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On Writing

Leaps of Faith, and the Difference Between Vanity Presses and “Legitimate” Publishing Houses

Last night, Cait came running into the kitchen, screaming. Heart pounding, I raced in from outside to see what was wrong. She’d just hung up with one of her best friends, who’d called to say that she’d just received an offer from a publishing house to publish her first children’s story.

This friend of Cait’s is the kind of kid that you’d wish for good things to happen to. She’s a wonderful girl who doesn’t have the easiest of lives … Read More

Want to Write a Book that Sells? Start With an Outline

writing From the mailbag: Hannah writes: I’ve been writing a novel and have been stuck for weeks. That’s my pattern: I write a little, get stuck, have a breakthrough, write again, etc. It often feels like torture. I’m wondering if you also have this problem and if you’ve found a way to overcome it. I’ve read that it’s a good idea to start with an outline, but doesn’t that work better for non-fiction? For fiction, it seems like it would clash Read More

A Writing Life

I haven’t needed an alarm clock for years now, because I have two furry ones. Today, it’s 4:10 AM, a little early even for me. Graidy usually has the decency to wait until about 5:00 AM before rousing me out of bed. (Another quality people should be aware of when getting high energy/herding dogs is that they’re ready to go at the crack of dawn–literally. ) Fortunately, I like to get up early to write, in the quiet, when everyone … Read More

Mad Hatter: No wonder you’re late. Why, this watch is exactly two days slow.

That’s me these days. The faster I try to catch up, the hurried-er I fall behind. Too many projects and not enough clocks running two days slow. So, it’s getting to be that time again… Time for another intermission.

In the meantime, what was it that sign said on the doorknob? Ah, yes…

Doorknob: Read the directions and directly you will be directed in the right direction.“

Okay, off I go.

See ya back here when I’m all … Read More

Do You Have to Have an Agent to Sell a Book?

From the mailbag: Sue writes: Is it necessary to have an agent to sell a book? I’m having trouble finding one to take me on, so I was wondering if I could just try to sell my novel by myself? What do you think of self-publishing?

Dear Sue, there aren’t many publishing houses that accept unagented submissions anymore. Certainly, none of the major houses do. That said, there are still some small houses that will let a writer submit without … Read More

Because Sometimes Ya Just Need…

…some fresh air.

chimnea

I can only take so much of being cooped up inside. Didn’t matter that it was only 41 degrees out. I needed some sunlight and fresh air. Not only was I toasty warm with my dogs playing around me, but I finished my proposal too. YAHOO!!!

There’s gonna be some celebrating tonight!… Read More

I love WordPress but…

I hate how hard it is to upgrade! Grrr…. After two miserably failed attempts which have messed up my RSS feeds among causing other problems (if you read through an RSS feed, you may need to resubscribe to automatically get the current posts), I’m giving up! For now anyway.

Yes, for a few hours, I’d lost the whole kit and kaboodle into cyberspace! I’m happy to have recovered my old version for your viewing pleasure.… Read More

Wanderings — Worst Analogies Ever Written

I am often asked to play the role of book doctor for writer friends whose manuscripts need a little work. I am able to keep charging through, because at least I haven’t come across any of these! If you need a good laugh, go ahead and click.

Here are just a few of the gems awaiting you.

They lived in a typical suburban neighborhood with picket fences that resembled Nancy Kerrigan’s teeth.

He spoke with the wisdom that can

Read More
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