As a ghostwriter, I deal with a lot of new authors. Now and the, someone sends me a story with rhyme. When this happens, the story is lacking, and the rhyme is unprofessional; it’s my job to guide these authors on the path of ‘doing it right.’ I recently received two such manuscripts. One rhymed…
Year: 2016
Writing, Submissions, and Working With Editors
Updated February 21, 2026 Every writer, at least hopefully, will work with an editor from time to time. While we’d all like it to be on a regular basis, from time to time is better than nothing. When in the joyous situation (you’ve gotten something accepted for publication), there are some tips that will help…
4 Realities New Writers Need to Face
Writing can be a tough field to be in. Some authors seem to make it overnight, while others struggle on for years with little success. With this in mind, every writer should be aware of at least four must-know tips to help get over the bumps in the writing road. 1. It’s going to take…
The 3 Levels of Picture Books
Children’s picture books have 3 levels or purposes regarding the reader and the purchaser. Think of it as the structure of a house: there’s a basement, a first floor, and often an upper floor. Level 1: The basement, or Surface Level, is geared toward the youngest reader (or listener if too young to read). This…
Freelance Writers and Ghostwriters: 3 Essential Warnings
This post is mainly for new freelance writers and ghostwriters, as experienced ones will likely know these two tips. I’m a working children’s ghostwriter, and I get a lot of queries about my writing service. Doing this for many years, I’ve come across different personalities, different requests, and a couple of ‘be careful’ moments. TIP…
The One Sentence Pitch for Your Manuscript
Your one-sentence pitch is a condensed, concise description of your story, specifically the plot. Think of it as a one-sentence calling card—your unique selling proposal or proposition. A beginning step on your book marketing journey. You might ask why it needs to be only one sentence. Well, it may happen that the time you have…
How Do You Build a Successful Writing Career? (3 Tips)
Writers need to be tough. It’s not an easy arena to be in. Did you know that writers get so many rejections that there have actually been studies done on it? According to a Huffington Post article, “96% of authors seeking agents are rejected.” (1) That’s pretty severe. Another article at Writer’s Digest says, “don’t…
Aim for Writing Success
Writing success can mean different things to different writers. Some writers may simply want to get a book or article published; others may want to be on the New York Times Best Sellers List; others may want to make a living writing; and others may be seeking wealth and fame. The key here is to…
Writing – Let Tom Swift Guide You
Guest Post by Carolyn Howard-Johnson Ever heard of Tom Swifties? Maybe you’re too young to be familiar with the classic Tom Swift adventures for boys. Or maybe you’re a girl who never read a Tom Swift book nor cares to. Tom Swifties are one-line jokes lampooning the style of Victor Appleton, the author of the…
Your Children’s Manuscript Is Done? Now What?
As a children’s ghostwriter, I am often asked what comes after the manuscript is written and edited. Well, this depends on which publishing road you’ll take: self-publishing or traditional publishing. Since most of my clients self-publish, I’ll start there. SELF-PUBLISHING Basic Pages and Copy (in addition to the story). 1. You’ll need back cover copy….