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
I cannot say this enough. Do not rush publication. Do not rush editing. Be willing to let someone rip you up with edits, then study hard what they had to say. Because when you have this fantastic story, then shortcut putting it together, you handicap yourself when it comes to sales, and you forever ruin a story that might need telling. The average reader might not instantly recognize what makes a book difficult to read because they aren't in the business. But they can definitely quit reading, tell others how bad the book was, and remember what author not to read again in the future.
Latest posts
Writing Historical Nonfiction for Profit
Bobbie Smith Bryant / 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
Alex J. Coyne / 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
Don’t Hurry Your Writing
C. Hope Clark / 2024-10-15In the last three weeks, I've been asked to look at four books that came with great story ideas and very nice premises. The covers immediately hollered self-publishing, but, hey, there's great writing in self-published books. I gave up that prejudice a long time ago. Truth be told, I'm still... Read More
Grants for Neurodivergent Individuals
Rich Scott Keller / 2024-09-20Did you know there are grant opportunities for those with disabilities, including those in the neurodivergent community? One came from my home state, Colorado, through the Division of Vocational Rehabilitation (DVR). After years of struggle as an independent author, a glimmer of hope emerged when I learned about the DVR grant. You... Read More
Saving Your Writing Can Pay Off
Gary Sprague / 2024-09-16I was in my forties when I started a new career in writing, and it took me a little while to realize the importance of saving everything. My first published piece was a 900-word essay for a publication called the Dana Literary Society. I proudly saved the link but deleted... Read More
Looking Forward, Not Behind
C. Hope Clark / 2024-09-16When we feel things aren't fair, when we feel someone got a step up that we deserved, when we feel we write better than someone else yet they got published, we stand at a crossroad. At that point, we have a decision to make. To feel we should get what... Read More
Hybrid Writing Groups and What to Do with Them
Alex J. Coyne / 2024-09-06Formal and informal writing groups have been around for hundreds of years. Hybrid authors clubs are newer, rising in the 2000s and are becoming a staple of how authors connect with professionals and readers today. “Hybrid” writing groups exist IRL (or in real life), but also connect with other communities... Read More
How to Publish
C. Hope Clark / 2024-09-06I make a point of walking up to an author's table and talking to them, often buying their book. Having spent many an hour in their shoes, I understand the difficulty of sitting there (they ought to be standing, but that's another article). Invariably, I'll look at the book, and... Read More
Novel Writing and Word Processor Software
Alex J. Coyne / 2024-08-25Novel writing software and word processors are faster, fancier, and more feature-filled than your old typewriter. However, are they any better than your old word processor for getting jobs done? Here’s a look at various writing software, what they cost, and how they work. Scrivener Scrivener gets rave reviews, and... Read More
Keep or Throw Away?
C. Hope Clark / 2024-08-25Many writers are afraid to throw away work. It could be something they can't seem to sell, or it could be the original version of a chapter rewritten. It could be that perfect sentence that someone told you to cut out, that you can't see to let loose of. It... Read More