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According to a 2022 article in Publishers Weekly, “shivery tales are proliferating.” Middle grade horror stories are having a moment, and for good reason. These books can do both things a great kids book sets out to do: entertain and enlighten. Horror stories keep kids engaged and turning the page. R.L. Stein, the king of middle grade […]

Well known mystery/suspense author Lee Goldberg received a call recently from a gentleman professing to be with a literary agency. He and his organization would assist him in getting his book promoted at the Los Angeles Festival of Books. Mr. Goldberg recorded the conversation and you’ll enjoy listening to this renown traditionally published author mess […]

Congratulations on your endeavors, authors. You are part of an elite group of caring individuals. You care for your words, characters, worlds, and subjects. Yet, caring for your computers? Not so much. I read too many complaints in writing groups that go something like this: “My computer is slower than a sloth working a fast-food […]

Last week, in mentioning my hardline distain for AI in the creative universe, someone labeled me naïve in thinking AI wasn’t here to stay, mentioning technology. Admittedly, AI already has been in existence for a few years in that department, but now it’s crossing into creativity, and that’s utterly insulting. In my not-so-humble opinion. it […]

We all want to write that perfect script. One that will blow the reader’s mind and convince a producer to shovel copious amounts of money into our creation (but only once the strike finishes, of course). Unfortunately, this is much easier said than done, as the majority of screenplays fall well short of perfection. I’ve […]

When we start anything in our lives, we stumble through it. Yet, for some reason, we don’t want people to know that we are stumbling. In fact, everyone in the world is stumbling through their lives, because the only way to grow is to proceed through trial and error, and you know what? We haven’t […]

Writers who know the nuances of WordPress can manage their own websites better — and be of more help to their clients by mastering WordPress as an extra skill. WordPress.com and .org As much as 40% or more of the internet uses WordPress to post blogs, manage websites, and create content. Learn this skill, and you can […]

As I tried to explain last week, pitches must be smart and cater to the needs of the editor and their publication first and foremost. Again, in my researching markets, I came across a guidelines page with great advice. Climate Change News posts detailed and informative guidelines at https://www.climatechangenews.com/write-for-us. In your pitch, explain: What is new? Whether your […]

I’ve had more than twenty surgeries from my eyes to feet, and my health has become accepted as one part of my writing journey. Ehlers-Danlos Syndromes (EDS) is a manageable group of connective-tissue conditions — shared by others like actress Jameela Jamil. It hasn’t slowed the writing journey down. Actually, it’s helped! Here’s how surgeries […]

A lot of freelancers make the mistake of thinking that the publication they are pitching wants to know more about the writer than the topic being pitched. Please, understand that most publications are most interested in a quality subject that strongly pertains to their readers. Who you are matters little unless you are an expert […]

Rates are perhaps one of the most important considerations in freelance writing, yet authors seldom dare to adjust them or discuss them thoroughly. A writers’ rates are their income, and usually their food budget and rent. Here’s how to secure a better future . Rates and what’s fair Households have inflation and ‘bad months’, and […]

Right now I am reading The Idea: The Seven Elements of a Viable Story for Screen, Stage or Fiction, by Erik Bork. I don’t read many how-to writing books, but this one was a gift, and I decided to give it a go before deciding against it. I love it. It’s basic, understandable, with loads of […]