The “to-do” list is rather steep today.
Photo titled “Onwards and Upwards” by Frank Kunert.
Found at https://www.instagram.com/p/CNvGeAeAYbb/ – posted April 16, 2021.
What Monday Looks Like
Fun Fridays – August 16, 2024
I was going to do my own video of this activity, but decided to take a nap instead. There is a metaphor here, somewhere. Even world-class performers have to start with the basics. It is what they do with them that makes them world-class. See what you can do with a few words this coming week. Hop to it! You can stop after the two-minute mark as the rest is their logo on top of the music.
New Book Proposal Course
I have some exciting news to share! The Christian Writers Institute has released an all-new edition of my “Elements of an Effective Book Proposal” course. Completely revised and expanded to provide even more value and insight. Why This Course Matters I have long taught that writing a book proposal is one of the most critical steps in securing a publishing deal. Whether you’re a …
Fun Fridays – August 9, 2024
Today’s barbershop quartet is worth every one of the twelve minutes it takes to watch. It’s absolutely hilarious, and it’s made funnier because there is an explanation box on the screen to help the viewer understand the humor behind it all. To top it off, the score of their music scrolls below as they sing. It is breathtaking to see the tight harmonies and hear them at the same …
Know Your Genre When Making a Pitch
Awhile ago I received a call that illustrates a common error a writer can make when making their pitch: the problem of not knowing the genre in which they are writing. The call went something like this: Writer: I’m calling to see if your agency handles westerns. Agent: That is a tough genre to sell in the current market, but a lot would depend on how well you can write it. Writer: Some …
Publishing Success Can Be Fleeting
Can you name the USA national college football champion in 2019? Or name the winner of American Idol in 2022? What was the best-selling Christian novel in 2023? Or, even harder, name two of the top five top best-selling Christian nonfiction books of 2019, only five years ago. My point is that success is fleeting. On top today, forgotten tomorrow. But that depends on your definition of success, …
Fun Fridays – July 26, 2024
It is time for the Summer Olympics! Today’s video shows the fill of victory and agony of the feet.
The Power of a Referral
It was recently pointed out that a number of agencies will not accept unsolicited proposals. Instead they state, in their guidelines, that they only take proposals via referrals or from meeting someone at a writers conference. Our agency continues to keep the doors open to any and all who send material following our guidelines. It can be a challenge to read all the incoming proposals, but I prefer …
Fun Fridays – July 19, 2024
Since I am currently at the Realm Makers conference, which is “all speculative fiction all the time,” I thought today’s video would be irresistible–like a snack.