Showing posts with label writing business. Show all posts
Showing posts with label writing business. Show all posts

Thursday, September 6

This does NOT have to be you, young writer!
Over the years, I've had a number of friends reach out asking for me to speak with their child or cousin or niece/nephew who loves to write and needs some career direction. They see me as Exhibit A of how you can actually support yourself with an English degree, as if I'm a mystical unicorn. Perhaps I'm more like a white rhino, an endangered species. Much has changed about the publishing world since I left college and I don't think my path is one many could easily pursue today.

I entered the workforce before the Internet was widely available, and print media was still in its heyday. My relevant experience was limited to being a co-editor of the college literary magazine and tutoring at the writing center, plus a summer internship where I did administrative and communications work at an insurance company. It took ten months to find my first editorial job during the early 90s recession. But I've been able to find continual work as an editor ever since. One of those editorial jobs, at a nonprofit, even provided training in graphic design and paid for my grad school courses in journalism.

So while most college grads can't expect there to be scads of entry-level editorial jobs in print publications, there are still many ways to be involved in writing that can support you. It's also not unusual for fiction writing to be an avocation that becomes a serious side hustle as your skills grow and your voice matures.

People with strong writing and editing skills are needed in a broad array of fields. I think what's key is to figure out what genres and kinds of content you enjoy, and choose courses, extracurriculars, and work/internship experiences that give you "crossover appeal."

Career ideas for writers


If it's pure creative writing that excites you, consider script writing. Television series are booming with the advent of streaming services, and talent will always be needed. So combine your English or creative writing degree with one in drama or film studies. Look for creative ways to begin building a portfolio while you're in school by, say, writing sketches, monologues, or one-acts for the college drama group. Intern in the college publicity department, with local advertising agencies that create TV spots, or with a YouTuber.

If poetry is your jam, becoming a lyricist might be the career for you. Study music alongside poetry; join a college band or offer to write with one.

If you love science as much as writing, there's a consistent need for skilled writers in editors in medical publishing. Coursework, a minor or double major in biology, biochem or chemistry will give you the needed knowledge base. Consider joining a medical club on campus and doing some communications work for them to build your portfolio.

Maybe the wheeling and dealing world of business is more interesting to you. Consider corporate communications, which involves all kinds of written materials, from advertisements to internal newsletters to prospectuses to grant writing. Trade publishing is another field where business knowledge is needed. Again, courses that build your knowledge base will be key for finding work in corporations, accounting firms, banking, and the professional associations that support them. Trying your hand at promotional writing or grant writing for a college club can be a portfolio-builder.

If you're a gadget-loving techie and good at making complex ideas easy to understand, perhaps technical writing is the field for you. A background in computer science would be an asset.

If you have an artistic eye, learning graphic design and HTML coding along with writing and editing skills will make you a stand-out candidate in non-profit communications and marketing. Smaller operations need folks who can not only create and tidy up written content but also create finished products like newsletters, magazines, and websites. The more you can build a real-world portfolio (projects beyond class assignments), the better, so offer your design services to school clubs, family/friends, or favorite small businesses in the neighborhood, Many also want folks who know their way around social media. So get some experience under your belt running Twitter and Instagram accounts for your school clubs to show that you have some know-how developing a consistent message and building an audience, or reach out to family and friends and offer to manage social media for one of their businesses, as an informal internship.

If your one true love is fiction writing, by all means read as widely as possible and write all kinds of things. Don't limit yourself to fiction courses, because there are valuable skills to be learned from courses in poetry writing, drama, journalism, and rhetoric that will make your fiction stronger. Get involved with the literary magazine, because reading and critiquing others' work will grow your skill as well. If your school doesn't have one, search out some online literary zines and ask about joining the team that reads through submissions; these all-volunteer operations usually welcome the assistance. Submit work to small zines as a way to build up a portfolio that can help you break in to paying fiction markets and even land a literary agent. Join online forums like Wattpad, which enable you to test out your stories with an audience. Offer to beta-read for your classmates and try to connect with writers in the community at large, perhaps through NaNo meetups or at your neighborhood library. Developing your skills as a reader and critique partner can put you on the path toward a gig in a literary agency or with a publishing house. (Just be aware that you might have to moonlight elsewhere to pay the bills.)

Veronica Roth, who became a successful novelist fresh out of college, is one in six billion. Keep your expectations realistic: your goal now, while you are energetic but still green, is to work on your craft, learn a variety of skills, begin building a portfolio, and network.

Are there other writing fields you know of? How would you advise someone to break into the field?

Career advice for young people interested in writing

Thursday, September 06, 2018 Laurel Garver
This does NOT have to be you, young writer!
Over the years, I've had a number of friends reach out asking for me to speak with their child or cousin or niece/nephew who loves to write and needs some career direction. They see me as Exhibit A of how you can actually support yourself with an English degree, as if I'm a mystical unicorn. Perhaps I'm more like a white rhino, an endangered species. Much has changed about the publishing world since I left college and I don't think my path is one many could easily pursue today.

I entered the workforce before the Internet was widely available, and print media was still in its heyday. My relevant experience was limited to being a co-editor of the college literary magazine and tutoring at the writing center, plus a summer internship where I did administrative and communications work at an insurance company. It took ten months to find my first editorial job during the early 90s recession. But I've been able to find continual work as an editor ever since. One of those editorial jobs, at a nonprofit, even provided training in graphic design and paid for my grad school courses in journalism.

So while most college grads can't expect there to be scads of entry-level editorial jobs in print publications, there are still many ways to be involved in writing that can support you. It's also not unusual for fiction writing to be an avocation that becomes a serious side hustle as your skills grow and your voice matures.

People with strong writing and editing skills are needed in a broad array of fields. I think what's key is to figure out what genres and kinds of content you enjoy, and choose courses, extracurriculars, and work/internship experiences that give you "crossover appeal."

Career ideas for writers


If it's pure creative writing that excites you, consider script writing. Television series are booming with the advent of streaming services, and talent will always be needed. So combine your English or creative writing degree with one in drama or film studies. Look for creative ways to begin building a portfolio while you're in school by, say, writing sketches, monologues, or one-acts for the college drama group. Intern in the college publicity department, with local advertising agencies that create TV spots, or with a YouTuber.

If poetry is your jam, becoming a lyricist might be the career for you. Study music alongside poetry; join a college band or offer to write with one.

If you love science as much as writing, there's a consistent need for skilled writers in editors in medical publishing. Coursework, a minor or double major in biology, biochem or chemistry will give you the needed knowledge base. Consider joining a medical club on campus and doing some communications work for them to build your portfolio.

Maybe the wheeling and dealing world of business is more interesting to you. Consider corporate communications, which involves all kinds of written materials, from advertisements to internal newsletters to prospectuses to grant writing. Trade publishing is another field where business knowledge is needed. Again, courses that build your knowledge base will be key for finding work in corporations, accounting firms, banking, and the professional associations that support them. Trying your hand at promotional writing or grant writing for a college club can be a portfolio-builder.

If you're a gadget-loving techie and good at making complex ideas easy to understand, perhaps technical writing is the field for you. A background in computer science would be an asset.

If you have an artistic eye, learning graphic design and HTML coding along with writing and editing skills will make you a stand-out candidate in non-profit communications and marketing. Smaller operations need folks who can not only create and tidy up written content but also create finished products like newsletters, magazines, and websites. The more you can build a real-world portfolio (projects beyond class assignments), the better, so offer your design services to school clubs, family/friends, or favorite small businesses in the neighborhood, Many also want folks who know their way around social media. So get some experience under your belt running Twitter and Instagram accounts for your school clubs to show that you have some know-how developing a consistent message and building an audience, or reach out to family and friends and offer to manage social media for one of their businesses, as an informal internship.

If your one true love is fiction writing, by all means read as widely as possible and write all kinds of things. Don't limit yourself to fiction courses, because there are valuable skills to be learned from courses in poetry writing, drama, journalism, and rhetoric that will make your fiction stronger. Get involved with the literary magazine, because reading and critiquing others' work will grow your skill as well. If your school doesn't have one, search out some online literary zines and ask about joining the team that reads through submissions; these all-volunteer operations usually welcome the assistance. Submit work to small zines as a way to build up a portfolio that can help you break in to paying fiction markets and even land a literary agent. Join online forums like Wattpad, which enable you to test out your stories with an audience. Offer to beta-read for your classmates and try to connect with writers in the community at large, perhaps through NaNo meetups or at your neighborhood library. Developing your skills as a reader and critique partner can put you on the path toward a gig in a literary agency or with a publishing house. (Just be aware that you might have to moonlight elsewhere to pay the bills.)

Veronica Roth, who became a successful novelist fresh out of college, is one in six billion. Keep your expectations realistic: your goal now, while you are energetic but still green, is to work on your craft, learn a variety of skills, begin building a portfolio, and network.

Are there other writing fields you know of? How would you advise someone to break into the field?

Friday, May 20

Book series are all the rage in publishing, Readers enjoy spending more time with familiar characters and/or worlds, and series promise a kind of brand consistency that the risk-averse reader appreciates. They know that if they like your style and content, they're more likely to continue liking your other similar works.

That doesn't automatically mean one should only write series. If you are a young writer, it might be wiser to experiment in numerous genres until you hit your stride and wait to invest time in creating series once you've found the sweet spot --stories that you like to write and readers like to read.

Some genres lend themselves to particular types of series more than others. Romances rarely if ever span several books with the same characters. Romance arcs are usually constrained by reader expectations of a happy ending, not a cliffhanger. Romance series tend to be joined by locale or by theme, spanning numerous discrete pairings whose stories might or might not overlap.

