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-
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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 -
Book ProposalsMaintain 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 -
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 -
A Lighter Look at the Writer's LifeWhat Day is It?
What day is it? Although I sometimes find myself wondering what day of the week it is, that is…
November 6, 2024 -
The Picky Pen
Considering Word Choice
Previously, we talked about the need to vary sentence structure to keep your writing from sounding repetitive. In that…
October 22, 2024 -
History in the MakingBehind the Doors of the Grocery Store: The Early American Era
For writers, opportunities wait behind the doors of the grocery store! A plethora of plots. Character reveals. Centuries of…
August 20, 2024 -
Writers ChatWriters Chat Recap for June Part 2
Writers Chat, hosted by Johnnie Alexander, Brandy Brow, and Melissa Stroh, is the show where we talk about all…
June 30, 2024 -
Writing with a Disability (Different Ability)
Refreshed and Restored
As 80% of the country is suffering from extreme heatwaves, many people are looking for relief from the summer…
June 29, 2024 -
Writers Chat
Writers Chat Recap For June Part 1
Writers Chat, hosted by Johnnie Alexander, Brandy Brow, and Melissa Stroh, is the show where we talk about all…
June 21, 2024 -
Writing with a Disability (Different Ability)
Stay in the FIght
Like most people, I was saddened to hear the news about the passing of Christian recording artist Mandisa. She…
April 30, 2024 -
Writing with a Disability (Different Ability)
Divergence And A Writer’s Life
As 2024 rolls away, it is still not playing out as I hoped it would. It is a different…
February 28, 2024 -
Writing with a Disability (Different Ability)
Great Expectations
Like most people, I entered the new year with high hopes and great expectations. Last year was a mixed…
January 28, 2024 -
Writers Chat
Writers Chat Recap for December
Writers Chat, hosted by Johnnie Alexander, Brandy Brow, and Melissa Stroh, is the show where we talk about all…
December 30, 2023 -
Writers Chat
Writers Chat Recap for July
Writers Chat, hosted by Jean Wise, Johnnie Alexander, and Brandy Brow, is the show where we talk about all…
July 31, 2023 -
Guest PostsYou’re A Writer, But Success Requires More than Just Great Grammar
Whether you write professionally or simply want to publish your first novelette, your success depends on more than just…
April 10, 2023 -
Writers Chat
Writers Chat Recap: February Part 1
Writers Chat, hosted by Jean Wise, Johnnie Alexander, and Brandy Brow, is the show where we talk about all…
February 18, 2023 -
Writing for YAWhen Writing Goals and Reality Collide
Beginning a new year tends to motivate people to get organized, start new projects, or finish ones they’ve ignored…
January 27, 2023 -
Writing MentorsAn Interview with Writing Mentor Pat Butler
Why do you write? Do you have a theme, message, or goal for your books? I feel called, compelled,…
January 19, 2023 -
Guest PostsWatch Your Step
Hiking can quickly change from breathtaking scenery to a breathtaking fall. We have to watch our steps in order…
November 27, 2018 -
Grammar and GraceEmpathy versus Sympathy
The words empathy and sympathy often cause confusion. I know first hand. I used empathy in another blog post…
July 18, 2018 -
Talking CharacterFive Questions for Portraying Anger
Anger comes in many shades, from miffed to murderous. Each shade looks and feels different. When a person is…
November 20, 2017 -
Dear Young ScribesBalancing the Elements of Fiction – Part 1
Have you ever noticed how some authors tend to focus too much on writing certain fiction elements, yet ignore…
October 9, 2017 -
5 For WritingMy 5 Rules for Writing
My favorite canine writer, Snoopy of Peanuts fame, received a boatload of rejection slips in his pursuit of a…
July 26, 2017 -
Specs: Speculative FictionCommitted Writer or Dabbler?
Hey guys, I wanted to kick this whole thing off by welcoming you to the ranks. (Though I’m sure…
July 23, 2017
