Where Normal Need Not Apply
Disclaimer: I love Maureen Johnson’s “I am not a brand” manifesto down to the last punctuation mark. That’s not the approach to branding I’m talking about. An author’s brand isn’t about selling. It’s about recognizing that what we say and how we act affects what others think of us. It’s about then […]
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How were your holidays? Was Santa good to you? I got a Kindle and quality time with my family, so short of getting an agent and book contract, my Christmas couldn’t have been any better. As I mentioned last time, whether or not we’re disappointed often depends on what we’re […]
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Should authors blog? We’ve all seen this question in some form or another. Some wonder if agents expect it. (Not yet but close.) Others want to know if it will help build that elusive platform. (It can.) But I propose another reason to blog: training your muse. My regular readers […]
In my last post, we had a lively discussion in the comments that prompted me to think about things authors do to trick readers. Some of these are good and some of them I call “cheap author tricks”. What makes the difference? Whether or not the trick is faked. We […]
Recently, two best-selling authors have insisted that they don’t write romance novels. In fact, they both acted like romance novels were beneath them. No, they’re writing more important stories about life and death and war and taxes. Well, maybe not the taxes part. Why all the hating on romance novels? […]
My blog-home-away-home, Edittorrent, had another thought-provoking post yesterday. You really should go read it, but if you don’t have the time, their point boils down to this: Know what will make you feel like a success as a writer. I think this same idea can apply to just about anyone—not […]
A quick note: Today’s the last day to leave a comment on my contest post to win a free book from the RWA registration bags. The deadline to enter is midnight, August 16th. Last week, a friend of mine, Simon C. Larter, interviewed Victoria Mixon, a freelance editor. He asked […]
I’ve now recovered enough from the RWA National Conference to talk about my experience. *takes deep breath* Er, or not… The word “overwhelming” was invented for experiences like this. I can try to describe it, but I fear I’ll run out of words (a horrifying thought for a writer!). It […]
I leave today for the RWA National Conference in Florida. After weeks of planning, shopping, and packing, and after spending way too much money on airfare and a new wardrobe (my usual Arizona t-shirt and shorts wouldn’t cut it at a professional conference), I find myself wondering if it’s all […]
