Over the past few years of reading about writing, taking courses, and a mentorship, and actually writing, I’ve been given a ton of advice…about writing. Here are the most useful tips I’ve received so far. I really wish I could attribute more than one of these, but I’ve heard them…
This morning I found myself thinking about titles in the book industry. When are you a writer? When are you an author? Are you a writer when you decide you are? Are you an author once you self-publish or once someone decides to publish your work for you? I admit…
Ever wonder how much editing costs? The cost of editing is by far the question authors ask me about most often. I feel a little like I’m giving away a trade secret by talking about this, but in reality, the average cost of editing can be found on many sites,…
I would love to complete a MFA (Master of Fine Arts). I’ve heard both the good and the bad about aspiring writers pursuing an MFA, but that hasn’t dissuaded me. What has dissuaded me is the cost and the time. I was recently chatting with a writing friend who is working away at her MFA.…
While reading a recent blog post by Penelope Trunk, I found my way to this article from Forbes: 3 Reasons You Should Quit Social Media in 2013. It was a relief. Here’s my dirty secret: I’ve wanted to quit social media for months. I’ve been thinking lately about the value…
I started writing in a journal when I was in grade 3. One of my teachers took my parents aside on parent-teacher night and suggested that they get me a notebook so I could write my ideas down. I think this came about because I wasn’t paying attention in math…
What’s the best way to get 3 full days of advice on writing, publishing and promoting for $65? Attend the When Words Collide Conference for writers and readers in Calgary, Alberta! I attended When Words Collide (WWC for short) last year. It was my first-ever writers’ conference, and I was…
How to Get Feedback on Your Writing Have you ever sought out feedback on your writing? While asking for feedback can be scary, in my experience, it’s almost always helpful, especially if you get feedback from the right person. Getting feedback is one of the fastest ways to improve your…
I’ve always had a tenuous relationship with Facebook. I’ve deleted my account three times now (double-tap, fully deleted), and if you ask me if I like Facebook on any given day, I’ll tell you “No,” without hesitation. Why this hate of Facebook? Their ever-shifting security policies terrify me. But, despite…
Welcome to Part 3 of my 4-part series about fighting back against spam! If you missed the previous two parts in this Tips for Fighting Spam Series, you can view them using the links at the bottom of this post. How to Keep Your Twitter Account Safe: Twitter is…