#5onFri: 5 Writer’s Digest Conference Takeaways

The Writer’s Digest Conference took place a few weeks ago, and I was thrilled to attend with the DIY MFA team. Writing conferences are a wonderful way to invest in your career—they can improve your craft, grow your writing support network and connect you to publishing pros who could end up helping your career along later…. Read more »

Platform Takeaways from the Writer’s Digest Conference

As I sit down to write this, I’m still recovering from the whirlwind that was the Writers Digest Conference—as one is likely to do following any really great conference. Part of that is, of course, because I was there with the DIY MFA team supporting Gabriela as she launched the DIY MFA book and offered a… Read more »

#5OnFri: 5 Things I Learned at Hippocamp 2016

I recently attended Hippocamp, a conference for creative nonfiction writers, in Lancaster, PA. It was my first time there, and I’m so grateful I went! The conference has only been running for two years, but it’s clear that it has a long future. It was super well-organized, with fantastic workshop leaders, panelists and speakers. (Mary… Read more »

If You Want To Be Productive, Go To Sleep!

Last Saturday, my three-year-old son did not take his usual mid-afternoon nap. Most parents wouldn’t think this a very big deal. Kids skip naps all the time, right? Well, my son doesn’t. Ever since my “Epic Battle To Make Baby Sleep” during year one of his life, I’ve been kind of a nap Nazi. His… Read more »

#5OnFri: Five Tips for Rocking the Writer Wait

Waiting. It’s an inevitable part of the writing process. Writers do a lot of waiting: on readers to provide feedback, on agents to respond to queries, partials or manuscripts, on editors to respond to agents, and then reviewers, booksellers, and readers again. It’s an inescapable reality. And it can drive a writer crazy. Here’s a few tips… Read more »

When Your Book Doesn’t Sell

I’ve been planning to write this post for over a year. Except I really thought it would be the “When Your Book DOES Sell” version. But yeah… that didn’t happen. The book my agent signed me for didn’t sell. I found out five months ago. It’s taken me that long to be ready to write this…. Read more »

#5OnFri: 5 things I Learned While at Utopia Con

Utopia :  a place (as a region, island, country, or locality) that is imaginary and indefinitely remote :  a place, state, or condition of ideal perfection especially in laws, government, and social conditions [Merriam Webster] “I went to Utopia.” Every time I say that to someone, I feel a little crazy. But I really did! It’s… Read more »

Pitch Perfectly by Following a Few Rules

Many writing conferences have pitch sessions. They can be a fantastic way to get your work in front of editors and agents. Even if you don’t end up finding an agent at a conference, pitch sessions are a great way to practice the fine art of talking about your book in a succinct and effective… Read more »