Time to get serious about yourwriting career

You won’t be able to quit work and write, but you might find a grant to make your writing goals easier. Or a crowdfunding opportunity to fund your project. Find serious contests, too. Only those that pay in cold hard cash. No pay-per-click, $1 per blog or exposure markets either. Hope Clark writes for a living. If she wouldn’t try these opportunities, she doesn’t post them. Our newsletters are our world. Free subscription.

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Thought of the Week

If you ask a reader what makes for a good book, they would tell you the story is key, when in reality, it is not about the story. It's about how the story is told. The reader doesn't realize that. If the story is told wonderfully with careful selection of words and voice, visuals and strong development, a magic allows the story to come through with personality and power.

If a writer doesn't drill down and understand what real storytelling is, in an attempt to master word choice and style, they fall short. And the reader doesn't feel the story.

Everyone has a story. Not everyone can tell it well. The good writer sees that, and works on being unique in HOW the story is delivered and continuously sharpens their craft.

Latest posts

Can Writers Stop or Slow AI?

Alex J. Coyne / 2025-05-02
I was horrified when a client suggested using generative AI to “fill in” an article. I was appropriately aghast when another client switched their copywriting to cheaper ChatGPT. Generative AI has led to job losses and writing industry impact—it’s not just my story, but could be yours. Can writers stop or... Read More

Marketing for Appearances

C. Hope Clark / 2025-05-02
“If you build it, he (they) will come” is the famous line in the classic 1989 flick, “Field of Dreams,” spoken by character Iowa corn farmer Ray Kinsella (actor Kevin Costner). That's fine when you're talking about ghosts showing up on a baseball field, but what about book signings and... Read More

That Happy Middle of Promotion

C. Hope Clark / 2025-05-02
I am more in the line of Dean Koontz when it comes to making appearances. I make myself appear just enough, not totally comfortable with too many face-to-face events. I don't do major conferences. I rarely leave the state anymore. Pre-COVID I was all over the place, and admittedly, the... Read More

Dealing with Silence

Dan Brotzel / 2025-05-02
Writers talk a lot about coping with rejection. I used to get lots of messages from editors and agencies that said things like ‘we decided to go another way’ or ‘sorry, this one’s not for us’ or ‘we regret to inform you that on this occasion your application has been... Read More

Find Paying Opportunities Through Social Media

Dawn Colclasure / 2025-04-20
Every day I keep my writing career strong by logging in to social media. I often use Facebook Messenger to communicate with other writers, but chats alone are not enough. Your Profile Just as a website must make a writer or author stand out as an authority, so must a... Read More

Writing with a Backup Reader

Alex J. Coyne / 2025-04-12
I was surprised when a copywriting client pointed out “weird phrasing and spelling mistakes” in my work, then I worried their concerns were true. Writing tired had become the norm for a while, and the stress of late nights was beginning to show. This pushed me to hire a single,... Read More

Every Word Has to Count

C. Hope Clark / 2025-04-12
A reader queried me this week, asking how to send their word to a traditional press. Big ask, because they write entire courses and books on the subject, but I tried to give them an abridged version. First, you don't send the entire manuscript. He asked if he needed a... Read More

Developing a More Efficient Submission Process

Bernadette Geyer / 2025-04-05
Last year, I realized my submission process was extremely inefficient. I'd write an essay or short story and then begin searching for somewhere to submit it. It was a time-consuming process that meant I could spend up to two hours researching markets just to submit to one or two publications.... Read More

We’re In Agreement: Understanding Different Types of Writing Contracts in Hollywood

Mark Heidelberger / 2025-03-30
Okay, so you’ve written a screenplay and are shopping it around town. What now? Well, if your work generates interest from a studio or producer, you may soon be handed one of several agreements to review. Understanding the key differences and commonalities between each one will be essential to protecting... Read More

Best Practices for Shopping Your Novel to Hollywood

Mark Heidelberger / 2025-03-30
Having your book turned into a film or series offers fans the chance to engage through a different medium, opens the work up to an entirely new audience, and creates an additional revenue stream. But how do you get your book in the hands of a Hollywood producer who can... Read More