Today’s guest blogger Mary Kit Caelsto tells us what prompted her to write a new series… In the equestrian world there’s a saying: throw your heart over the jump and the horse will follow. It’s a belief I took into my new-to-me genre equestrian women’s literature. Writing and publishing isn’t new to me. I’ve…
Category: Writing How Tos
Plotter vs. Panster or How I Became a Plotser by Judy Penz Sheluk
Not sure if you’re a plotter or a punster, author Judy Penz Sheluk might have the solution… As a pantser (someone who writes without an outline, outside of a rough idea of where the story might be going), I’ve always envied plotters (someone who actually knows where the story is going before they begin to…
Creating a Character Profile with Bonnie Phelps
If you’re struggling with a character, author Bonnie Phelps shares her techniques with us… Writers all have their own process for getting from the blank page to “The End.” For me the page stays blank until I figure out who my main characters are and what motivates them to do what they do. Over…
The Revolving Door of Book Marketing with Ann Everett
If you’re constantly wondering the best way to market your book, author Ann Everett has some tips… The book marketing landscape continues to change so fast what works today will most likely be ineffective within the next six months. When I first published, book tours were considered a top marketing tool. By the time…
Give Yourself A Deadline
One of my main concerns when I decided to freelance was would I be motivated enough to put in a full day’s work. It’s a whole new world when you no longer have someone looking over your shoulder or telling you what to do next. Lucky for me, I had one great motivator and that…
Five Markets/Contests for Writers and Authors
I thought I’d go with a different type of post for this one. When I was starting out as both an author and freelance writer I was always looking for markets and contests to enter so I thought I’d share this with you. Here are details of markets and contests I’ve recently been sent information…
Working through the roadblocks by author Seelie Kay
Are you experiencing a roadblock with your story or writing in general? Here’s Seelie Kay to show us how she works through it. “Who is more to be pitied, a writer bound and gagged by policemen or one living in perfect freedom who has nothing more to say?” ― Kurt Vonnegut While I have never…
Say What You Mean AKA Writing Bloopers
Fingers are flying across the keyboards, the muse has taken over and you’re in the zone. That’s great, that’s what we want but sometimes the excitement about writing something truly wonderful can make you all too eager to hit the send button or press, publish. Yes, I’ve done it. I’ve been guilty of it as both a freelance…
Take Off Your Pants-An Interview with Libbie Hawker
Authors should never stop learning (at least that’s what I think). and last year I bought a copy of a book called Take Off Your Pants. Now if you’re puzzled by the title let me say it’s all about plotting and it’s one of the best I’ve ever read on the topic. I enjoyed…
What Writing a TV Pilot Has Shown Me
Most of you know I’m working on my first TV pilot. I’ve been an author of novels and short stories for longer than I can remember but this new experience has shown (and is teaching) me new things about the writing process. I thought I’d share these five insights with you here… Go Outside Your Comfort Zone…