Several years ago I outlined these ten no-nos. With conference season in full swing I thought a refresher would be a good thing. Plenty of blogs tell you how to approach an agent, what to say and how to say …
What Now?
Remember those days when we worked so hard to get published? Did you ever think that publication would only be the beginning of a new set of worries? As aspiring writers we were fixated on the prize– representation and an …
The Measure of Success
If there’s one question I’m asked more than any other, it’s this: “How do I measure success when it comes to book sales?”
I’ve heard the strangest theories of what constitutes success. For instance, this from an old Publishers Weekly, …
Workspaces
I’ll confess. I’ve been watching YouTube videos of art studios as I reorganize my own studio. January definitely seems to be the month to reorganize and get ready for a new year. My office—my writing and working space— is already …
The Christmas Celebration Continues
I’ve always loved the old English carol, The Twelve Days of Christmas, partly because I was born during the twelve days of Christmas. (Think: Goose.) I was also married on the Seven Swans Day. Christmas marks the first day …
Not So Fast
Anyone who is trying to build a career as a writer knows that making a living in the early years is an almost impossible challenge. But when a writer has sold a couple of books and had a little success, …
An Ongoing Grammar Rant
I almost never address the issue of grammar because, sure as shooting, I’ll make a handful of mistakes right here in front of you. But irregardless I’m feeling cranky so I’m going to list eleven of my top cringeworthy examples …
Working from Home
Oh, the joys of working from home. It’s Sunday afternoon and I just sent an email to a client. Fail! I’ve been focusing on disciplining my work hours and yet, too often, the office calls to me on evenings and …
What is a “Christian” Book?
“What we want is not more little books about Christianity, but more little books by Christians on other subjects– with their Christianity latent.” -C. S. Lewis
That’s a quote I’ve always loved. It’s more than a quote, it’s a challenge.…
Your Annual Must-Read
During our weekly Books & Such staff meeting last Friday, I mentioned that there are two books that should be considered a must-read for all of our clients. I confessed that for thirteen or fourteen years I reread these books …