Freelance Writing: Think Like an Editor, Sell Like a Pro

Business of Writing, Writing Tips

By Jennifer Brown Banks, @jenpens2

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There’s great truth to the expression, “You should walk a mile in someone else’s shoes to understand them.” Which is why I’m very fortunate, that when it comes to the field of writing, these stilettos have covered much territory.

In my journey of more than a decade, I have served as a relationship columnist, a ghost writer, professional blogger, and a reviewer. I have penned pieces for digital publications, and for popular print glossies too. Many of which you’ve likely read.

But, what has probably enhanced my creative career the most, was my role as a senior editor of a regional publication, a few years ago.Continue reading

Twitterific Writing Links

Twitterific

by Elizabeth S. Craig, @elizabethscraigBlog

Twitterific links are fed into the Writer’s Knowledge Base search engine(developed by writer and software engineer Mike Fleming) which has over 23,000 free articles on writing related topics. It’s the search engine for writers.

Americans can get confused writing for Canadians, unless they write in French: http://ow.ly/uOIGM @mnmarcus

5 Things a Writer’s Yoga Practice has Brought to Her Writing Practice: http://ow.ly/uOHfa @elephantjournal @KimHaasWritesContinue reading

When an Unreliable Narrator Needs a Little Help

Uncategorized, Writing Tips

by Deborah Nam-Krane, @dnkboston

It took me almost six years to publish my series The New Pioneers, even though I had four completed novels. Part of my delay was that it takes a number of chances. At its heart, it’s romance with chick lit elements. However, each novel has its own special character to reflect that story’s heroine. Thus far, The Smartest Girl in the Room has explored Emily’s coming-of-age and The Family You Choose has uncovered the dark family secrets that haunted Miranda. Harel. But Jessie Bartolome’s story, The China Doll, is where I’m taking the biggest risk.  While The Family You Choose reveals a secret you didn’t realize was there until the very end, it’s clear from the outset that The China Doll is a mystery with a capital M.

I’m pretty confident my readers can handle the genre-tweak; it’s the main character that made me nervous.Continue reading

Must a Writer Go Hybrid for a Higher Income?

Business of Writing, Publishing Changes, Uncategorized

By Elizabeth S. Craig, @elizabethscraig

I’ve been hearing a lot lately about author earnings—self-published, traditionally published, and earnings from what writer Bob Mayer coined “hybrid writers.” I think that the chart that started it all (and the report’s data has since been questioned by a variety of writers, notably Hugh Howey), is this one from Digital Book World’s Dana Beth Weinberg last December:

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Hybrid writers do come out pretty well on the chart.  And I’ve seen similar data on various other charts I’ve seen.

I worry about this.  Being a hybrid writer has worked for me…so far.  It’s a good gig…if you can get it.  But I feel like things are shifting a little bit already (as it always seems to in this business).Continue reading

Tips for Taking Your Reader on a Road Trip

Writing Tips

By Elizabeth S. Craig, @elizabethscraigfile1661238517583

There are many things that I really like about writing series.  For one, readers seem to love them.  I think that’s because they have more of an opportunity to really get to know the characters and become invested in them.  They also enjoy becoming part of a familiar world…the setting we’ve created in our books.

As a writer, I like series because they’re much easier for me to write.  I establish my regular characters, create a world, and then come up with fresh adventures in each book.Continue reading

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