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I 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 very effective tools when used […]

I 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 email on the fly, with […]

The 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 an aspect of the business, […]

While 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, I’ve learned I have to […]

What 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 reporters and judicial services, turning raw […]

Since 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 hobby into a paying gig. […]

True 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 crime pays. Crime Scene Cleaning: […]

In 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 reading two of them, so […]

Did 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 see, I have bipolar disorder. […]

I 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 the essay from my documents. […]

When 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 someone else got, or to […]

Formal 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 online – often internationally. Find […]