How do you become a better athlete, musician, scholar—or anything? You know. Practice. You run drills, play scales, review flashcards, whatever it takes. So how do you become a better writer? Speaking only for myself, I feel I get better by exercising my writing muscles. In other words, I write. Many of my colleagues swear […]
Regardless how many books I’ve written or sold, if I’m not still educating myself about writing, I’m stagnating. My late mother taught me the value of life-long learning. Not only was she a piano teacher into her eighties, but she was also a piano student. One of the most powerful learning tools today is the […]
Guest post by Dave Chesson Research can make or break your novel. When readers choose your book, they expect to be transported into a believable and engrossing world. Research is the key to creating an immersive environment to be enjoyed and savored. Conversely, a badly researched novel can shatter the suspension of disbelief, causing your […]
Finding your unique writing voice helps you set a distinctive tone, which is a must if you ever want to be published. And contrary to what most tell you, it really isn’t all that complicated. I make it extremely simple in this video, where I reveal 3 questions that’ll lead you straight to your true […]
Acquisition editors have eagle-eyes for both talent and for amateurs. They’re looking for stuff to buy and publish, and most are so overwhelmed with submissions, they’ve learned to quickly spot anything that allows them to set your piece aside. Sound cruel? They don’t want reject your writing. But because of their work loads (and their […]