Mystery series tend to follow the same sleuth, but move from case to case, again, eschewing the cliffhanger model. Readers expect a mystery to be resolved by book's end--to be a stand-alone product. The sleuth might develop over the series, or he or she might be a more steady force and the appeal is the new intellectual puzzle rather than character development.

It's in adventure, science fiction, and fantasy (and their subgenres, like dystopian) where cliffhanger endings and incomplete arcs are more the norm. But look at series like Harry Potter, and you'll find that each book has a complete, contained arc, while each book also contributes to and moves forward a larger, whole-series arc. Whether you could create such a series by building on a stand-alone is debatable, however. Rowling's work clearly was heavily planned and structured to give equal weight to each volume's arc as well as the series arc. So I'd think twice about attempting to take your stand-alone fantasy and expect to have a series arc pop out without having been planned it, with seeds planted that have yet to come to fruition.

With those genre-trope caveats out of the way, I'd like to suggest some ways to build series when you've written stand-alone books.

Same world

Some of McCaffrey's Pern series (via Amazon.com)

Frank Herbert's Dune series follows several different characters through a universe he creates in which space travel is made possible through an altered-mind state caused by a rare drug, Spice, found on the desert planet Arrakis. Whoever controls the Spice controls the universe.

Anne McCaffrey's Pern series take place on the planet Pern, where human colonists genetically modified lizards into dragons in order to fight a sky-borne menace called Thread. Books cover everything from the first colonization to generations of dragonriders over centuries, and include other professions in the planet's guild system during its "middle ages," such as healers (Nerilka's Story) and bards (Dragonsinger, Dragonsong, Dragondrums).

If you've spent considerable time and effort building a unique setting, consider how you might use the setting for other stories, focused on other characters and/or other segments of society. It doesn't necessarily need to be a fantastical or otherworld setting either. A New Adult author might work with a particular invented college campus with unique majors or unique campus features. A cozy mystery writer  might set all of the stories in the same region with different amateur sleuths. A literary fiction writer might follow several generations who live in the same oddball town.

Imagine how the unique setting might change over time because of the events in your stand-alone. Consider picking up with your main character's children or grandchildren, or with a secondary or even tertiary character you wished you could have developed more in your first book.

Spin-off characters


L.M. Montgomery's Anne series contains seven books, five that focus on Anne Shirley, and two with her children, Rainbow Valley and Rilla of Ingleside. This series follows Anne from childhood, when she is adopted by the Cuthbert siblings, into her teen years, college, early career, marriage and motherhood, moving to several locales in Canada. Once Anne is fairly settled and no longer having madcap adventures, her kids carry on.

Perhaps the sidekick character in your first book would like his or her own story. Or perhaps you'd like to carry forward what happens next from the love interest's point of view, as Gayle Foreman did with both If I Stay / Where She Went and Just One Day / Just One Year.  Perhaps you'd like to experiment with changing genres without switching brands, so spin off a younger or older character and write his or her story in your existing world, but write it as middle grade, or young adult or adult.

Thematic series


If you feel like no characters are begging to have their own story, and you want to try a new setting, consider building a thematic series of stand-alones. The books might have the same kind of content--all coming-of-age, all awkward romances, all entrepreneurs struggling with start up businesses. Or they might have complementary themes, like Melody Carlson does with her True Colors series, each a faith-based story about a teen struggling with a particular social problem, like peer pressure, substance abuse, jealousy, heartbreak, abuse, depression.

Unfinished business


Even if your stand-alone book tied up several loose ends, there might be some that you chose to leave to the reader's imagination, merely hint at, or simply chose to not address for fear the denouement would feel unrealistically tidy. That's the case with my second book, Almost There. It picks up a year and a half after my first book, which deals with my main character losing her dad. But while I gesture toward Dani and her mother heading toward a better relationship, I leave somewhat open ended what that might look like in the future. And her mother's family, Dani learns, have a history of dysfunction that's only briefly examined in Never Gone.

Think about the  How to Train Your Dragon films. While Hiccup and his father have largely reconciled at the end of the first film, it remains to be seen how their relationship will change as Hiccup matures from teenager to man. Plus, the first film hints at the hole left by the loss of Hiccup's mother--a loss shrouded in mystery. That mystery comes to the fore in the sequel.

Unfinished business stories work only if you love your character enough to stick with them into their future. What parts of your initial novel weren't tidily tied up? Conversely, which tidily tied up things might, in time, fall apart? What minor characters lurking in the background want to come forward and interact with your protagonist? What aspects of your protagonist's flaws do you believe will loom large and cause conflict in the future? Build on your previous story, considering where natural consequences would lead over time.

If time has passed since your initial release, it's wise to work to make the sequel understandable as a stand-alone itself.

What are some of your favorite books series and why?

Finding series material in your stand-alone novels

Friday, May 20, 2016 Laurel Garver
Book series are all the rage in publishing, Readers enjoy spending more time with familiar characters and/or worlds, and series promise a kind of brand consistency that the risk-averse reader appreciates. They know that if they like your style and content, they're more likely to continue liking your other similar works.

That doesn't automatically mean one should only write series. If you are a young writer, it might be wiser to experiment in numerous genres until you hit your stride and wait to invest time in creating series once you've found the sweet spot --stories that you like to write and readers like to read.

Some genres lend themselves to particular types of series more than others. Romances rarely if ever span several books with the same characters. Romance arcs are usually constrained by reader expectations of a happy ending, not a cliffhanger. Romance series tend to be joined by locale or by theme, spanning numerous discrete pairings whose stories might or might not overlap.

Mystery series tend to follow the same sleuth, but move from case to case, again, eschewing the cliffhanger model. Readers expect a mystery to be resolved by book's end--to be a stand-alone product. The sleuth might develop over the series, or he or she might be a more steady force and the appeal is the new intellectual puzzle rather than character development.

It's in adventure, science fiction, and fantasy (and their subgenres, like dystopian) where cliffhanger endings and incomplete arcs are more the norm. But look at series like Harry Potter, and you'll find that each book has a complete, contained arc, while each book also contributes to and moves forward a larger, whole-series arc. Whether you could create such a series by building on a stand-alone is debatable, however. Rowling's work clearly was heavily planned and structured to give equal weight to each volume's arc as well as the series arc. So I'd think twice about attempting to take your stand-alone fantasy and expect to have a series arc pop out without having been planned it, with seeds planted that have yet to come to fruition.

With those genre-trope caveats out of the way, I'd like to suggest some ways to build series when you've written stand-alone books.

Same world

Some of McCaffrey's Pern series (via Amazon.com)

Frank Herbert's Dune series follows several different characters through a universe he creates in which space travel is made possible through an altered-mind state caused by a rare drug, Spice, found on the desert planet Arrakis. Whoever controls the Spice controls the universe.

Anne McCaffrey's Pern series take place on the planet Pern, where human colonists genetically modified lizards into dragons in order to fight a sky-borne menace called Thread. Books cover everything from the first colonization to generations of dragonriders over centuries, and include other professions in the planet's guild system during its "middle ages," such as healers (Nerilka's Story) and bards (Dragonsinger, Dragonsong, Dragondrums).

If you've spent considerable time and effort building a unique setting, consider how you might use the setting for other stories, focused on other characters and/or other segments of society. It doesn't necessarily need to be a fantastical or otherworld setting either. A New Adult author might work with a particular invented college campus with unique majors or unique campus features. A cozy mystery writer  might set all of the stories in the same region with different amateur sleuths. A literary fiction writer might follow several generations who live in the same oddball town.

Imagine how the unique setting might change over time because of the events in your stand-alone. Consider picking up with your main character's children or grandchildren, or with a secondary or even tertiary character you wished you could have developed more in your first book.

Spin-off characters


L.M. Montgomery's Anne series contains seven books, five that focus on Anne Shirley, and two with her children, Rainbow Valley and Rilla of Ingleside. This series follows Anne from childhood, when she is adopted by the Cuthbert siblings, into her teen years, college, early career, marriage and motherhood, moving to several locales in Canada. Once Anne is fairly settled and no longer having madcap adventures, her kids carry on.

Perhaps the sidekick character in your first book would like his or her own story. Or perhaps you'd like to carry forward what happens next from the love interest's point of view, as Gayle Foreman did with both If I Stay / Where She Went and Just One Day / Just One Year.  Perhaps you'd like to experiment with changing genres without switching brands, so spin off a younger or older character and write his or her story in your existing world, but write it as middle grade, or young adult or adult.

Thematic series


If you feel like no characters are begging to have their own story, and you want to try a new setting, consider building a thematic series of stand-alones. The books might have the same kind of content--all coming-of-age, all awkward romances, all entrepreneurs struggling with start up businesses. Or they might have complementary themes, like Melody Carlson does with her True Colors series, each a faith-based story about a teen struggling with a particular social problem, like peer pressure, substance abuse, jealousy, heartbreak, abuse, depression.

Unfinished business


Even if your stand-alone book tied up several loose ends, there might be some that you chose to leave to the reader's imagination, merely hint at, or simply chose to not address for fear the denouement would feel unrealistically tidy. That's the case with my second book, Almost There. It picks up a year and a half after my first book, which deals with my main character losing her dad. But while I gesture toward Dani and her mother heading toward a better relationship, I leave somewhat open ended what that might look like in the future. And her mother's family, Dani learns, have a history of dysfunction that's only briefly examined in Never Gone.

