It is time for the Summer Olympics!
Today’s video shows the fill of victory and agony of the feet.
It is time for the Summer Olympics!
Today’s video shows the fill of victory and agony of the feet.
Ah, writers conference season—the time of year when writers come together to learn, connect, and get inspired. There’s something phenomenal about being surrounded by fellow creatives, soaking up knowledge from industry experts, and leaving with a head full of ideas and a heart full of inspiration. But as the dust settles and the conference high begins to fade, what comes next? How do you …
When we look at a snapshot of best-selling books at any point in time, we see a picture of our society and what it values and thinks. I am unsure whether book publishing is a light or a mirror; but looking back, I see insights to be gained. Spoiler alert: Book publishing did not begin when Amazon was founded thirty years ago. The New York Times Best Seller lists, July 24, 1949 Fiction POINT OF NO …
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 …
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.
I recently read a book. Don’t look so surprised. In my annual reading plan (which I discussed here), I try to discover a few new authors every year. One of this year’s authors is the late Brian Doyle, essayist and novelist. His book has been a joy. However, he, like an increasing number of novelists (seemingly), eschews quotation marks in his fictional dialogue. Like this: What does it feel like? …
Have you submitted published and unpublished books to contests but never won or even been a semifinalist? Then you know that congratulating your friends who won can be bittersweet. Consider: Most Books Don’t Win Awards. As with any condition where excellence is recognized (corporations, sports leagues, Emmy and Grammy awards), acclaim is based on a pyramid. Most books will remain at the bottom of …
Success. It is a word that has a “sweet smell” for some and is the “gold ring” of achievement for others. But in order to appreciate success, we must first define it. And there is the rub. Each one of us defines success differently, especially writers. Here are some definitions I’ve heard or seen: Getting an agent My first book contract Selling 20,000 copies of my …
While not a new video, the message in today’s presentation is so powerful that I had to share it. The title is “Every life has a story … if we only bother to read it.” The message cuts to the core of why we work so hard in the publishing industry to tell stories, both fiction and nonfiction. To bring redemption, hope, and new life to those around us. You never know who will …
Hello, my friends, and welcome back. In my last blog post, I asked what topics you’d like me to discuss. One person asked about description. How do you know when you have enough? How do you know how much to keep and what to edit out? So, first, let’s talk about: What is the purpose of description? Description should serve a specific purpose. It’s up to you as the author to determine that purpose. …