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Writers want their work to be successful, and most measure success by copies sold or when they become a bestseller or famous. But success can be so much more. Writing Tip for Today: What are some ways that your writing can be a success? First Bylines For new writers, a first byline can prove that […]
I was invited to attend an online writer’s group who meet to discuss their work. I haven’t yet attended, but I wonder how these online writers live through feedback. Writing Tip for Today: While you’re chasing publication, what are some ways to take criticism and live through the feedback? Group Dynamics If you belong to […]
Today I’m looking back–my husband and I would have been married for forty-seven years. But time marches forward. For a lot of writers, the new year brings on vows to reenergize and recommit to the writing life. Writing Tip for Today: Writing is a little like acting—you step away for ten minutes and the fans […]
When you’re seeking feedback from a writing or critique group, what should you look for? Writing Tip for Today: Here are a few tips on feedback from your crit or writing group: The Basics As a writing coach, I’ve helped with several genres, from nonfiction to memoir to thrillers and historical fiction. As a reader, […]
The manuscript you’ve been writing your heart out on gets to the feedback stage. How can you decide what to use and what to lose? Writing Tip for Today: Whether you seek feedback from a pro, your fellow crit groupies or your Aunt Edna the English teacher, here are some tips for deciding which suggestions […]
Last post, we talked about beta readers, people who preview your manuscript. Let’s continue the conversation—who to ask, when to ask and what to expect from a beta reader. Writing Tip for Today: Who makes a good beta reader? When should you find one? And what should you expect? Readers v. Writers Some authors use […]
We hear a lot about beta readers these days—those whom we seek out to test our writing’s effectiveness. Here are three tips for finding good beta readers. Writing Tip for Today: How can we locate beta readers and what should we expect? Ready for Primetime Before you approach a potential beta reader for your work, […]
Last post, we discussed the idea of author branding. Most writers are more concerned with just getting published. Writing Tip for Today: What are some ways newer writers can achieve publication? Practice and Feedback Although I didn’t love the first few years of writing for publication, I now understand how vital all that practice writing […]
Last post we talked about feedback and when to accept or reject suggestions for editing. As one commenter pointed out, feedback gets easier to discern when you have a solid critique group. Writing Tip for Today: What should writers focus on when giving or receiving feedback in a critique group? When you listen to a […]
Writers everywhere hear the sage advice to grow “thick skin.” If you can’t abide rejection, others tearing apart your work or hearing that your baby is ugly, find another occupation. Yet as you grow into your writing life, it’s also important to learn when to take feedback to heart and when to kick it to […]