Think about the  How to Train Your Dragon films. While Hiccup and his father have largely reconciled at the end of the first film, it remains to be seen how their relationship will change as Hiccup matures from teenager to man. Plus, the first film hints at the hole left by the loss of Hiccup's mother--a loss shrouded in mystery. That mystery comes to the fore in the sequel.

Unfinished business stories work only if you love your character enough to stick with them into their future. What parts of your initial novel weren't tidily tied up? Conversely, which tidily tied up things might, in time, fall apart? What minor characters lurking in the background want to come forward and interact with your protagonist? What aspects of your protagonist's flaws do you believe will loom large and cause conflict in the future? Build on your previous story, considering where natural consequences would lead over time.

If time has passed since your initial release, it's wise to work to make the sequel understandable as a stand-alone itself.

What are some of your favorite books series and why?

Friday, May 13

By guest author Bokerah Brumley (and her collaborators)

It’s safe to say that I love anthologies. I enjoy the teamwork a multi-author project creates. The cross-promotion is invaluable and I always glean a lot from the other authors.

Here are four tips I’ve learned from participating in successful anthologies.

1. Be flexible. Invariably, the anthology lead will make a decision that, in your opinion, is less than ideal. Think of an anthology as a commercial for your work. It matters MORE that the anthology gets into the hands of as many people as possible, into as wide a market as possible. Be willing to allow advertising venues or cover art that isn’t quite your cup of tea. Most anthologies are about reaching new customers. Discuss any differences in private messages.

2. Speak up about what matters to you. If you type the words, “I don’t care,” MEAN THEM. I’ve watched whole threads dissolve in indecision because an author’s first comment was “I don’t care” when they DID care. If you care about the outcome of a decision, by all means, voice your opinion, but don’t expect the anthology lead to pick your preference. Keep it drama-free. All the other authors will love you for it.

3. Contracts help. I know it sounds a little harsh. But a contract that delineates release date, exclusivity (or non-exclusivity), length of anthology publication, price point or other important details can be helpful to long-term satisfaction of all involved. The contract puts expectations in black and white. And it might be the first time that the participants really think hard about what’s required when they sign on.

4. Have fun. Be cheerful. Most of the authors already know that best seller status probably isn’t going to happen, but it’s nice to dream a minute before reality checks in with a bad review or lagging sales. Enjoy the process.

More thoughts from Bokerah's collaborators:

From Kimberly A. Rogers: “Compromise is king. Setting realistic goals and also building in enough time to accommodate different schedules.”

From Julie C. Gilbert: “Good communication. Flexibility (don't get attached to things one way). Responsibility (meeting deadlines). Fun (enjoy the journey). Hard work (be willing to help out where you can...you don't have to volunteer to do everything, but if you can do something, offer your services).”

From C.L. Wells: “Looking back, I think it would have been fun to start off with an icebreaker of sorts to help everyone get to know each other a little bit quicker. Some short light activities that not related to the project at hand.”

From Faith Blum: “Be flexible, willing to help wherever you can, and don't be afraid to share unusual ideas.” She adds, “I like C.L. Well's idea, too!”


About their collaborative work, Where Light May Lead




Available Now for FREE

Six authors, six genres, six bite-sized stories of women living out their faith in ordinary and extraordinary circumstances. When the heart is willing to follow, where does the light lead?
Sample Old West justice. Watch a romance unfold over light years. Laugh as an introvert finagles her way out of a bridal shower. Agonize with an FBI agent as she negotiates for a child’s life. Imagine a shape-shifting cat who tracks down a kidnapper. And peek behind the scenes as a guardian angel argues with a double-talking auto mechanic. Learn again that the light of faith can lead you anywhere.
That’s How She Rolls by C.L. Wells
Tessa, a self-conscious introvert, attempts to avoid a party and everything goes wrong. When a handsome stranger offers to lend a helping hand, she isn’t sure things will ever be right again.
Leopard’s Find by Kimberly A. Rogers
Ever wonder what your favorite characters were doing before you read about them for the first time? Sparks fly whenever Raina and Baran from The Therian Way are together. But what exactly was she doing before she met him?
Whatever Raina’s up to, it’s never boring.
Upsie-Daisy by Jane Lebak
Did you know guardian angels have a sharp sense of humor? It’s a requirement for the job, otherwise they’d run screaming instead of dealing with us. If you’re new to the Lee and Bucky stories, welcome to the world of sarcastic mechanics and pun-slinging angels. This story takes place about four months before any of the full-length novels, that way you can dive right in.
Circular Horizon by Bokerah Brumley
As a speculative fiction writer, I’m forever intrigued with the ‘what if.’ For instance, what if there was real-world science fiction featuring a God-fearing astronaut? This brain-wandering led to a story, and I briefly explore this idea with Mae McNair and Abel Onizuka in Circular Horizon.
‘Tis So Sweet by Faith Blum
Eleanor Miller has always loved her younger brother, even through all the bad things he has done. But when he almost kills a man, she needs to let him go and trust God to draw him to Himself. Will she find out how sweet it is to trust Jesus in everything, no matter what happens?
The Quinn Case by Julie C. Gilbert
Law enforcement’s a tough career to make it in both physically and emotionally. The Quinn Case takes place several years before the events in Heartfelt Cases Book 1: The Collins Case. Herein, you’ll meet a young FBI Special Agent named Ann Davidson who must find a missing child even as she struggles to put another case behind her.
Immerse yourself in six clean, sweet, Christian novelettes in this awesome multi-author anthology fiction box set….and maybe encounter your next favorite author!

 You're invited to our Facebook party!
The Light Leads to Peace (and Prizes)
6:30 - 8:30 PM CST on Saturday, May 14, 2016.
About the Authors

C.L. Wells CL-Wells-Head-Shot

C.L. Wells is a JANE-OF-ALL-TRADES, with a passion for writing and animals. She lives in Kansas with her family, which includes a fat doggie who is not named Toto and a cat who moonlights as an escape artist. Feel free to ask her about the ‘escape artist.’ She plans to write about it someday. She would love hearing from you.

Kimberly A. Rogers

Kimberly_2011_2
Kimberly A. Rogers writes urban fantasy with a Christian twist. She lives in Virginia where the Blue Ridge Mountains add inspiration to an overactive imagination originally fueled by fantasy classics such as the works of C.S. Lewis and J.R.R. Tolkien.

Jane Lebak

headshottiny
Jane Lebak has been publishing since 1994, with several novels in print as well as over seventy-five shorter pieces in magazines, newspapers, and journals. She is one of the bloggers for QueryTracker.net, a resource for writers seeking agents. She lives in The Swamp, reading books and knitting socks with her husband, children, cats, and fishtanks.

Bokerah Brumley

IMG_3935a (2)
Bokerah Brumley is a speculative fiction writer making stuff up on a trampoline in West Texas. She lives on ten acres with five home-educated children, four peacocks, three dogs, two cats, and one husband. In her imaginary spare time, she also serves as the blue-haired publicity officer for the Cisco Writers Club.

Faith Blum

Author Picture 2015-2016 cropped
Faith Blum is a historical fiction author who also loves to do pretty much any right-brained activity, especially if it involves crafting. She lives with her family on a small family farm in Wisconsin.

Julie C. Gilbert 

Julie Gilbert 2013 (5 of 25)
Julie C. Gilbert writes in several genres including Christian mystery, YA science fiction, and mystery/thriller. Regardless of category, she writes about people who face hardship and right wrongs because they have an innate need to do so. In other news, she is obsessed with Star Wars and has a day job teaching high school chemistry in New Jersey.
Have you ever participated in an anthology? Any tips to share or questions for my guests?

Better together: tips for participating in anthologies

Friday, May 13, 2016 Laurel Garver
By guest author Bokerah Brumley (and her collaborators)

It’s safe to say that I love anthologies. I enjoy the teamwork a multi-author project creates. The cross-promotion is invaluable and I always glean a lot from the other authors.

Here are four tips I’ve learned from participating in successful anthologies.

1. Be flexible. Invariably, the anthology lead will make a decision that, in your opinion, is less than ideal. Think of an anthology as a commercial for your work. It matters MORE that the anthology gets into the hands of as many people as possible, into as wide a market as possible. Be willing to allow advertising venues or cover art that isn’t quite your cup of tea. Most anthologies are about reaching new customers. Discuss any differences in private messages.

2. Speak up about what matters to you. If you type the words, “I don’t care,” MEAN THEM. I’ve watched whole threads dissolve in indecision because an author’s first comment was “I don’t care” when they DID care. If you care about the outcome of a decision, by all means, voice your opinion, but don’t expect the anthology lead to pick your preference. Keep it drama-free. All the other authors will love you for it.

3. Contracts help. I know it sounds a little harsh. But a contract that delineates release date, exclusivity (or non-exclusivity), length of anthology publication, price point or other important details can be helpful to long-term satisfaction of all involved. The contract puts expectations in black and white. And it might be the first time that the participants really think hard about what’s required when they sign on.

4. Have fun. Be cheerful. Most of the authors already know that best seller status probably isn’t going to happen, but it’s nice to dream a minute before reality checks in with a bad review or lagging sales. Enjoy the process.

More thoughts from Bokerah's collaborators:

From Kimberly A. Rogers: “Compromise is king. Setting realistic goals and also building in enough time to accommodate different schedules.”

From Julie C. Gilbert: “Good communication. Flexibility (don't get attached to things one way). Responsibility (meeting deadlines). Fun (enjoy the journey). Hard work (be willing to help out where you can...you don't have to volunteer to do everything, but if you can do something, offer your services).”

From C.L. Wells: “Looking back, I think it would have been fun to start off with an icebreaker of sorts to help everyone get to know each other a little bit quicker. Some short light activities that not related to the project at hand.”

