Tag: We Are Not alone

The First Step to a Quality Book–A Doubleday Editor Turned Author Speaks

Since quality is in the eye of the beholder, the first step toward achieving a quality product is understanding what the customer wants. After all, our delight or disappointment in a book is largely a matter of expectations. While as the writer you can manage those expectations, you are making a big mistake if you think you can dictate them.

BE THE WATCHDOG – SAVE THE WORLD

And independent authors aren’t any safer than their traditional counterparts. Every time a book is published, in print or in digital format, there is a contract. Some indie websites and printers refer to their contracts as “terms of service,” but terms of service are legally binding contracts too.

What to Do When Your Christmas Tree Wants a Bass Boat

Yesterday, I did an author interview (here is the link if you care to show this sweet new writer some blog love) and one of the questions was: Kristen, I have four children and a full time job to juggle alongside my writing, so I can understand how busy life gets, but you, you are …

Continue reading

A Party in Your PJs–PAJAMACON The Ultimate Writer Fantasy

All right, Valentines Day is tomorrow. The perfect gift for the writer in your life? WANACon. Perfect gift for yourself, for the LOVE of your writing? WANACon. Last week, I detailed all the wonders of this revolutionary new conference. It’s from home. No travel. No heap of extra expenses like air fare, baggage fees, taxi …

Continue reading

Enemies of the Art Part 7–Failure to Focus

There is one failing that will undermine all our efforts, the inability to focus. Years ago, I was on the debate team. I loved debate and spent hours researching, building cases, writing cases, and learning all I could to be prepared. Most of my nights were spent researching thick dusty law books in the downtown …

Continue reading