to tweet and like… Read more »
Hashtags are nothing new anymore. But using them can still be awkward or even confusing for many, especially if you’re just getting your feet wet in a new network. Even if you’ve already got the basics down, are they actually growing your following? There’s a big difference between the occasional hashtag #justbecause and one that… Read more »
Wouldn’t it be marvelous if we could channel creativity anytime we want? Simply close our eyes, chant an “ohm” or twitch our noses like Samantha in Bewitched to summon our creative powers? Unfortunately, there’s no such magic (that I know of…) but it is possible to cultivate an atmosphere and lifestyle in which creativity can… Read more »
The 2015 Writer’s Digest Conference may have been a few weeks ago, but I still keep thinking about it. That’s how incredible it was. Three days of learning about the craft and business of writing, and being surrounded not only by literary agents, editors, and published authors, but hundreds of other writers who share your… Read more »
