Book Proposals
Publishing is a Relational Business
An old saying is applicable to this secret: “It’s not what you know but who you know.” This adage…
March 26, 2025-
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Writers ChatWriters Chat Recap for March Part 1
Writers Chat, hosted by Johnnie Alexander, Brandy Brow, and Melissa Stroh, is the show where we talk about all…
March 21, 2025 -
A Lighter Look at the Writer's Life
A New Year
Welcome to my annual post about New Year’s Resolutions. I cannot guarantee that I will give you a formula…
March 8, 2025 -
Kids Lit7 FREE Ways to Keep Gifting into the New Year!
Here’s 2025 all fresh and shiny, full of hope and all the little calendar boxes ready to fill! While…
March 6, 2025 -
Devotions for WritersAllies
Jonathan and his armor-bearer did some rock climbing at the cliff at Mismash to spy on the Philistines. When…
March 3, 2025 -
Writers Chat
Writers Chat Recap for February
The Name Game with Cathy Rueter Cathy is a journalist and author. She joins Writers Chat to explain why…
February 28, 2025 -
Writing with a Disability (Different Ability)BOTM
Recently I had a talk with a young brain cancer survivor I have mentored and encouraged for years. He…
February 27, 2025 -
Writing for YAFairy Tale Retellings: Interview with YA Author Rachel Kovaciny
Young adult author Rachel Kovaciny recently released her eighth book, A Nobel Companion, a retelling of the ugly duckling…
February 26, 2025 -
Book Proposals
Publishing is a Relational Business
An old saying is applicable to this secret: “It’s not what you know but who you know.” This adage…
February 25, 2025 -
Writing RomanceDON’T GO BREAKING MY HEART
Romance readers’ expectations: Finding the best setbacks and obstacles for my couple to overcome is one of my greatest…
February 23, 2025 -
The Picky PenCreating a Story Title
Do you have difficulty coming up with a title for your article or story? This is sure to be…
February 22, 2025 -
Magazine, Freelance, and CopywritingCreative Roadmap for Aspiring Authors: Practical Tips for Crafting and Funding Your Writing Journey
While many might try to dissuade you from embarking on a journey to becoming an author, sticking with it…
February 13, 2025 -
Kids Lit
Books to Read BEFORE You Write
Mentor books are those an author studies before they do any writing. For a retreat last week, I had…
February 8, 2025 -
Book Proposals
Maintain a Submission Record & Follow-up
After you have the various parts of the proposal and sample ready, prepare a list of publishers to whom…
February 4, 2025 -
Devotions for Writers
Puzzling Projects
One thousand pieces of the picture tumbled out onto the table. When the contents cleared the box rim, we…
February 3, 2025 -
Award-Winning AuthorAWARD-WINNING AUTHOR INTERVIEW — NON-FICTION —with Joni Topper
Can you share a little about your recent book? My book The Power of a Well-Placed Yes: God’s Abundant…
February 1, 2025 -
Writers Chat
Writers Chat Recap for January
Writers Chat, hosted by Johnnie Alexander, Brandy Brow, and Melissa Stroh, is the show where we talk about all…
January 31, 2025 -
Writing with a Disability (Different Ability)
New Direction
Late in 2024, I became extremely unsatisfied with my writing vocation. After spending six years focusing on sales, conversions…
January 30, 2025 -
Writing for YA
Evaluating Your Writing Year: What Success Looks Like
How do you feel about end-of-year evaluations? Confession time: Shiny new planners excite me, but when we near the…
January 28, 2025 -
Uncategorized
How to Write an Obit.
Birth date. End date. And everything in-between. I Googled to see if there was a template to follow in…
December 4, 2024 -
A Lighter Look at the Writer's LifeWhat’s YOUR Story?
A couple of months ago, I attended a storytelling festival in my old college town, and it was an…
December 3, 2024 -
Writing with a Disability (Different Ability)
Live in The Moment
Recently, I spent time talking with a neighbor whom I got to know during the aftermath of Hurricane Helene.…
November 29, 2024 -
Book Proposals
Why to Never Submit Your First Draft
Your first draft is only the beginning, not polished enough to send to a publisher. When your proposal is…
November 26, 2024 -
Romancing Your Story
Knowing (and Meeting) Reader Expectations
All fiction readers come to their chosen stories with certain expectations. A mystery reader expects a puzzle to solve.…
November 23, 2024 -
The Picky Pen
Varying Sentence Structure
Do all of your sentences begin with “I,“ “we,” or a proper noun? Do all of them start with…
November 22, 2024