While researching for an article, I came across a quote from Proverbs 31:15: “She gives portions to her servant girls.” The context was a wise woman looking after her household and business. Two questions came to mind. Who’s on my writing team? How are they rewarded? As I considered the answers, I knew it […]
Becoming a Teacher/Author: Not a Typical Career
/ 2021-06-12I always wanted to be a teacher or a writer writing the great American novel or seeing my byline in magazines seemed like a dream job to me. But, because I also wanted stability, I became a teacher. And I loved it. Unfortunately, like 45 percent of teachers, I left the job. In my case, […]
How to Create a Portfolio from Scratch
/ 2021-04-26After I decided to stop practicing law and try something new, I discovered the world of freelance writing but did not know how to start this new career path. I didn’t have a portfolio, a journalism degree, contacts, or experience with non-legal writing. My lack of a portfolio was my biggest obstacle. Publications often required […]
They Ought to Like Me
/ 2021-04-26A woman posted on a Facebook group recently how insulted she was that some of her friends and family do not appreciate that she writes romance. She commenced to explain why she wrote it and loved it and how it was the largest selling genre, therefore, it deserved respect. Others on the group echoed her […]
Five Wisdoms About the Middle Grade Market
/ 2021-02-05When approaching a new market, the more familiar you are with the particularities of that market, the greater your chances of success. Writing for middle grade readers is no exception – this market has its own nuances and best practices just like any other. If, like so many of us, you are interested in writing […]
You Cannot Write for Everyone
/ 2020-09-05If you sit down in a pizza place and order sushi, neither you nor the manager will be happy. The manager hasn’t served your needs, and you stay hungry. . . unless you decide to settle for pizza. But what are the odds that your craving for sushi will be satisfied with pepperoni and cheese? […]
Reading Aloud Can Pay Off – Literally
/ 2019-08-22Are you a writer who studied acting? Learned vocal techniques that enhance projection, enunciation, and relaxation? Have you practiced dance or movement? Become an experienced public speaker? Any of these skills can translate into a revenue stream for writers. Twenty-five years ago, in New York City, I enrolled in acting school. One of my reasons […]
10 Ways to Blog Your Book to Increase Sales Without Being Pushy or Annoying (Part 1)
/ 2019-05-04A lot of people think that once a book is written, the work is done. Often times, especially if you are a self-published author, the work is just beginning. After the brainstorming and drafting, writing and revising, editing and publishing comes the… selling. There are only so many times you can say, buy my book! […]
Cashing in on Local Copywriting Gigs
/ 2018-12-29When I began freelancing over a decade ago, I greatly enjoyed the challenge of pitching and achieving payment for writing magazine articles. But since the assignments weren’t easy to come by and patience is not one of my top virtues, I decided I’d rather target copywriting opportunities in my own backyard. My first step was […]
Platform – It’s About Making Friends
/ 2018-08-11Who you know and how far you can reach. That’s pretty much the definition of platform. But so many people are writing that the competition is fierce. And there’s so much competition for entertainment that books aren’t everyone’s first choice. Which means putting a book on Amazon will not sell it. Someone told me their […]
The Wrong Bio
/ 2017-05-30A gentleman at a conference came up to me and asked how he was supposed to include a bio in his query letter to literary agents when he had not published. He had a couple of stories in anthologies, and his day job had nothing to do with his writing. He kept catching himself making […]