Make Time to Write . . . No Matter What

The Craft of Writing, The Writer's Life

Looking for the “perfect” time to create? Forget about it! You are always in the middle of something, so it is right in the middle of things that your creating must also happen. Never is there a moment when we aren’t “in the middle of something.” And that...

5 Secrets to Getting Indie Books into Bookstores

The Business of Writing

By Patti Brassard Jefferson Having the advantage of being both an independent author and a former bookstore owner, I am lucky to be able to see the challenges between authors and booksellers from both sides. Prepare yourself for the breaking news: It is a myth that...

Measuring Creative Worth

The Writer's Life

It is easy to fall into a trap of human material measurement when it comes to our creative work and worth. How much did that painting sell for? How many of my books were shipped out to readers today? What is my ranking on the Amazon bestseller list? The real trap...

Improve Your Writing With Beta Readers

Revising and Editing, The Business of Writing, The Craft of Writing

By Mark Wayne Adams Beta readers are non-professional readers who can provide useful feedback and suggestions for your book before you hit publish or submit your manuscript to an agent or publisher. They read a pre-release manuscript or sample book to find and improve...

Beta Readers: A Bit More

Revising and Editing, The Business of Writing, The Craft of Writing

Even after our previous post here about beta readers and the fabulous discussion on CONVERSATIONS Around the Writer’s Table with Mark Wayne Adams, some questions still linger about this topic. I also want to elaborate further on a few points. One reader/listener asked...