Archive for January 2025
Should You Pay for Classes as a Writer?
Have I paid for writing classes, webinars, etc.? Sure. But in this video, I explain why beginning writers — who typically have zero money anyway — might benefit from waiting until later to fork out cash. Watch/Subscribe Trends you might encounter As I shopped for classes that might be helpful, I quickly noticed that, as with other…
Read MoreThe National Archives Needs Cursive Readers, and Now I’m Depressed
Can you read cursive handwriting? Many people can’t now — teaching this form of penmanship has been dropped in many areas of the country, with only 24 out of the 50 states requiring schools to teach it. But is the shortage of people who can work with the style such a dying art that the…
Read MoreLead Magnet 101 for Writers
As an author, one of my biggest goals is to use a lead magnet more regularly. What? You thought lead magnets were just for big companies and brands? Lead magnets can help you at any stage of your writing career, but they’re especially important for independent authors. This video breaks down the basics. Watch/Subscribe
Read MoreThe AI Debate: Quantity Isn’t the Only Way for Creatives to Find Success
Yes, AI can help creatives crank out more work, faster. But you can find success by putting out fewer high-quality works, too. Exceptionality might be a harder path, but it’s still a valid one. That’s why I don’t believe AI will truly win out. Which would you rather take? I say this as someone who…
Read More3 Ways to Keep Your Writing Research Organized and Under Control
The original version of this post appeared June 13, 2021 in The Writing Cooperative on Medium. I’m a writer by trade. But sometimes when people ask what I do, I jokingly tell them I Google for a living, because so much of the work includes research. That’s true whether I’m writing fiction, an article, or a comment…
Read MoreHow to Find a Literary Agent
You don’t HAVE to use a traditional publisher for your book. But if you want to, getting a literary agent is a must. In this video, I break down my 10 years of querying experience into 4 basic steps. Watch/Subscribe [Transcript summary] You don’t necessarily need an agent to publish a book. But many traditional publishers only…
Read MoreGot Multiple Writing Projects? Take the Time to Do This 1 Thing
There’s tons of advice out there about how to overcome writer’s block. But what if you have so many ideas you’re overwhelmed? This video explains why making a simple list of all the projects I’ve conceptualized was a big deal. For some of you out there, making the list of writing projects can be like…
Read MoreWhen Writing Is Hard, Laugh
Lately, writing has been relatively stressful. Even if I were in a coffee shop sipping an overpriced beverage (which I’m not), other elements in my life pinch my wordsmithing sessions so that they’re not as free as I want them to be. These are the times where, as my mother likely would have said, you…
Read More