From Faith Blum: “Be flexible, willing to help wherever you can, and don't be afraid to share unusual ideas.” She adds, “I like C.L. Well's idea, too!”


About their collaborative work, Where Light May Lead




Available Now for FREE

Six authors, six genres, six bite-sized stories of women living out their faith in ordinary and extraordinary circumstances. When the heart is willing to follow, where does the light lead?
Sample Old West justice. Watch a romance unfold over light years. Laugh as an introvert finagles her way out of a bridal shower. Agonize with an FBI agent as she negotiates for a child’s life. Imagine a shape-shifting cat who tracks down a kidnapper. And peek behind the scenes as a guardian angel argues with a double-talking auto mechanic. Learn again that the light of faith can lead you anywhere.
That’s How She Rolls by C.L. Wells
Tessa, a self-conscious introvert, attempts to avoid a party and everything goes wrong. When a handsome stranger offers to lend a helping hand, she isn’t sure things will ever be right again.
Leopard’s Find by Kimberly A. Rogers
Ever wonder what your favorite characters were doing before you read about them for the first time? Sparks fly whenever Raina and Baran from The Therian Way are together. But what exactly was she doing before she met him?
Whatever Raina’s up to, it’s never boring.
Upsie-Daisy by Jane Lebak
Did you know guardian angels have a sharp sense of humor? It’s a requirement for the job, otherwise they’d run screaming instead of dealing with us. If you’re new to the Lee and Bucky stories, welcome to the world of sarcastic mechanics and pun-slinging angels. This story takes place about four months before any of the full-length novels, that way you can dive right in.
Circular Horizon by Bokerah Brumley
As a speculative fiction writer, I’m forever intrigued with the ‘what if.’ For instance, what if there was real-world science fiction featuring a God-fearing astronaut? This brain-wandering led to a story, and I briefly explore this idea with Mae McNair and Abel Onizuka in Circular Horizon.
‘Tis So Sweet by Faith Blum
Eleanor Miller has always loved her younger brother, even through all the bad things he has done. But when he almost kills a man, she needs to let him go and trust God to draw him to Himself. Will she find out how sweet it is to trust Jesus in everything, no matter what happens?
The Quinn Case by Julie C. Gilbert
Law enforcement’s a tough career to make it in both physically and emotionally. The Quinn Case takes place several years before the events in Heartfelt Cases Book 1: The Collins Case. Herein, you’ll meet a young FBI Special Agent named Ann Davidson who must find a missing child even as she struggles to put another case behind her.
Immerse yourself in six clean, sweet, Christian novelettes in this awesome multi-author anthology fiction box set….and maybe encounter your next favorite author!

 You're invited to our Facebook party!
The Light Leads to Peace (and Prizes)
6:30 - 8:30 PM CST on Saturday, May 14, 2016.
About the Authors

C.L. Wells CL-Wells-Head-Shot

C.L. Wells is a JANE-OF-ALL-TRADES, with a passion for writing and animals. She lives in Kansas with her family, which includes a fat doggie who is not named Toto and a cat who moonlights as an escape artist. Feel free to ask her about the ‘escape artist.’ She plans to write about it someday. She would love hearing from you.

Kimberly A. Rogers

Kimberly_2011_2
Kimberly A. Rogers writes urban fantasy with a Christian twist. She lives in Virginia where the Blue Ridge Mountains add inspiration to an overactive imagination originally fueled by fantasy classics such as the works of C.S. Lewis and J.R.R. Tolkien.

Jane Lebak

headshottiny
Jane Lebak has been publishing since 1994, with several novels in print as well as over seventy-five shorter pieces in magazines, newspapers, and journals. She is one of the bloggers for QueryTracker.net, a resource for writers seeking agents. She lives in The Swamp, reading books and knitting socks with her husband, children, cats, and fishtanks.

Bokerah Brumley

IMG_3935a (2)
Bokerah Brumley is a speculative fiction writer making stuff up on a trampoline in West Texas. She lives on ten acres with five home-educated children, four peacocks, three dogs, two cats, and one husband. In her imaginary spare time, she also serves as the blue-haired publicity officer for the Cisco Writers Club.

Faith Blum

Author Picture 2015-2016 cropped
Faith Blum is a historical fiction author who also loves to do pretty much any right-brained activity, especially if it involves crafting. She lives with her family on a small family farm in Wisconsin.

Julie C. Gilbert 

Julie Gilbert 2013 (5 of 25)
Julie C. Gilbert writes in several genres including Christian mystery, YA science fiction, and mystery/thriller. Regardless of category, she writes about people who face hardship and right wrongs because they have an innate need to do so. In other news, she is obsessed with Star Wars and has a day job teaching high school chemistry in New Jersey.
Have you ever participated in an anthology? Any tips to share or questions for my guests?

Thursday, April 14

I was a somewhat late adopter of Twitter, in part because the fast and short nature of posting intimidated me. I'm more of a slow and deep thinker, and at first I thought adding a Twitter feed to my life would make my head explode.

But as I shifted gears to indie publishing, I realized I needed this site to reach a wider audience. Blog reading was on the wane, and I'd heard so many positive things about Twitter, I knew I had to get a grip on my fear and jump in.

My early attempts were half-hearted I admit, but in the past year I've gradually experimented and reached out and basically doubled my follower base. If you are still trying to get your footing on Twitter, this post is for you. If you're feeling meh about using Twitter, this post is for you. If you're a mega guru, maybe you have some wisdom to share in the comments, so please stick around!

Develop a vision 

What do you want your Twitter presence to be? This precedes all other considerations. How vulnerable will you be about your personal life in this forum? Will your persona be mostly serious, mostly silly, mostly enthusiastic, mostly wise, mostly curious, mostly pious, mostly arty, mostly visual? Which parts of yourself will help you reach and connect with your "tribe"? Your tribe is the group where your passions and enthusiasms are shared and supported and cheered on.

Consider the kinds of projects have you written and ones you plan to write. Now imagine your ideal reader. What are his or her interests? Which parts of  yourself do you think this reader will most want to know?

Communicate your vision

Choose your photo, banner image and color scheme to undergird the communication of vision. The visual look might mirror your blog or website, it might echo your book covers. But you don't want a lot of dark and heavy if you write romantic comedy, any more than you want light and fluffy images if you write thrillers. Look at Twitter profiles of others in your genre and emulate those who communicate well a message you also want to communicate.

Side note: If you're especially stumped about picking a color scheme, you might find it helpful to read up a bit on the psychology of color. It's how I landed on plum and tan as part of my branding; the first related to wisdom, creativity and spirituality, the other with warmth and being down-to-earth. Here are a couple of useful articles on the topic:
The Psychology of Color in Marketing and Branding
Color Psychology

Build your description from your vision: that sense of yourself and your work. Think keywords and allusions. Here's my description: "Urban Christ follower, incurable Anglophile, Ravenclaw. Pro grammar wrangler for hire. My writing explores how faith grows in dark places #CR4U"  Describing your thematic approach is more inviting than listing book titles, I've found--readers and writers are more drawn to a vision than a product name.

As you might guess, I am frequently found and followed by others in my faith tradition, by Harry Potter fans, by other writers, by other editors, by other city dwellers, by other lovers of British culture, and by members of Clean Indie Reads, a Facebook indie author collective, which uses the hashtag CR4U (clean reads for you).

Who you follow, what you tweet, and what you retweet and like--all these things should be guided by your vision. These actions also communicate your vision.

My published work so far has been in diverse genres--Christian fiction, poetry, and nonfiction writing resources. I hope to continue producing work like this and building a following for it. My Christian fiction is quite niche, so that takes the most concerted effort to seek a tribe. The writing resources are more broad. But as you might guess, writing religious work means I'd be unwise to follow just anyone on Twitter. There are are few kinds of accounts I avoid following back if they approach me first--erotica and gore-horror writers, pottymouths, inappropriate photo-posters, political all the time, cranky/agenda-driven zealots, bot accounts, click-farm sales pitch accounts,

You need to know your no-go areas and be thoughtful about it, or you'll find your garbage following takes all the joy out of the platform. For the most part, not following back followers who don't interest you is enough. In the case of inappropriate photo-posters, I tend to block accounts. The pottymoths and erotica and gore folks I tend to simply mute. (Click the sunshine icon next to the follow button in your followers list, and these options will appear in a drop-down menu).

Find your tribe

This is honestly fairly easy to do on Twitter. It is its most powerful feature in my mind. Start by following any writer friends, beta readers, critique partners, and fellow bloggers. Follow your favorite authors and organizations, especially local ones.

Cannibalize their friend lists. Okay, let me put that in a more positive way--check out their follower lists, likely to be full of people who share interests and will be similarly awesome, and follow them. I also find it helpful to RT their pinned tweets or like something they posted recently. It's a way of saying "Hi, you look fantastic, Let's be friends" in a less sycophantic way.

Do keyword searches for things that are part of your vision. Maybe it's your genre. Maybe it's a particular fandom (Star Wars or Sherlock; things like that). Maybe it's a geographic region you live in or write about. Follow away. Retweet and like.

Remember on the keyword searches to look not only at "top" tweets, but also click the next category, "live" where fresh content will be popping up. Folks with tiny followings who may be wonderful friends are likely hiding in there. The top stories are the ones that have had a lot of RTs and likes. They might be worth following if only for a time to find more of your tribe.

Hunt for hashtags popular in your tribe. #YA or #teenreads, for example, will help you find those who love young adult books--reading and writing them.

