“The virus lurks, undetectable without a swab.” ~~Jill Witty 2020 Flash Prose Contest: The New Normal Thanks to those of you who submitted to Writer Advice’s Flash Prose Contest. There are many e-zines seeking pieces about COVID-19, Black Lives Matter, John Lewis, RBG, Presidential Debates, and the other ongoing stories of 2020. If we’re
Read MoreWinter 2021 ~~Writing Advice
“Take a risk. Meet the characters inside yourself.” ~~B. Lynn Goodwin– used in a brochure for a class she used to teach called A is for Acting. Why Enter Writing Contests? You polish your writing, imagining your audience. You read it over. Out loud. Does it say exactly what you want it to say?
Read MoreWinter 2021 ~~ Contests and Markets
“Thanks for uplifting everyone’s morale, for pushing the boundaries and lifting everyone during the difficult times. You are an excellent writer.” ~~Anonymous Contests and Markets to Start 2021 New Policy: During the last quarter I kept adding opportunities—especially in November and a few times in December. I plan to keep doing that and
Read MoreWinter 2021 ~~ Hooked on Terrific Books
“There is no past; there are just versions of the past.” ~~Andre Aciman NOTE: If you’d like to write short reviews (350-500 words) for Writer Advice, please send a query and a sample of a review you are proud of. 🙏 REAL WOMEN WRITE: Living on COVID Time Edited by Susan F. Schoch
Read MoreWinter 2021 ~~ Contests and Markets
“Close the door. Write with no one looking over your shoulder. Don’t try to figure out what other people want to hear from you; figure out what you have to say. It’s the one and only thing you have to offer.” ~ Barbara Kingsolver Contests and Markets to Start 2021 New Policy: During the last
Read MoreWinter 2021 — Interviews
“Isolation isn’t an excuse to give up.” ~~Carolyn Howard Johnson “Be generous to others and it will come back to you.” ~~ B. Lynn Goodwin “Whenever I try to engineer a story too much, it ends up feeling forced and obvious.” –Eliza Jane Brazier Note: More interviews coming soon. Another Project,
Read MoreWinter 2021 ~~ Marketing in the Time of COVID
“Life is about success, not perfection…and so is marketing.” – Rob Eagar Marketing During the Time of COVID Many authors are turning to social media to boost their sales. Amazon sales are up for many books. So are Barnes and Noble. Bookshop.org will post your books and you can become a partner there. Use Goodreads
Read More2020 Summer Flash Fiction Contest
First Place: The Dog Dies By Katie Broyhill “Sit,” I said. No response — but he was deaf. “Buckley,” I said. “Sit.” He sat, narrating his efforts with an accomplished huff. Stiff hips, you know, he seemed to say. I raised the gun, looking down at him through the sight. He blinked slowly back
Read MoreFall 2020 Author Interviews
“We tell stories in order to live.” ~~Joan Didion “Isolation isn’t an excuse to give up.” ~~Carolyn Howard Johnson Promotion, Promotion An inteview with Carolyn Howard-Johnson by B. Lynn Goodwin Carolyn Howard-Johnson brings her experience as a publicist, journalist, marketer, and retailer to the advice she gives in her HowToDoItFrugally series
Read MoreFall 2020 Contests and Markets
“A good [short story] would take me out of myself and then stuff me back in, outsized, now, and uneasy with the fit.” ~ David Sedaris Contests For Those Who Write Short Open at Winning Writers, co-sponsored by Duotrope WERGLE FLOMP HUMOR POETRY CONTEST – NO FEE Free to enter, $3,500 in prizes, including a
Read MoreFall 2020 Marketing Advice
“My mom and dad were actors when they were younger and had a horrible experience of it. My dad became a literary agent and my mom a casting director.” ~~Daniel Radcliffe, aka Harry Potter Can’t find an agent? Don’t want to work with one? Try these companies found on Author’s Publish, https://www.authorspublish.com/ten-respected-publishers-that-accept-unsolicited-submissions/. Thank you
Read MoreFall 2020 Hooked on Wonderful Books
“Until I feared I would lose it, I never loved to read. One does not love breathing.” ~~ Harper Lee NOTE: If you’d like to write short reviews (350-500 words) for Writer Advice, please send a query and a sample of a review you are proud of. 🙏 BEGINNING WITH CANNONBALLS: A Novel Written by Jill
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