Tuesday, March 19, 2024

Seven Keys for Becoming a Successful Writer


by Dr. Katherine Hutchinson-Hayes @KHutch0767

I didn’t know what I was doing when I self-published my first book. My goal for that project was to help raise money for a family returning to the mission field in Mongolia. I thought the book was successful because I’d helped meet the intent, and the family was fully financed to live as missionaries. I had no clue about the impact of book launches, street teams, and utilizing social media to promote my book. 

I also thought it’d be easy to get an agent and have my book sold to a traditional publisher. But, when I attended a writer’s conference shortly after my book’s debut, I discovered I was wrong, and I’d done almost everything backward. A few weeks after returning home, I received a rejection letter from a well-established literary agency who’d expressed interest. The main gist of the letter was I had no platform. I still use that letter as a blueprint for becoming a successful writer. Over the years, I’ve also discovered seven fundamental keys for accomplishing this feat.

Monday, March 18, 2024

Marketing to the Agents and Traditional Editors


by Karen Whiting @KarenHWhiting

To market to agents and editors in the traditional world, be sure your book is the right fit, create a stellar proposal, produce stellar writing, and come up with some great marketing ideas. 

Sunday, March 17, 2024

Every Writer Needs a Facelift on Occasion


by Tammy Karasek @TickledPinkTam

I’m just going to say what I want to say and get it over with—writer, it’s time to clean your face. I’m not talking in the literal sense of washing your face with cleansing cream, but close to it. Hang with me a minute. Have you looked at the locations you have your bio, headshot, or about me information lately? We’re already into our 2024 writing/speaking conference season, so why not do a good clean now instead of the putting the task off? Conferees love to check out your social media and website as they plan their conferences. Make sure they are viewing the same person they will see when they look for you at a conference.

Saturday, March 16, 2024

My List of Guidelines for Writers to Live By


by Edie Melson @EdieMelson

Being a writer isn't easy. The writing life carries with it a good bit of chaos and angst. Add to that all the things writers are supposed to learn and remember and life can get crazy.

Truthfully, while there is a lot of information out there about things writers should remember and do, not all of it is good. We can find everything from hard and fast rules like, A real writer writes every day and Write what you know. Beyond that, we're often inundated with esoteric quotes and thoughts about writing and the writers life. 

To help sort through some of that, I decided to share the guidelines I’ve found most useful in my own writing journey. These won’t all be yours, but perhaps they’ll be a jumping off place. Hopefully you can use them to come up with your own writer guidelines.

Friday, March 15, 2024

How Things Have Changed Through the Decades in the World of Publishing


by Crystal Bowman

My first book was published in 1993, so I’ve been in the publishing biz for more than thirty years. Things have changed a lot, so let’s take a trip down memory lane. 

Thursday, March 14, 2024

Lucky Writer or Blessed Writer: The Adjective is Up to You


by Julie Lavender @JLavenderWrites

Four leaf clovers, lucky pennies, ladybugs, and horseshoes. How’s your luck holding out this month? Obviously for the believer, a successful writing journey requires no lucky symbols or tokens.. 

In fact, only one requirement—an abiding faith in the One who gives good gifts to His children—will lead the writer down the road to success. And keep in mind that success may look different on each writer’s journey, “for it is God who works in you to will and to act in order to fulfill his good purpose” (Philippians 2:13 NIV). 

Wednesday, March 13, 2024

A Freelance Writer's Best Tool: Interviewing Skills


by Linda Gilden @LindaGilden

One of the greatest tools we have as article writers is the interview. You do not necessarily have to do an hour-long interview to receive great benefit to your articles. Quotes from individuals strengthen your point and let your readers know that even if you are not an expert on the subject you know people who are well-versed and you work hard to make the connection.