Join one of the weekly work-in-progress sharing parties like #2bittues (two bit Tuesday) or #1linewed (one-line Wednesday). Look up the hashtag and you will find instructions to participate. This is a really fun way to share small snippets of your writing and find readers who like your style--and for you to find writers whose style you admire.

Post a variety of content

Getting followers and keeping them also requires you to keep putting out content yourself. If you have been blogging for any length of time, you likely have some ready-made content that is eminently tweet-able. For the most part, age doesn't matter either. Your good post about hiring a cover designer in 2013 is just as helpful today.

Pimp your books--but only occasionally. If possible, link not only to your sales page, but also to interviews you've given about it, old blog-tour posts, and really great reviews posted online. Your "buy my book" pleas are better received when they aren't pushy but rather inviting to target readers. Creating photo memes with quotes can be a nice change of pace for getting the word out. Have a variety. Pin a new one to your page (click the ellipsis icon at the bottom of a post and chose "pin to your profile page") every week or so. Keep it fresh!

Share parts of yourself that relate to your vision. Be sincere. I have posted about finishing drafts, about choir practices, about cool things going on in my city, about parenting. These posts might not get a lot of retweets, but they are an important part of building a genuine following.

Share inspiring quotes. You can find them on Goodreads, on BrainyQuote on Quote Garden. Be sure to properly attribute them!

Add useful hashtags in moderation. Some that will help your tweets be found by other writers include #writing #amwriting #writetip #writingtips #amediting #books #amreading. Limit yourself to one to three. More than that just looks spammy and desperate.

Engage with others

Aside from following and following back (with care--remember your vision!), it's essential that you interact with your followers. Twitter gives the impression that it is a 100% live stream, but that isn't the case. It is moderated like Facebook is. Those you don't interact with much stop showing up in your feed--and you in theirs! So make an effort to pop back through your followers list periodically and like or retweet content from folks you haven't seen in your feed recently.

If you love someone's blog post shared on Twitter, add a comment before retweeting, like "I so agree with this" or "fantastic!" or "wonderfully helpful!" Your follower will know you aren't simply automating your sharing, but that you actually engaged. Attention is the currency of Twitter, Share yours liberally.

Ask questions and follow up. This can be a powerful way to deepen the relationships you have, and for your followers' followers to discover you.

Express gratitude to those who share your content. I tend to take a batch approach so that my feed isn't too noisy. It also helps my followers find cool people to follow when I acknowledge them.

A note about automation

I have found it really useful to sit down weekly with Hootsuite and automate some of my Twitter activity. Hootsuite makes it really easy. And you may find it useful to experiment with which times of day your followers are most likely to engage with your content.

Variety is essential with automating. If you post only one kind of thing, it will seem spammy. Share your historic blog posts with news articles with inspiring quotes with memes for your books.

Don't go overboard, posting every five minutes, which you could feasibly do on Hootsuite. Use it to keep some fresh content appearing daily. Two to six automated posts, spread from your waking to sleeping hours, is plenty. Feel free to experiment with hours you aren't awake to engage with folks in other time zones.

Importantly, don't let automation be the only Twitter presence you have. Live retweet others. Live share items. Thank people. Ask questions.

 Do you use Twitter much in your capacity as a writer or author? What tips would you add?

Building a Twitter following as an author: lessons from the trenches

Thursday, April 14, 2016 Laurel Garver
I was a somewhat late adopter of Twitter, in part because the fast and short nature of posting intimidated me. I'm more of a slow and deep thinker, and at first I thought adding a Twitter feed to my life would make my head explode.

But as I shifted gears to indie publishing, I realized I needed this site to reach a wider audience. Blog reading was on the wane, and I'd heard so many positive things about Twitter, I knew I had to get a grip on my fear and jump in.

My early attempts were half-hearted I admit, but in the past year I've gradually experimented and reached out and basically doubled my follower base. If you are still trying to get your footing on Twitter, this post is for you. If you're feeling meh about using Twitter, this post is for you. If you're a mega guru, maybe you have some wisdom to share in the comments, so please stick around!

Develop a vision 

What do you want your Twitter presence to be? This precedes all other considerations. How vulnerable will you be about your personal life in this forum? Will your persona be mostly serious, mostly silly, mostly enthusiastic, mostly wise, mostly curious, mostly pious, mostly arty, mostly visual? Which parts of yourself will help you reach and connect with your "tribe"? Your tribe is the group where your passions and enthusiasms are shared and supported and cheered on.

Consider the kinds of projects have you written and ones you plan to write. Now imagine your ideal reader. What are his or her interests? Which parts of  yourself do you think this reader will most want to know?

Communicate your vision

Choose your photo, banner image and color scheme to undergird the communication of vision. The visual look might mirror your blog or website, it might echo your book covers. But you don't want a lot of dark and heavy if you write romantic comedy, any more than you want light and fluffy images if you write thrillers. Look at Twitter profiles of others in your genre and emulate those who communicate well a message you also want to communicate.

Side note: If you're especially stumped about picking a color scheme, you might find it helpful to read up a bit on the psychology of color. It's how I landed on plum and tan as part of my branding; the first related to wisdom, creativity and spirituality, the other with warmth and being down-to-earth. Here are a couple of useful articles on the topic:
The Psychology of Color in Marketing and Branding
Color Psychology

Build your description from your vision: that sense of yourself and your work. Think keywords and allusions. Here's my description: "Urban Christ follower, incurable Anglophile, Ravenclaw. Pro grammar wrangler for hire. My writing explores how faith grows in dark places #CR4U"  Describing your thematic approach is more inviting than listing book titles, I've found--readers and writers are more drawn to a vision than a product name.

As you might guess, I am frequently found and followed by others in my faith tradition, by Harry Potter fans, by other writers, by other editors, by other city dwellers, by other lovers of British culture, and by members of Clean Indie Reads, a Facebook indie author collective, which uses the hashtag CR4U (clean reads for you).

Who you follow, what you tweet, and what you retweet and like--all these things should be guided by your vision. These actions also communicate your vision.

My published work so far has been in diverse genres--Christian fiction, poetry, and nonfiction writing resources. I hope to continue producing work like this and building a following for it. My Christian fiction is quite niche, so that takes the most concerted effort to seek a tribe. The writing resources are more broad. But as you might guess, writing religious work means I'd be unwise to follow just anyone on Twitter. There are are few kinds of accounts I avoid following back if they approach me first--erotica and gore-horror writers, pottymouths, inappropriate photo-posters, political all the time, cranky/agenda-driven zealots, bot accounts, click-farm sales pitch accounts,

You need to know your no-go areas and be thoughtful about it, or you'll find your garbage following takes all the joy out of the platform. For the most part, not following back followers who don't interest you is enough. In the case of inappropriate photo-posters, I tend to block accounts. The pottymoths and erotica and gore folks I tend to simply mute. (Click the sunshine icon next to the follow button in your followers list, and these options will appear in a drop-down menu).

Find your tribe

This is honestly fairly easy to do on Twitter. It is its most powerful feature in my mind. Start by following any writer friends, beta readers, critique partners, and fellow bloggers. Follow your favorite authors and organizations, especially local ones.

Cannibalize their friend lists. Okay, let me put that in a more positive way--check out their follower lists, likely to be full of people who share interests and will be similarly awesome, and follow them. I also find it helpful to RT their pinned tweets or like something they posted recently. It's a way of saying "Hi, you look fantastic, Let's be friends" in a less sycophantic way.

Do keyword searches for things that are part of your vision. Maybe it's your genre. Maybe it's a particular fandom (Star Wars or Sherlock; things like that). Maybe it's a geographic region you live in or write about. Follow away. Retweet and like.

Remember on the keyword searches to look not only at "top" tweets, but also click the next category, "live" where fresh content will be popping up. Folks with tiny followings who may be wonderful friends are likely hiding in there. The top stories are the ones that have had a lot of RTs and likes. They might be worth following if only for a time to find more of your tribe.

Hunt for hashtags popular in your tribe. #YA or #teenreads, for example, will help you find those who love young adult books--reading and writing them.

Join one of the weekly work-in-progress sharing parties like #2bittues (two bit Tuesday) or #1linewed (one-line Wednesday). Look up the hashtag and you will find instructions to participate. This is a really fun way to share small snippets of your writing and find readers who like your style--and for you to find writers whose style you admire.

Post a variety of content

Getting followers and keeping them also requires you to keep putting out content yourself. If you have been blogging for any length of time, you likely have some ready-made content that is eminently tweet-able. For the most part, age doesn't matter either. Your good post about hiring a cover designer in 2013 is just as helpful today.

Pimp your books--but only occasionally. If possible, link not only to your sales page, but also to interviews you've given about it, old blog-tour posts, and really great reviews posted online. Your "buy my book" pleas are better received when they aren't pushy but rather inviting to target readers. Creating photo memes with quotes can be a nice change of pace for getting the word out. Have a variety. Pin a new one to your page (click the ellipsis icon at the bottom of a post and chose "pin to your profile page") every week or so. Keep it fresh!

Share parts of yourself that relate to your vision. Be sincere. I have posted about finishing drafts, about choir practices, about cool things going on in my city, about parenting. These posts might not get a lot of retweets, but they are an important part of building a genuine following.

Share inspiring quotes. You can find them on Goodreads, on BrainyQuote on Quote Garden. Be sure to properly attribute them!

Add useful hashtags in moderation. Some that will help your tweets be found by other writers include #writing #amwriting #writetip #writingtips #amediting #books #amreading. Limit yourself to one to three. More than that just looks spammy and desperate.

