When a Writing Assignment Changed the World

by Lucinda Secrest McDowell @LucindaSMcDowel

As the end of the year draws to a close, perhaps you are thinking about your writing life. Specifically, what you didn’t write this year. That lead or request you never pursued. That idea you failed to give attention and care, so it just sort of fizzled…

Friend, this year is done. It’s time to move on. We are given a fresh start in 2019. The question is, what will we do with these blank pages of days?

Marketing Poetry

by Karen Whiting @KarenHWhiting

Poetry often evokes emotions and that’s what grabs people, so make sure your marketing connects emotionally.

Create saleable materials to accompany your book such as greeting cards, pass it on message cards, and wall hangings. Use lines from your books or your reader’s favorite poem. Sell them at your book table. These are particularly popular if you write poetry on grief or encouragement and offer words for people who don’t know what to say to loved ones struggling emotionally.

Writers, Use Your Words Well

by Tammy Karasek @TickledPinkTam

As writers, we have the opportunity to share a message for any who would come across the words we’ve tapped out on the keys. Whether a blog post or a book, our written words can be read by somebody, somewhere over and over and at any time. With this opportunity also comes the responsibility of what words we share. 

Playing It Safe Can Sabotage Your Mission as a Writer

by Emme Gannon @GannonEmme

When I first started writing, I played it safe. Made sure my words didn’t offend. One size fits all. Everyone goes away happy. Emotions unstirred. Beliefs unchallenged. My readers unchanged. The desire to be liked and accepted spread mediocrity over my writing, stripping it of its power to change the hearts of my readers.  

Writer's Corner - Those D Words: Disclaimers and Defamation

by Marcia Moston @MarciaMoston

A disclaimer: Growing up, I wanted to be an archeologist, astronomer and missionary doctor. The latter ambition lasted through two years of pre-med until a meltdown in a chemistry exam ended it. Among other pursuits, I’ve couriered architectural blueprints from one city office to another, hung telephone directories on doorknobs, filled vending machines, written a book, and taught. But never once did I consider being lawyer. So don’t construe the following as legal advice. It is simply intended to raise points of consideration, because whether we write fiction or nonfiction, facts or fabrications, we write about people. And some may not like what we have to say.

Hard Choices ALL Writers Must Make

By Edie Melson  @EdieMelson

True confession time.

Writing is both the thing I love best and the thing I hate most.

When the words flow, it’s heaven on earth. When they stutter to a halt, the opposite is true. And the truth is, both of these circumstances are a regular part of the writer’s life.

When an Author Should Seek Permission for Quotes

by Linda Gilden @LindaGilden

One of the backbones of nonfiction writing is research. For some of us that is the most fun part. For others, the additional record keeping and notations are a nuisance and often done poorly or not at all. For all of us, good notes are a necessity to properly get permissions, cite sources, and stay within the confines of the literary law.