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"Don't Polish The Turd," And Other Oddball Writing Advice That Works
Even with a dozen published books to my name, I sometimes need a dose of inspiration when I sit down to write. Above my desk, I've posted a paper with various pieces of fiction-writing wisdom I've collected over the years. Some of the advice may sound odd
Tags: Writing Advice, Inspiration, Writing
Writing Twenty Novels (In Ten Easy Steps!)
During a recent telephone conversation, I mentioned having sent off the last revisions for my twentieth novel, “Great Sky Woman.” There was a silence on the other side of the phone, followed by the question “How in the world do you do that? Twenty novels!
Tags: Writing, Novel, Advice, Creativity, Writing
Writing Style: Are You A Real Writer?
I hear it all the time from my students and at the seminars and workshops I lead. The writers that I work with are excited to work with a "real" writer. Most people define a "real" writer as one who is published. Therefore I, with thre
Tags: Write, Writer, Writing, Publish, Profit, Market, Advice, Help, Tip, Article, Improve, Skill, Book, Writing
Writing Process: One Size Does Not Fit All
Developing an individual writing process is a key part of becoming a real writer. If you want to learn and grow as a writer then you must work to develop a unique writing process. If you want to be a more productive writer and for your work to improve the
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Writing Help: Improve Your Writing By Not Writing
Every writer needs some help with their writing. Every writer can improve their writing. One simple technique you can use to improve your writing and better develop your writing process is to spend less time writing and more time thinking about your writi
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Why You Should Take Part In A Writing Workshop
Before you should decide whether or not taking part in a writing workshop is right for you and your writing you should first understand just what a writing workshop is. A workshop is an educational format where an expert shares information on a focused t
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Why I Killed My Muse ... And You Should Too
I think I might dedicate this next book to the memory of my muse. Perhaps it will serve as a warning to those other muses out there who are on the verge of going over the edge. Perhaps it will inspire those other writers out there who have let their muse
Tags: Write, Writing, Publish, Edit, Profit, Market, Advice, Help, Tip, Article, Improve, Skill, Book, Ebook, Blog, Ezine, Newsletter, Writing
The Most Important Rule Of Writing
I just finished a set of conferences with my students which inspired me to write about the most important rule of writing -- writing is a process. So many of difficulties struggling writers face occur when they ignore this simple rule. Once you embrace t
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The Dirty Little Writing Secret Everyone Hates To Admit
Many struggling writers come to me asking what they can do to improve their writing. They continually face problems with sentence and paragraph structure as well as surface errors such as spelling, grammar, and punctuation. They know the basic rules of En
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The Details Are In The Calendar
Like many authors, writing a novel was always an aspiration. When I finally started the process, in Shades of Darkness, Shades of Grace I had a great story that had evolved from real-life events. Still, the majority of my experience was writing nonfiction
Tags: Writing, Fiction, Minnesota, Writing Technique, Books, Authors, Writing Advice, Writing
THE COVER LETTER Made Easy!
You have completed your ms, and now what? You may ask yourself: How can I submit it to publishers? How can I present it? Here comes the cover letter. It is not difficult to write one, just follow the instructions below.
Tags: Cover, Letter, Writing, Writers, Articles, How-to, Advice, Authors., Writing
Self Publishing: Is This The Way To Publish Your Book?
Self publishing might be the best way to publish your book. There are several advantages to self publishing that you might not have considered. First, and most important, self publishing places you firmly in control of your book. When someone else is pay
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Putting Off Writing That Novel Until The Kids Are Grown?
If you want to write a novel, but are putting it off until the kids are grown, I have two words for you: Don't wait. It's possible to raise a happy, healthy family and still follow your writing dream. And that's true whether you're single or married. Whet
Tags: Writing Advice, Inspiration, Mothers, Writing
Is Writing A Skill, Craft, Or Gift?
So, I believe, writing is all three -- a skill, a craft, and a gift. Some writers find their ability spans all three while others never progress past the level of skill.
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Importance Of Self Promotion
Promoting yourself is as important as writing your novel. It's important to get your name out there, and allow people a sample of your work. People can't buy what they don't know about. Not only is promoting an important step of the publishing process, it