Write When You Mean It
These days, writers are advised to have a social media presence -- tools like Instagram or Threads don't have to be the only place we are, but the mantra is that writers need to be...
Why You Need to Schedule Time to Do Nothing on Your Book
You can't dilly-dally these days as an author. Time to market matters more than ever if you want your writing to bring in an income that's viable enough to cover your bills. But if you...
Why I Can’t Support (Most) Writing NDAs Anymore
Over my 20 years as a writer, I've dealt with my fair share of contracts, most of which are garden variety fare laying out the scope of the project and the terms for compensation. But...
If You Want Readers to Follow You, Stop Posting (So Much)
For a while now, I've maintained three different publication branches -- Takingdictation (my business), Faithful on the Clock (my faith-based podcast), and Unstealing Joy (my trauma recovery work). Having multiple irons in the fire means...
Why You Should NOT Abandon Your Author Website
If you missed the memo, most writers aren't rolling in cash. We have to be selective about the tools we invest in for our craft, and we watch the inflation on those tools carefully. So,...
Writing, Mornings, and Your Email
Like a lot of other writers, I start work super early in the morning. This isn't because productivity gurus have gotten in my head about how the wee hours having some kind of magical secret....
Lean Writing Is Not the Point: Using the Goldilocks Approach for Drafting
More and more, I see an emphasis among both editors and writers alike on keeping drafts lean. The basic ideas are that leanness somehow proves control of skill, and that leanness accommodates the short attention...
How Attachment Theory Can Power Character Development in Fiction
For the past few years, I've been diving deep into psychology. I don't plan to ever be a licensed professional in that field, but I've been serious about in the context of understanding myself and...