Engage with others

Aside from following and following back (with care--remember your vision!), it's essential that you interact with your followers. Twitter gives the impression that it is a 100% live stream, but that isn't the case. It is moderated like Facebook is. Those you don't interact with much stop showing up in your feed--and you in theirs! So make an effort to pop back through your followers list periodically and like or retweet content from folks you haven't seen in your feed recently.

If you love someone's blog post shared on Twitter, add a comment before retweeting, like "I so agree with this" or "fantastic!" or "wonderfully helpful!" Your follower will know you aren't simply automating your sharing, but that you actually engaged. Attention is the currency of Twitter, Share yours liberally.

Ask questions and follow up. This can be a powerful way to deepen the relationships you have, and for your followers' followers to discover you.

Express gratitude to those who share your content. I tend to take a batch approach so that my feed isn't too noisy. It also helps my followers find cool people to follow when I acknowledge them.

A note about automation

I have found it really useful to sit down weekly with Hootsuite and automate some of my Twitter activity. Hootsuite makes it really easy. And you may find it useful to experiment with which times of day your followers are most likely to engage with your content.

Variety is essential with automating. If you post only one kind of thing, it will seem spammy. Share your historic blog posts with news articles with inspiring quotes with memes for your books.

Don't go overboard, posting every five minutes, which you could feasibly do on Hootsuite. Use it to keep some fresh content appearing daily. Two to six automated posts, spread from your waking to sleeping hours, is plenty. Feel free to experiment with hours you aren't awake to engage with folks in other time zones.

Importantly, don't let automation be the only Twitter presence you have. Live retweet others. Live share items. Thank people. Ask questions.

 Do you use Twitter much in your capacity as a writer or author? What tips would you add?

Thursday, August 30

I've dived into a whole lot of new things in the past few months. I joined a gym. Started a small business. Accepted a promotion at work. Got new glasses that gave me headaches for weeks. Learned to format ebooks in CSS. Joined Twitter, and more recently Goodreads.

Oh, and I am trying to put together a book launch for late September.

Some of you lovely folks have found me on Twitter, and I thank you. I hope some of you will find me on Goodreads (hint, hint). A few of you have talked me off the ledge when I thought I'd crack under the pressure of so many learning curves at once (I owe you some really killer cookies).

I've realized a few things in the midst of all this:

~No matter how much you plan, something will pop up you could never have planned for (like my hubby's nasty bike accident).

~The easy stuff often turns out to be the hard stuff.

~Stuff you thought would drive you insane might actually be fun (me, learn CSS?).

~Your friends genuinely do want you to succeed. Never be afraid to ask for their advice and help.

~Don't forget the "realizing a dream" part of the equation when you tackle new skills. It will help you stay positive even when you hit roadblocks.

~Remember that every pro was once a newbie.

I wish a happy Labor Day weekend to my American friends, and a pleasant end-of-August to those who don't have a holiday weekend.

Have you ever tried a lot of new things at the same time? How did you cope?

How much new can you do?

Thursday, August 30, 2012 Laurel Garver
I've dived into a whole lot of new things in the past few months. I joined a gym. Started a small business. Accepted a promotion at work. Got new glasses that gave me headaches for weeks. Learned to format ebooks in CSS. Joined Twitter, and more recently Goodreads.

Oh, and I am trying to put together a book launch for late September.

Some of you lovely folks have found me on Twitter, and I thank you. I hope some of you will find me on Goodreads (hint, hint). A few of you have talked me off the ledge when I thought I'd crack under the pressure of so many learning curves at once (I owe you some really killer cookies).

I've realized a few things in the midst of all this:

~No matter how much you plan, something will pop up you could never have planned for (like my hubby's nasty bike accident).

~The easy stuff often turns out to be the hard stuff.

~Stuff you thought would drive you insane might actually be fun (me, learn CSS?).

~Your friends genuinely do want you to succeed. Never be afraid to ask for their advice and help.

~Don't forget the "realizing a dream" part of the equation when you tackle new skills. It will help you stay positive even when you hit roadblocks.

~Remember that every pro was once a newbie.

I wish a happy Labor Day weekend to my American friends, and a pleasant end-of-August to those who don't have a holiday weekend.

Have you ever tried a lot of new things at the same time? How did you cope?

Wednesday, August 15

Income. It is taxable. The sooner you get your small-business ducks in a row, the better.

Self-publishers especially have to do the right steps in the right order, or your publishing dreams will stall.

I've consistently heard one piece of advice I'll share again: create a financial infrastructure separate from your personal finances. Register yourself as a sole proprietor/independent contractor. Get a bank account for your writing. This will make tax time tons easier.

It will also help ensure you pay the right taxes on time and avoid getting smacked with fines and fees, or being charged with tax evasion. You can't wait until next April to pay 2012 taxes on writing income, unless it's under a certain threshold (I believe $250 or under can be paid annually). Most taxing entities want you to pay tax on income quarterly at the minimum (some want it monthly) and will punish you if you don't. This is one of those places where "ignorance of the law does not excuse you."

Publishing with an ebook publisher or print-on-demand service, you will need to set up an account with them.

To do that, you need your bank account set up.

To do that, you might need a business license from your local municipality.

To do that, you might need to register your business with the state.

To do that, you WILL need to register for an EIN (employer identification number) from the federal government.

To do that, you will need to decide what kind of business entity you will be. If sole proprietor doing business under your own name, there's no special step here, other than to simply decide this. If you plan to set up your own press or publish under a pseudonym, you must register the name with your state. In Pennsylvania, the fee is $70 for a "doing business as" (DBA) license.

So, to put that in the correct order, do the following:

1. Chose your entity type-- as yourself or pick a business name. Research that the name isn't already registered.

2. Apply for your DBA license. (Skip if using your own name.) How long this process takes varies from state to state, as does the fee.

3. Register with the federal government for your EIN. You'll need an approved DBA name to do this. It is FREE and can be done online, with instant results.

4. Register with your state. You'll need your approved DBA and your EIN. In my state, this is process is free.

5. Register and/or obtain a license with your local municipality. Urban areas in particular are keen to collect business taxes. You will need your approved DBA, your EIN and your state ID number to do this. My municipality offers a lifetime or annual fee. I plan to do the smaller, annual fee until I have book income coming in.

6. Open a business bank account. You will need ALL OF THE ABOVE to do this. Most banks offer a variety of business accounts. Choose one that allows enough transactions that you won't have your income eaten away by bank fees. Keep track of how much "seed money" you initially invest to cover expenses before you begin bringing in income.

7. Set up a PayPal account for your business. You will need the business bank account to do this. This will enable you to sell autographed copies from your own site, for example. It also makes it easy to pay out-of-state vendors, such as a freelance editor.

8. Set up your royalty payment account with your service providers, be that the print-on-demand publisher, Smashwords, Amazon and other channels. Traditionally published would skip this step.

9. Pay your business expenses from your business bank account (you'll need to begin with seed money you invest). Keep receipts for everything. If you work from home, hang on to your utility bills for the year also. A portion of those are deductible. A tax professional can help you calculate how much.

10. Map out your tax-paying schedule and pay taxes on time, again, from your business bank account. Track your tax payments. Some state and local taxes paid can be deducted from your federal 1040. License fees definitely can be.

I procrastinated a bit on step five and realized I might have to schlep to City Hall to speed the process along. It's worth the hassle, especially since I can't move ahead with uploading the book until I can get paid, which, as you can see, is a few steps past step 5. :-)

On a personal note...
Those who follow me on Facebook heard about my husband's bike accident. Someone opened a car door into him and he flipped over the door. Miraculously his injuries were not catastrophic--severe whiplash, a sprained finger, five stitches for one deep gash, and lots of bruising. No broken bones at all. I'm home this week taking care of him and learning ebook formatting, plus the small business hoop-jumping. He's steadily getting more mobility and starts physical therapy for his neck soon. I'm hopeful that in another week, he'll be able to turn his head enough to drive again.

What part of this process surprised you? Which steps seem easiest or hardest?

If you publish, you can't avoid this...

Wednesday, August 15, 2012 Laurel Garver
Income. It is taxable. The sooner you get your small-business ducks in a row, the better.

Self-publishers especially have to do the right steps in the right order, or your publishing dreams will stall.

I've consistently heard one piece of advice I'll share again: create a financial infrastructure separate from your personal finances. Register yourself as a sole proprietor/independent contractor. Get a bank account for your writing. This will make tax time tons easier.

It will also help ensure you pay the right taxes on time and avoid getting smacked with fines and fees, or being charged with tax evasion. You can't wait until next April to pay 2012 taxes on writing income, unless it's under a certain threshold (I believe $250 or under can be paid annually). Most taxing entities want you to pay tax on income quarterly at the minimum (some want it monthly) and will punish you if you don't. This is one of those places where "ignorance of the law does not excuse you."

Publishing with an ebook publisher or print-on-demand service, you will need to set up an account with them.

To do that, you need your bank account set up.

To do that, you might need a business license from your local municipality.

To do that, you might need to register your business with the state.

To do that, you WILL need to register for an EIN (employer identification number) from the federal government.

To do that, you will need to decide what kind of business entity you will be. If sole proprietor doing business under your own name, there's no special step here, other than to simply decide this. If you plan to set up your own press or publish under a pseudonym, you must register the name with your state. In Pennsylvania, the fee is $70 for a "doing business as" (DBA) license.

So, to put that in the correct order, do the following:

1. Chose your entity type-- as yourself or pick a business name. Research that the name isn't already registered.

2. Apply for your DBA license. (Skip if using your own name.) How long this process takes varies from state to state, as does the fee.

3. Register with the federal government for your EIN. You'll need an approved DBA name to do this. It is FREE and can be done online, with instant results.

