Tag: getting published
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What an Editor Really Does — and Why You Need One
I first met Anita when she worked with my literary agent, Kristin Nelson. Anita is a freelance editor who helps writers bring out the very best in their novels. She was kind enough to share her editing insights, including why you should never let a rejection letter get you down, and why joining a critique…
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6 Secrets of Successful Critique Groups
Critique groups: best thing ever for writers? Or soul-crushing pits of despair? Here are my 6 secrets for spotting a top-notch critique group — or assembling your own. Connect with other writers and get the feedback you need to finish your book, publish it, and write the next one. Everything you need to know from…
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My Dinner with Satan
I recently discovered, much to my dismay, that I had eaten Satan for dinner. This is a true story. Allow me to explain. In the midst of a snowstorm, my wife and I decided to try a new restaurant. We ended up at a brightly lit, very mod, hipster-friendly place that put an emphasis on…
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Defrag Your Writer Brain in 3 Easy Steps
If you’re like me, ideas swirl around you all the time — stories, characters, settings, dialogue, and so on. It sticks in your brain, so you write it down. Before long, you have so many scraps of paper around you that a single gust of wind could turn you into a human snow globe. This…
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Nail Your Genre in 3 Easy Steps
Last week, I talked about how you can write a novel in any genre, as long as you know exactly what that genre is. And believe me, you desperately need to define your book’s genre. As promised, here’s a nuts and bolts plan that shows you how to do it, in three outrageously simple steps:…
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Rocky Mountain Fiction Writers, Now Featuring Yours Truly
If you’re a Colorado writer, you owe it to yourself to check out Rocky Mountain Fiction Writers, a source of news, inspiration, critique groups, conferences and the occasional bestselling author. Editor extraordinaire Carly Willis puts together an excellent newsletter every month. If you’re a member (or thinking of becoming one), check out the March newsletter,…
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Literary Agents, Editors and You, at the Brenda Novak Diabetes Fundraiser
This is a great charity event! I’ve been wanting to donate to this for years. (True story: back when I worked at a book distributor, there were two pallets of Nora Roberts and Iris Johansen paperbacks I was almost able to donate, but then there was an unfortunate incident involving a blizzard, an aging forklift…
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What Kind of Writer Are You? Find Out!
Writers generally fall into three camps: hobbyists, aspiring professionals and working pros. The difference is not so much about your writing skills or experience as it is about your goals. A hobby writer just wants to have fun with writing. You know what I mean: get together with friends, talk about inspiration, maybe write a…
LAURENCE MACNAUGHTON 