Latest posts
How I Traditionally Published Nine Novels Without an Agent
/ 2024-11-18Fact: I am a novelist and travel writer. Fact: I have published nine novels. Fact: I don’t have an agent. Fiction: The path to publication is straightforward. Imagine a labyrinth. Erase the walls. That's publishing. After my MFA program I stepped into the maze-less puzzle—lost. I queried the novel I had... Read More
Who You Write For
/ 2024-11-18Just last night, I was assisting a grandson on how to write his paper for class. It was a paper in which he was to do research, actually do an experiment, and come to a conclusion. He wrote it per guidelines. He clearly wrote it for a teacher. That opened... Read More
Love the Path You’re On
/ 2024-11-18I spoke at the Marlboro County Library in Bennettsville, SC this week. It was a two-hour drive, but hubby and I needed to get out, and I simply adore a good book club visit. I have been to a lot of book clubs. Each has its own temperament. This time,... Read More
A Smart Writer’s Smartphone
/ 2024-11-04I was asked to review a short story collection called NSFW by David Scott Hay, and in the process learned that, surprisingly, the manuscript was entirely written and edited on a smartphone. Smartphones are capable of writing and editing stories. While they’re distinctly different from computers or desktops, phones are... Read More
Titles and Headlines
/ 2024-11-04I like to scan emails on my phone, sorting and culling what I have to take action on. Then I go back to my desktop where my massive screen and lots of space makes my writing life easier to handle. What I wind up doing is deleting a lot of... Read More
Trying to Keep Up
/ 2024-11-01The great thing about the Internet is the wealth of information that teaches us about writing and publishing. That's also the worst thing about the Internet, because you become inundated with the latest and greatest advice. About the time you feel you have grasp how to accomplish or succeed in... Read More
When Snafus Happen
/ 2024-11-01While at my annual Edisto Beach retreat recently, partially to work and partially to get away, I picked up the local newspaper. It's published monthly and is sort of informative, sort of gossipy, and partially public service announcements. It provides me a flavor of the beach and its people, though,... Read More
Let’s Talk about a Legal Transcription
/ 2024-11-01What does it take to become a scopist (legal proofreader) and transcriptionist? I’ve worked for legal agencies and registered court reporters -- and with training, so could you. Legal transcription is technical and detailed, however, also lucrative as a part-time income or career. What a scopist does Scopists work with court... Read More
Writing Historical Nonfiction for Profit
/ 2024-10-15Since the popularity of DNA testing, millions of people have sought information about their ancestors. However, not everyone wants to do the research or write about their family history once uncovered. This opens a huge market for those who enjoy looking for dead people and an opportunity to turn a... Read More
(Writing) True Crime Pays
/ 2024-10-15True crime is an interesting topic, and the niche is more multifaceted than a diamond. Authors with a knack for research and interviewing could make this genre their best friend. I’ve written about crime scene cleaning and true crimes, interviewed reformed criminals, and learned about law. Here’s how (writing) true... Read More