4. Register with your state. You'll need your approved DBA and your EIN. In my state, this is process is free.

5. Register and/or obtain a license with your local municipality. Urban areas in particular are keen to collect business taxes. You will need your approved DBA, your EIN and your state ID number to do this. My municipality offers a lifetime or annual fee. I plan to do the smaller, annual fee until I have book income coming in.

6. Open a business bank account. You will need ALL OF THE ABOVE to do this. Most banks offer a variety of business accounts. Choose one that allows enough transactions that you won't have your income eaten away by bank fees. Keep track of how much "seed money" you initially invest to cover expenses before you begin bringing in income.

7. Set up a PayPal account for your business. You will need the business bank account to do this. This will enable you to sell autographed copies from your own site, for example. It also makes it easy to pay out-of-state vendors, such as a freelance editor.

8. Set up your royalty payment account with your service providers, be that the print-on-demand publisher, Smashwords, Amazon and other channels. Traditionally published would skip this step.

9. Pay your business expenses from your business bank account (you'll need to begin with seed money you invest). Keep receipts for everything. If you work from home, hang on to your utility bills for the year also. A portion of those are deductible. A tax professional can help you calculate how much.

10. Map out your tax-paying schedule and pay taxes on time, again, from your business bank account. Track your tax payments. Some state and local taxes paid can be deducted from your federal 1040. License fees definitely can be.

I procrastinated a bit on step five and realized I might have to schlep to City Hall to speed the process along. It's worth the hassle, especially since I can't move ahead with uploading the book until I can get paid, which, as you can see, is a few steps past step 5. :-)

On a personal note...
Those who follow me on Facebook heard about my husband's bike accident. Someone opened a car door into him and he flipped over the door. Miraculously his injuries were not catastrophic--severe whiplash, a sprained finger, five stitches for one deep gash, and lots of bruising. No broken bones at all. I'm home this week taking care of him and learning ebook formatting, plus the small business hoop-jumping. He's steadily getting more mobility and starts physical therapy for his neck soon. I'm hopeful that in another week, he'll be able to turn his head enough to drive again.

What part of this process surprised you? Which steps seem easiest or hardest?

Thursday, July 26

Self-publishing. How do you decide if it's for you?

I'm a cautious person, so deciding to publish my novel Never Gone on my own wasn't something I arrived at overnight. I spent a lot of time researching and soul-searching. As I was considering the option, I found it incredibly helpful to read about others' decision-making processes. So in the coming weeks I'll share some of the factors that went into my decision, in hopes that it will be educational for those still weighing the pros and cons.

Here are some of the questions I had going in:

What does success look like to me? What's my ultimate goal?

What's happening to publishing? What trends seem to be emerging regarding models that are sustainable and models that aren't?

Am I willing to give up the cache of being approved by gatekeepers?

What are possible downsides of legacy publishing?

Am I temperamentally suited to being an entrepreneur?

What other networks might substitute for the support a legacy publisher might provide? Can I find them or build them?

What skill sets will I need to develop to build my writing business?

Is this particular project better suited for independent or legacy publishing?

Is the book actually ready? How will I know when it is?


These are fairly broad-strokes areas of research. You can see why I've spent the better part of eight months reading everything I could get my eyeballs on that could provide some perspective on the topic.

One of the most helpful things I kept hearing was this: It's not a forever decision. You can self-pub some projects and seek legacy publication for others. Learn your market and where your project might fit and make a business decision.

I can tackle these questions in order as I proposed them, or in whatever order you like.

Which of these questions intrigue you most?

You're doing what??

Thursday, July 26, 2012 Laurel Garver
Self-publishing. How do you decide if it's for you?

I'm a cautious person, so deciding to publish my novel Never Gone on my own wasn't something I arrived at overnight. I spent a lot of time researching and soul-searching. As I was considering the option, I found it incredibly helpful to read about others' decision-making processes. So in the coming weeks I'll share some of the factors that went into my decision, in hopes that it will be educational for those still weighing the pros and cons.

Here are some of the questions I had going in:

What does success look like to me? What's my ultimate goal?

What's happening to publishing? What trends seem to be emerging regarding models that are sustainable and models that aren't?

Am I willing to give up the cache of being approved by gatekeepers?

What are possible downsides of legacy publishing?

Am I temperamentally suited to being an entrepreneur?

What other networks might substitute for the support a legacy publisher might provide? Can I find them or build them?

What skill sets will I need to develop to build my writing business?

Is this particular project better suited for independent or legacy publishing?

Is the book actually ready? How will I know when it is?


These are fairly broad-strokes areas of research. You can see why I've spent the better part of eight months reading everything I could get my eyeballs on that could provide some perspective on the topic.

One of the most helpful things I kept hearing was this: It's not a forever decision. You can self-pub some projects and seek legacy publication for others. Learn your market and where your project might fit and make a business decision.

I can tackle these questions in order as I proposed them, or in whatever order you like.

Which of these questions intrigue you most?

Wednesday, February 15

Yes, writing can be creative and fun, but at some point when your work goes into print, it will become something more--a business. With income. Expenses. All that jazz.

I don't see too many writers talking about the need to get your head out of the sand when it comes to treating your writing like a business. I guess it's because many creative people tend to get a glazed look when you mention the T word. Yeah, I mean taxes.

You might think you can jettison this worry onto someone who cares about this stuff--like your accountant. You can't. Not entirely. There are some things only YOU can do. And if you want to avoid a whole lot of headaches and stress, it honestly pays to educate yourself a little about this business-money-tax stuff.

Last week I attended an adult education small business tax workshop just to pick up some of the basics. Now that my head-cold fog is beginning to lift, I thought I'd share a little of what I've learned.

Business or hobby?
One of the first things to consider is whether you believe you will actually bring in some real income from your venture. Having substantial start-up costs and taking a loss is normal for the first few years. But if you plan to deduct all of your writing expenses, you need to post a profit within a few years, or the IRS considers your writing efforts a hobby.

Are you agented and out on submission? There's a good chance you could land a book deal, and with it comes income you will owe taxes on. Take the time now to get all your financial ducks in a row to minimize your tax liability. By that I mean register yourself as a business (likely a sole proprietorship), and track your deductible expenses. There are LOTS--from web design to business cards to your home office utilities. Even if you plan to use an accountant, you will need to keep records of your expenses. The teacher recommended the US Small Business Administration site (http://www.sba.gov/) as a great resource for getting started.

Ditto if you plan to self-publish or to sell short pieces to paying markets (and make more than $250 annually doing so).

If you sell stories or articles and only receive token payments, that's hobby income. The kinds of things you can deduct as hobby expenses are explained here: http://www.irs.gov/publications/p17/ch28.html. Note that you can't deduct losses (expenses that are over and above than what you got paid), you can only claim expenses up to the amount you made as hobby income. Tracking hobby expenses and income is a great way to get up to speed before you land a book deal, so do seriously consider doing some magazine work. Seriously. The writing credits and networking are some additional benefits.

First steps
~Remove your fingers from your ears and stop singing "La-la-la."

~Educate yourself about the rules. You must deal with three taxing entities: the federal government, your state government and your local government. The laws may have some overlaps, and may have some significant differences. An adult education class is helpful, and your local chamber of commerce and the SBA are also great resources.

~Apply for a federal EIN (employer ID number), for free, at the IRS site: http://www.irs.gov/businesses/small/article/0,,id=102767,00.html. You must have one to open a bank account that you dedicate to your writing income and expenses. It's really best to do this--keep your writing business as its own entity. It's much, much easier to track what comes in and goes out when it's not mixed in with your personal finances. You'll also need and EIN to deduct the cost of some services you hire out for, like editing.

Self-publishers take note: if you plan to set up your own press, WAIT to apply for an EIN until after you have registered your press name that you will be "doing business as." More information about is available from the SBA here: http://www.sba.gov/content/register-your-fictitious-or-doing-business-dba-name/.

~Apply for a small business license as required by your state or local government. The SBA has all the needed state links: http://www.sba.gov/content/business-licenses-and-permits. My municipality requires a license for any kind of business, so be sure to check in with your local government to see what their regulations are. Your local chamber of commerce may be able to help with this step. Don't be shy, give them a call if your local regulations are difficult to find.

~Open your checking account, using your EIN as the ID number rather than your SSN. Use it for all your business expenses: your web designer, your caterer for the launch party, etc. Deposit royalty checks here and link it to your paypal or Amazon account. This step will save you a ton of headaches!

What aspects of writing-as-business surprise you? Intimidate you? Was this post helpful? What else would you like to know?

Making money writing

Wednesday, February 15, 2012 Laurel Garver
Yes, writing can be creative and fun, but at some point when your work goes into print, it will become something more--a business. With income. Expenses. All that jazz.

I don't see too many writers talking about the need to get your head out of the sand when it comes to treating your writing like a business. I guess it's because many creative people tend to get a glazed look when you mention the T word. Yeah, I mean taxes.

You might think you can jettison this worry onto someone who cares about this stuff--like your accountant. You can't. Not entirely. There are some things only YOU can do. And if you want to avoid a whole lot of headaches and stress, it honestly pays to educate yourself a little about this business-money-tax stuff.

Last week I attended an adult education small business tax workshop just to pick up some of the basics. Now that my head-cold fog is beginning to lift, I thought I'd share a little of what I've learned.

Business or hobby?
One of the first things to consider is whether you believe you will actually bring in some real income from your venture. Having substantial start-up costs and taking a loss is normal for the first few years. But if you plan to deduct all of your writing expenses, you need to post a profit within a few years, or the IRS considers your writing efforts a hobby.

