Some elements of an author’s proposal are not what you’d think. They seem like a good thing, but may make the opposite impression from the one you’re looking for.
Writing Life
Working Through Overwhelm
‘Tis the season of the writers conference, both in-person and virtual. Perhaps you’ve just attended one, and you feel as if a mountain of useful information has been placed in your lap. You’re thrilled to have it, it’s what you …
The Reader-Writer Bond
When a reader picks her next book, she unwittingly creates a bond with the author. And when a writer decides to create a book, he unwittingly forms a bond with the reader. This reader-writer bond is powerful–and meaningful to both …
Marketing and Madness
Marketing and madness don’t have to be synonymous. Platform-building is not pedestal-building. Creativity and compassion can steer marketing honorably.
Last week, Wendy Lawton revisited a blog post from a year in which authors were scrambling to figure out how to …
De-stress Your Publishing Life
Publishing is a high-stress world–not just for those who work at a publishing house but also for authors, agents, and free-lancers of all stripes. It’s an odd mix of all the ordinary business aspects of finances, project management, and sales, …
Reader Psychology Book-shapers
How to Cook a Book
Let’s explore how to cook a nonfiction book. I am an enthusiastic home cook. It’s a hobby and rather than cooking the same thing over and over again, I try to stay fresh so my enthusiasm for this daily task …
Ready for a Contract?
What’s new in the ever-changing world of AI?
Keeping up with developments in the world of AI is challenging. Once ChatGPT released, I read every article I could find. But the sheer volume did me in. So I’ve curated a few articles I found especially elucidating and provided …
Five Tips to Becoming a Better Writer
Writing is about putting one word after another, in such a way that the reader will be drawn into the text. But as with all endeavors, becoming a better writer comes with frustrations. Here are five things that I have …