Recently read an incredible piece on balancing work and life. We all know about it, and we all realize balance is necessary for a happy life. But I don’t think anyone really understands what that means. How much leisure do you need compared to work hours, and what defines work? What defines leisure? Work is effort […]
Sensitivity Reading as a Business
/ 2021-10-14Crave a change-of-pace that pays you and helps your fellow authors produce high-quality narratives? As a member of a marginalized community, consider sensitivity reading for that marginalization. A sensitivity reader “reviews unpublished manuscripts to spot cultural inaccuracy, representation issues, bias, stereotypes, or problematic language.” (Reedsy) The ranks of sensitivity readers include beta readers, writers, and editors, and their […]
On Writing
/ 2021-10-14I’m not a big audiobook listener. As a fast reader, I can race through print so much faster. However, with a few credits on Audible, I decided to give Stephen King’s On Writing a reread, so to speak. I’d forgotten how good that book was. King gives you permission to be a writer without instilling false hope […]
Ghostwriting: A Growth Market
/ 2021-09-24Ebooks have radically transformed the publishing world—by taking it back in time. After World War II, as the economy boomed and wartime restrictions on paper ended, publishers discovered a hungry market for inexpensive books. The mass market paperback was born. They were available everywhere—not just in bookstores but on spinner racks in drugstores, supermarkets, even […]
It Is So Easy to Feel Left Behind
/ 2021-09-24I just finished reading an issue of The Hot Sheet, founded by writing and publishing industry guru Jane Friedman. I’m no dummy, and I like to keep up with at least some of the advances in my profession. The Hot Sheet is the most energetic, thorough, and comprehensive of any publication in the business, and I highly […]
How Writers Can Gain Visibility and Find Opportunities on the HARO Platform
/ 2021-09-24Any writer who hasn’t yet heard of the Help a Reporter Out (HARO) platform may be missing out on important opportunities. The site connects writers with sources, and it’s used by journalists, freelancers, and book authors alike. Public relations professionals use the platform to find outlets where they can potentially gain visibility for clients by contributing insights […]
Writer on Fire
/ 2021-09-24Writers love to write. Some want to tell stories. Some want to tell THEIR stories. Some want to reach out and spread their stories around the world. Some want either to make money or not write. Some write whether the stories sell or not. There are so many types of writers, with so many nuances […]
Wayne’s Extra Rich Chocolate Cake
/ 2021-08-27Wayne’s Extra Rich Chocolate Cake 2 cups AP flour 2 cups sugar ¾ tsp baking soda ½ tsp salt ½ tsp cinnamon 1 cup water ½ cup vegetable oil ¼ cup butter 3 Tbsp cocoa 2 large eggs ½ cup buttermilk 1 ½ tsp vanilla extract ¼ cup strong brewed coffee Stir first […]
A Different Reason to Enter Contests
/ 2021-04-03When I started writing seriously, I had a novel in mind. This was way before FundsforWriters. I spent two years working on that novel concept, after work, on weekends, and between hockey practices with my sons. But I was afraid of sending it to publishers and agents, for fear of rejection. My mother, of all […]