Are you agented and out on submission? There's a good chance you could land a book deal, and with it comes income you will owe taxes on. Take the time now to get all your financial ducks in a row to minimize your tax liability. By that I mean register yourself as a business (likely a sole proprietorship), and track your deductible expenses. There are LOTS--from web design to business cards to your home office utilities. Even if you plan to use an accountant, you will need to keep records of your expenses. The teacher recommended the US Small Business Administration site (http://www.sba.gov/) as a great resource for getting started.

Ditto if you plan to self-publish or to sell short pieces to paying markets (and make more than $250 annually doing so).

If you sell stories or articles and only receive token payments, that's hobby income. The kinds of things you can deduct as hobby expenses are explained here: http://www.irs.gov/publications/p17/ch28.html. Note that you can't deduct losses (expenses that are over and above than what you got paid), you can only claim expenses up to the amount you made as hobby income. Tracking hobby expenses and income is a great way to get up to speed before you land a book deal, so do seriously consider doing some magazine work. Seriously. The writing credits and networking are some additional benefits.

First steps
~Remove your fingers from your ears and stop singing "La-la-la."

~Educate yourself about the rules. You must deal with three taxing entities: the federal government, your state government and your local government. The laws may have some overlaps, and may have some significant differences. An adult education class is helpful, and your local chamber of commerce and the SBA are also great resources.

~Apply for a federal EIN (employer ID number), for free, at the IRS site: http://www.irs.gov/businesses/small/article/0,,id=102767,00.html. You must have one to open a bank account that you dedicate to your writing income and expenses. It's really best to do this--keep your writing business as its own entity. It's much, much easier to track what comes in and goes out when it's not mixed in with your personal finances. You'll also need and EIN to deduct the cost of some services you hire out for, like editing.

Self-publishers take note: if you plan to set up your own press, WAIT to apply for an EIN until after you have registered your press name that you will be "doing business as." More information about is available from the SBA here: http://www.sba.gov/content/register-your-fictitious-or-doing-business-dba-name/.

~Apply for a small business license as required by your state or local government. The SBA has all the needed state links: http://www.sba.gov/content/business-licenses-and-permits. My municipality requires a license for any kind of business, so be sure to check in with your local government to see what their regulations are. Your local chamber of commerce may be able to help with this step. Don't be shy, give them a call if your local regulations are difficult to find.

~Open your checking account, using your EIN as the ID number rather than your SSN. Use it for all your business expenses: your web designer, your caterer for the launch party, etc. Deposit royalty checks here and link it to your paypal or Amazon account. This step will save you a ton of headaches!

What aspects of writing-as-business surprise you? Intimidate you? Was this post helpful? What else would you like to know?

Tuesday, March 15

It's tax season and this year I had the distinctly frightening experience of doing a Schedule C for my husband. See, he got paid for writing a chapter in a book published in 2010 by Wiley, The Ultimate Harry Potter and Philosophy: Hogwarts for Muggles. Along with the check came a 1099-MISC and a lot of complication, because book royalties are considered self-employment income. If I manage to sell some of my poetry or short stories this year, I'll be in the same boat next tax season.

So here's my question: Are you taking steps to treat your writing like a business?

If you hope to make a little money from your writing this year--whether from magazines or anthology publishers, or better yet, a book deal, you need to begin keeping good financial records NOW. I'd argue that if you are pouring resources into writing, you SHOULD try to make at least a little income from it. Why? As far as I can tell, the IRS requires that you have some income in order to deduct expenses.** Chances are, you are racking up quite a few. What kind of expenses should you track? Here's a starter list:

Advertising expenses
Business cards, stationery, bookmarks and other items to used promote your writing are deductible--keep receipts! Costs associated with maintaining a website and blog, such as paying for server space and a domain name would fall under this category (design is a "professional service," see below).

Legal and professional services
Keep track of what you pay others to help you improve your writing or run your "writing business"--a professional editor, a proofreader, a web designer, an accountant, etc.

Equipment costs
Big ticket equipment purchases like your computer and printer can be deducted over a period of time using a method the IRS calls "depreciation."

Office expenses
The usual materials writers run through--paper, ink, pens, staples, whiteboards, sticky notes, postage--are deductible business expenses. Keep receipts!

Utilities
If you work from home, a portion of your home utility costs can be deducted; you may need an accountant to calculate this correctly, so keep copies of all utility bills.

Travel
Attending conferences to network and skill-build would be considered business expenses. Travel costs associated with book signings and school visits most definitely are. A portion of your expenses including mileage, tolls, parking, hotel costs, meals can be deducted. Be sure you're keeping good records and documentation of what you spend.

I believe that conference fees can also be deducted, but I haven't found definitive advice on where you report this particular "professional development" expense. An accountant could tell you. Just hang on to your receipt.

Other expenses
Reference and craft books to build your skills are likewise deductible, so keep receipts!

Child care
If you put your kids or a disabled dependent in daycare, after school care or elder care so that you can write, you might be able to take the child and dependent care credit on your 1040. Again, you need to have some income from your writing, or the daycare is really just a convenience to you as far as the IRS is concerned, rather than an expense so that you can work.

A caveat
Remember that you won't get in trouble for not deducting expenses, only for not reporting income. But if you spend more than you make, your tax documentation should reflect that, right? Keeping good records may involve some work, but it can save you big money come tax time.

**BIG disclaimer: I am not a tax professional. The above post contains general pointers on record keeping and should not be construed as professional tax advice. Seek help from a tax professional to determine which expenses are legally deductible.

Are you tracking your writing expenses? Will you consider doing so now?

Are you prepared?

Tuesday, March 15, 2011 Laurel Garver
It's tax season and this year I had the distinctly frightening experience of doing a Schedule C for my husband. See, he got paid for writing a chapter in a book published in 2010 by Wiley, The Ultimate Harry Potter and Philosophy: Hogwarts for Muggles. Along with the check came a 1099-MISC and a lot of complication, because book royalties are considered self-employment income. If I manage to sell some of my poetry or short stories this year, I'll be in the same boat next tax season.

So here's my question: Are you taking steps to treat your writing like a business?

If you hope to make a little money from your writing this year--whether from magazines or anthology publishers, or better yet, a book deal, you need to begin keeping good financial records NOW. I'd argue that if you are pouring resources into writing, you SHOULD try to make at least a little income from it. Why? As far as I can tell, the IRS requires that you have some income in order to deduct expenses.** Chances are, you are racking up quite a few. What kind of expenses should you track? Here's a starter list:

Advertising expenses
Business cards, stationery, bookmarks and other items to used promote your writing are deductible--keep receipts! Costs associated with maintaining a website and blog, such as paying for server space and a domain name would fall under this category (design is a "professional service," see below).

Legal and professional services
Keep track of what you pay others to help you improve your writing or run your "writing business"--a professional editor, a proofreader, a web designer, an accountant, etc.

Equipment costs
Big ticket equipment purchases like your computer and printer can be deducted over a period of time using a method the IRS calls "depreciation."

Office expenses
The usual materials writers run through--paper, ink, pens, staples, whiteboards, sticky notes, postage--are deductible business expenses. Keep receipts!

Utilities
If you work from home, a portion of your home utility costs can be deducted; you may need an accountant to calculate this correctly, so keep copies of all utility bills.

Travel
Attending conferences to network and skill-build would be considered business expenses. Travel costs associated with book signings and school visits most definitely are. A portion of your expenses including mileage, tolls, parking, hotel costs, meals can be deducted. Be sure you're keeping good records and documentation of what you spend.

I believe that conference fees can also be deducted, but I haven't found definitive advice on where you report this particular "professional development" expense. An accountant could tell you. Just hang on to your receipt.

Other expenses
Reference and craft books to build your skills are likewise deductible, so keep receipts!

Child care
If you put your kids or a disabled dependent in daycare, after school care or elder care so that you can write, you might be able to take the child and dependent care credit on your 1040. Again, you need to have some income from your writing, or the daycare is really just a convenience to you as far as the IRS is concerned, rather than an expense so that you can work.

A caveat
Remember that you won't get in trouble for not deducting expenses, only for not reporting income. But if you spend more than you make, your tax documentation should reflect that, right? Keeping good records may involve some work, but it can save you big money come tax time.

**BIG disclaimer: I am not a tax professional. The above post contains general pointers on record keeping and should not be construed as professional tax advice. Seek help from a tax professional to determine which expenses are legally deductible.

Are you tracking your writing expenses? Will you consider doing so now?
Subscribe to: Posts (Atom)

About Me

My photo
City dweller, word nerd, Indie film enthusiast and incurable Anglophile. Professor's wife and mom to a young adult daughter. Follower of the Good Shepherd, who is faithful when we are faithless. My poetry and fiction explore the places where heart and soul are tested and growing up truly begins.

I'm also a freelance editor who has been editing professionally since 1991. How can I help you make your manuscript shine? Click my "editing services" tab to learn more

Beat Writer's Block




























"A lot of engaging starting points for any writer that will inspire you to write."

"Covers many genres."

"...many interesting prompts that help you get into the mind of your character."

You can face a blank page with confidence when you use these prompts to warm up, beat writer’s block, develop and maintain a writing habit, change up your routine, start a new project, experiment in a new genre, deepen parts of an existing story, or overcome burnout.


e-book: Amazon / Barnes and Noble / Apple iTunes / Kobo / Smashwords
Pocket paperback (5"x 8", 114 pp.) Amazon / Barnes and Noble
Workbook (8"x 10", 426 pp.) Amazon / Barnes and Noble