Book Proposals
After Your Submission, Learn Patience
After you submit your proposal to an editor or a literary agent, many writers begin to fixate on their…
February 25, 2026-
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The Picky PenEngaging Readers Through Dialogue
There are many writing tools that an author uses to keep their readers engaged, but without dialogue, it would…
February 24, 2026 -
Book Proposals
Why Simultaneously Submit Your Proposal
Within the publishing world, in general, if you get a response from an editor or literary agent, it can…
January 26, 2026 -
The Picky Pen
How to Punctuate Dialogue
Whether you are writing fiction or nonfiction, you will likely use dialogue in your work. Let’s have a little…
January 22, 2026 -
Writers ChatWriters Chat Recap for November & December
Writers Chat, hosted by Johnnie Alexander, Brandy Brow, Melissa Stroh, and Norma Poore. The place where craft connects community!…
December 31, 2025 -
The Picky Pen
Misplaced Modifiers
As an author, you have to carefully craft sentences that grab the reader’s attention. Part of that, as I…
November 19, 2025 -
The Picky Pen
Common Apostrophe Mistakes
Apostrophes are small and barely noticeable punctuation marks, but without them the reader would have a difficult time deciphering…
September 22, 2025 -
Book Proposals
An Excellent Proposal Involves Hard Work
Many authors are looking for a magic bullet or system or action they can take to get published and…
August 26, 2025 -
The Picky Pen
Verb Verbiage
As a writer, it can sometimes be difficult to get your thoughts down on paper, much less stick to…
August 22, 2025 -
The Picky Pen
Figurative Language
Did you ever wonder how other authors make stories so interesting? Sure, they vary the structure of the sentences,…
July 23, 2025 -
Devotions for WritersHow to Clean Your Blinds
I sighed and closed the puzzle on my phone. Company was coming and I couldn’t put it off any…
July 3, 2025 -
A Lighter Look at the Writer's LifeLet’s Do It Again!
“That was good! Let’s do it again!” A few years ago, I was a cast member in a community…
May 13, 2025 -
The Picky Pen
Creating 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 -
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 -
Guest Posts, Other PostsWhat Kind of Editing Does Your Manuscript Need?
You finished writing your book, begged an avid reader to give you some input, and made revisions. Are you ready to…
August 26, 2022 -
ScreenwritingRewriting is Writing
Three months into the new year and I am eager to get started on the first draft of a…
March 4, 2022 -
Craft EssentialsYou May Be Done, But You’re Not Finished
“Rewriting is the essence of writing well; it’s where the game is won or lost. That idea is hard…
February 21, 2022 -
Proofed and PolishedThis Post Is Better
Have you ever decided to buy a certain product because the packaging assures you that it’s better? I didn’t…
November 10, 2021 -
Mastering Middle GradeNow What?
Last month I shared three things I’ve learned on my way to becoming a soon-to-be-published middle grade author. I…
October 16, 2021 -
Proofed and Polished
Common Mistakes I See When Proofreading: Vocabulary, Part 3
Let’s talk about contractions. I mentioned them last month in the context of using apostrophes correctly. Some words that…
September 10, 2021 -
Writers Chat
Writers Chat Recap for August, PArt 2
Writers Chat, hosted by Jean Wise, Johnnie Alexander, and Brandy Brow, is the show where we talk about all…
August 31, 2021 -
Proofed and Polished
Do You Know The Apostrophe Basics?
In elementary school, I distinctly remember doing numerous worksheets on the possessive -s. There would be a list of…
August 22, 2021 -
The Picky Pen
How to Edit Characters
As we continue this editing series how we can develop a great story, I hope you’re able to see…
January 22, 2021 -
Proofed and Polished
Who Are We Talking About? Using Pronouns and Antecedents
Keeping Your Sentences Clear Example #1 “They had such a great time at the amusement park. First, my aunt…
January 10, 2021 -
Proofed and Polished
Proofed and Polished: Tips on self-proofing for a flawless product
A Scenario… Finally! You sit back in your chair and breathe a sigh of relief. The project is done,…
September 10, 2020