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Finding Your Rhythm in Your Writing

It doesn’t matter if you’re dealing with the posts hitting your social media feed or classic authors like Hemingway — everybody’s got their own voice that helps them stand out. Broadly, your voice in your...

Your Nonfiction Idea Is Good, But Your Social Media Following Needs to Be Better

It happened to me again. A rejection from a literary agent. I'm used to those by now. I have hundreds. But this rejection was the second in a single week that held the same rationale....
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Books Are More Than Loss Leads

Do you see it, too? More and more experts, all recommending writing books as loss leads. The basic idea comes from the reality that most books don't make a ton of money. Many authors only...

Lack of Immediate Recognition Doesn’t Mean No Value

Over the past year (and especially over the past several months), I've been seriously questioning how to move forward with my writing career: Do I stick with social media, or focus on books? Posting online...

How to Make Your Writing Sound More Conversational

If writers want to do anything, it's to connect with and intimately engage their readers. They want to give people the gifts of escapism, inspiration, or education and make them feel deep things. So, why...
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Are You Forgetting Your Storytelling?

You have expertise. You put it in a listicle format so it's easy for people to digest. Nobody reads. Why? Tony Tran on Unsplash Because you're probably treating your bullet points or sections like encyclopedia entries. You...

Why Writers and Other Creatives Need to Be Careful When Told to “Add Value”

When you hear "add value," you probably know it's meant to encourage the idea of good, attractive service. But for writers and other creatives, the whole idea might need some danger flares. This video gives...

Why You Need a Writer AND an Editor

Editing. Writing. Same thing, right? Nooooooo! If you're considering having someone help you put together a book, you will need to hire BOTH a writer AND an editor. As this video explains, the skills they...

Is Allowing Your Book to Be Adapted for Film Worth It?

A while back, I was all about the Outlander series, which is based on the books by Diana Gabaldon. The episodes felt paced well, had good intrigue and suspense, and appealed to my period-loving heart....

The Key Element That Makes a Great First Line

Whether you're writing the next 1984 or conjuring a regency proposal a la Bridgerton, a great opening will make or break your fiction book.  But how do you really hook a reader? Ekaterina79 from Getty Images Signature...