Congratulations! You’ve published your book—now what? You worked very hard to get here—sitting on your own, writing, rewriting, and submitting for publication—surviving rejection and persisting. It’s time to buckle up again though, because post-publication may be bumpy, even overwhelming at times. Here are five tips to help smooth your way. Take a deep breath. Exhale…. Read more »
I spent five years as a literary agent, three of them in NYC, and I never thought I’d leave that business. Then I met the Midwestern man I would marry in a Brooklyn bar. And here’s the thing: Midwesterners always go back, no matter what they try to tell you. Many people agent successfully from… Read more »
December is easily one of my favorite months. I hate cold weather and NaNoWriMo has never clicked for me, but I love to plan for a new year. November is when I crack open the planner and set my goals. There’s nothing like the open possibility of 365 new days to reach for new author platforming… Read more »
“Platform is about cultivating and serving an audience.” I first heard book coach Chad R. Allen make this comment a few months ago. Now, Chad knows a thing or two about platform and books. He’s a former acquisitions editor, with over twenty years of experience in the publishing industry, as well as a writer, blogger,… Read more »
When I talk to other writers about my experiences with my small press, or about small presses in general, I often get questions about how much they help to market my books. My press offers a reasonable amount of promotion support, especially compared to what I’ve heard from some other authors. But even so, I… Read more »
Really, I never expected accolades. I’d prepared myself for the tough feedback I hoped would help me grow as a writer. I may be an accomplished columnist but I have much to learn about writing fiction. I didn’t anticipate praise but neither did I expect to leave feeling like something scraped off the sidewalk. But,… Read more »
I’ve been hoping to write a column on National Novel Writing Month (NaNoWriMo) since I started contributing to DIY MFA. Now, the timing is perfect, for a couple of reasons. First, it’s October, so there’s enough time for preparation and participation, if you wish to take on a new project for November. But there are… Read more »
Here’s a peek into my day: I start just after five in the morning. I get up, wash my face, and grab my laptop. I spend the next hour as a writer, drafting and editing, fine-tuning and submitting. I have a few minutes to get myself ready for the day, and then I wake up… Read more »
Literacy, in its most basic definition, is the ability to read and write. It can also be defined as fluency with a subject like math, or competence with skills such as computer literacy. Being able to read and write are skills many of us take for granted. We learn as kids and use them every… Read more »
This year, I’ve been to more conferences than I’ve ever been to in my whole life; three have been writing conferences for me and one a work conference for my husband. And during each of these, between learning and mingling, I found myself feeling inspired and a bit more creative. So, after the latest writing… Read more »
