The Critique Epiphany

I’ve written about critique groups before. But now, thanks to my recent epiphany, I have something new to say: I need to be in a critique group. Not exactly an earth-shattering epiphany, right? After all, if asked, most writers would agree that a critique group is necessary. And most of the time, we strive to find critique groups or a critique partner. But occasionally, we give up on our groups...

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8 comments Cathy C. Hall, critique groups, writing accountability, writing advice

Writing Advice: It Isn’t One Size Fits All

I love going to writer’s conferences. I always come away ready to write with ideas on how to improve my writing and market it both to potential publishers and readers. That said, I’ve learned that before I follow any of the advice that I receive at a conference, I need to test the fit. X, Y or Z might have worked perfectly well for the writer giving the advice, but that doesn’t mean it will...

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3 comments advice, advice for writers, writing advice

Friday Speak Out!: Birthday & Writing Messages

by Marcia Peterson Today is Friday Speak Out day, and it's also my birthday. Birthdays are times to reflect, dream and plan. I'll share some favorite inspirational messages that seem to fit birthdays as well as the writing life. See if any of these messages might be directed at you too!* *As a fun game, close your eyes and pick a number between one and ten right now. Then scroll/count down to...

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9 comments Friday Speak Out, writer inspiration

Write for Your Health

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Leave a Comment Elizabeth King Humphrey, health, Health Tips

Aloha Writers Retreat: Tap Into Your Naturally Creative Soul

What could be better than spending a week relaxing and writing at the beach with other like-minded writers? Doing it in Hawaii! That's what writers and workshop leaders, Dawne Knobbe and Svette Bykovec, are offering writers this fall (November 7th through 14th). As their website states, come to the Aloha Writers Retreat and "join us . . .for a unique journey into your creative soul." Dawne is...

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Leave a Comment Aloha Writers Retreat, Dawne Knobbe, get inspired, Hawaii, muse, writing retreat

Sacrifices of the Writing Life

Me at 17 I'm not sure what happened, but the time between the photo on the left and the present seems to have passed in the blink of an eye. One minute I was a senior writing essays in English class and the next I'm staring at the invite for my 20-year high school reunion. For the past few years, there's been a nagging voice in the back of my head telling me that I have yet to publish a novel...

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5 comments achieving writing goals, Renee Roberson, Writing Conferences, writing inspiration

5 Tips for Submitting Your Work: Help From an Editor

I'm a writer, as you all know. But I'm also an editor for WOW!, High Hill Press, and my freelance business. Because of this editing experience, I've learned a lot about submitting writing work, from both sides. So here are my 5 tips to follow when you're ready to submit a manuscript to a magazine, publisher, or literary agency. 1. Research the publisher, publication, or agency. ...

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3 comments basic query ideas, High Hill Press, Margo L. Dill, persistence in submitting writing, query letter tips, submission process

Friday Speak Out!: 5 Excuses Women Use Not to Write

by Lilia Fabry Oh, the horror of the blank page. There’s nothing like staring at a white document with a blinking horizontal cursor counting down the seconds until you create something to make you say, “Don’t I have a load of laundry to do?” I have many excuses to get out of writing that can be just as ridiculous as what is written. These are some of the most common: 1. “What’s with that speck...

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3 comments Friday Speak Out, Lilia Fabray, writer inspiration, writers' excuses

The Importance of Comps

The first time I heard the expression “comps” at a writer’s conference, I had no idea how important that word was. Or even what “comps” meant. That’s the way it is, when you hear a new term. Your brain doesn’t have time to stop and figure it out, especially when you’re listening intently to a speaker. But eventually, your brain skids to a halt and goes, “Wait. What?” And if you’re lucky, there’s...

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7 comments agent queries, Agents, Cathy C. Hall, Comps, Editors, marketing, writing tip

Proofreading: The Final Step

We’ve all had this experience.  You’ve just posted a blog or e-mailed a manuscript to your editor and then you look down.  Staring back up at you, waving merrily, is a typo, a punctuation error or a spelling mistake.  How is it that you can proof your work and still miss something so obvious?  Part of the problem is familiarity.  By the time you’ve been through a manuscript...

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6 comments copy errors, proofing, proofreading

Nancy Robie, Flash Fiction Runner Up, Draws From Her Family

Welcome to Nancy Robie, runner up in the Winter 2014 Flash Fiction Contest, for her entry, "Night at the Bar." You can read the winning story here. (If you are interested in flash fiction contests, enter our summer contest before 8/31 by going to this link.) Nancy lives in New Hampshire with her husband and ten-year-old Golden Retriever, Radar. She has been writing stories for as long as she...

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4 comments flash fiction runner up

Review and Giveaway of 1,001 Tips for Writers

Writer's block stinks. Like insomnia, I find that the best way to "break through" the block is to distract myself from the problem writing. Sometimes I write something completely different, sometimes I organize my desk drawers, sometimes I make lists. Let's face it, I'll try anything! But one thing that doesn't work for me is reading. Before you know it I'm lost in the book and don't even WANT to...

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8 comments giveaway, quotes, William A. Gordon, writing tips

A Lover of Editing?

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2 comments editing, editing services, Elizabeth King Humphrey