When your publishing road is longer than planned — Finding the right balance between perseverance and practicality can be a challenge in the writing world. Many aspiring authors ask themselves whether they should query one more manuscript, opt for a hybrid publisher, self-publish, or give up altogether. And there’s no one right answer for all writers. Which is why…

Mentors can help you make magic — When writers first imagine their writing life, I’m pretty sure it’s an idyllic scene. A pot of tea, a furry familiar, a notebook with plenty of colorful pens and highlighters, and a great idea — what else could a writer need? Often the reality is a lot of time spent…

When self-publishing makes sense, do it well — In my work as a book coach, I hear from writers of all stripes and the message is consistent: it’s a tough time to be a creative person, a sensitive person, a person in general, and rejections abound. So it seems like a good time to share a success story…

Sometimes traditional publishing isn’t it… — As if writing isn’t already hard enough, finding the right home for your work can feel like a Sisyphean task. And when most writers first consider publishers, they often think of the big ones. Simon & Schuster, Hachette, Penguin Random House, Harper Collins, and MacMillan, often called “The Big Five”…

A Success Story Interview with Author Sonia Hunt — Every once in a while, you get to work with a client whose story is literally life or death. That was the case when I met author, entrepreneur, and tech marketing executive Sonia Hunt in early 2020. …

I’ve been fast drafting for ten years. I can help! — Have you ever wanted to participate in National Novel Writing Month, but didn’t know how to get started? Have you tried before and never been able to make it to the end of the month without getting frustrated or blocked? Have you participated before, but need a little boost to…

A poem of longing — This week, the world turned bitter, as if Mother Nature decided she’d given us a long enough reprieve from winter. And so she sent her sparkling frost, her freezing temperatures, a breeze sharp enough to cut through fleece and down. …

A step-by-step look at how a short story’s opening paragraph changed during revisions — Writers talk a lot about revision. “Revision is where the magic happens.” “I’m going into the revision cave.” “I revised this 852 times before publication.” But to aspiring writers who are still hoping for their first chance to work with an editor, it all sounds equal parts mysterious and daunting…

Rediscovering that buried ember in trying times — More than twenty-five years ago, three friends and I drove round and round Monument Circle in our hometown of Indianapolis, convertible top-down and music blasting. It was 1992 so the Pretty Woman soundtrack was our music of choice. Of course, it was Natalie Cole’s Wild Women Do. …