Contributed by Suzanne Lieurance It’s been said many times that good writing is actually good rewriting, and I certainly think that’s true. Yet I also know from experience that it is often unwise to revise too soon. Consider this – when you get a professional critique or an editorial letter, do you immediately read the…
Category: writing tips
Book Marketing and the Query Letter
If you are contemplating writing a book or you’ve already written one and intend on going the traditional publishing path, you’ll need a query letter and a cover letter. This is true whether you’re an author, a writer, or a business owner who wants to build his authority with a book. Wondering what a query…
Submitting Your Manuscript – 8 Tips
Writing is a personal experience. Each writer faces his or her own obstacles and processes. But one common aspect of writing is it always starts with an idea. You may take that idea and turn it into an outline. You then take your outline and sprinkle it with letters and words and watch it grow….
Become an Author – 5 Basic Rules
It may seem like becoming an author today is a no-brainer. You just write something, get it up on Kindle, and you’re an author. Well, that’s true, but I wouldn’t consider you an author. And, neither would any other experienced authors. And, chances are, if you get any readers, they wouldn’t call you an author….
Being a Writer – Learn the Craft of Writing
In the June 2010 issue of The Writer, author Jane Yolen discussed the need to learn the craft of writing in an article titled, “Dedicate Yourself to a Writing Apprenticeship.” She explained that the process is slow and long, but is necessary to being a writer, to learn the craft of writing. If you’re wondering…
Critiques are Essential for Writers
As an author, editor, ghostwriter as well as a former book reviewer, it’s easy to tell which authors haven’t bother to have their work critiqued or edited. Any advice I give, whether in articles or e-books on writing for children or writing in general, I always include the importance of belonging to a critique group….
Back to School Basics for Teachers
By Karen Cioffi and Robyn Feltman Well, so much for summer break. The teaching grind is just around the corner. Yeah, yeah, two months off isn’t long enough, but hey, it’s pretty good. So, now it’s time to start getting in gear to go back to the professional attire and mindset, early morning rising, and…
Characters or Story – Which Comes First?
A number of articles about writing for children, and other genres suggest knowing your characters inside and out before beginning the story. In fact, information suggests that the author build the story around the characters once they are fully developed. While this is good advice, and many experienced authors recommend this technique, there are some…
How Do You Make a Good Story Worthy of Getting Past the Gatekeeper?
Just about every author knows about the “gatekeeper.” The dreaded acquisitions editor who decides if your manuscript is worthy of her attention and the publishing house’s backing. In other words, the editor who decides if your manuscript is worthy of a publishing contract. To make sure your ‘good’ story becomes a ‘worthy’ story, the Writer’s…
Character Sheets – Adding Dimension to Your Protagonist
Connecting with a reader entails a couple of things, one of which is to have a fully developed protagonist. A crucial aspect of creating a real character is his/her interactions with the other characters in the story, and his/her reactions to external influences. These reactions to external surroundings or occurrences add layers to your protagonist….