“I don’t need an alarm clock. My ideas wake me.” —Ray Bradbury February Free Writing Topics: Write about the layers of love in your life. Write about your first love. Write about your current love. Write about your love for a child, a pet, or a project. Write about the love thoughts that won’t leave
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2023 Winter Interview
“You need great, rich characters that people will care about, and want to learn more about, and want to see changed in some way by what they experience in the stories.” ~~Jerome Preisler FEATURE INTERVIEW WITH BESTSELLING AUTHOR, JEROME PREISLER Jerome Preisler: On Keeping Legend Tom Clancy’s Work New-Reader Relevant Through Re-Imagination, And Keeping A
Read MoreWinter of 2023 — Marketing Advice
“The kind of marketing that will get done is, for the most part, the kind that’s enjoyable.” – Lisa Velthouse So Many Books—So Little Time Whether you have an agent and a major publisher, you’re working with an indie or hybrid press, or you’re self-publishing, most of the marketing duties will fall to you. If
Read MoreWinter of 2023 — Markets and Contests
“We are enclosing a contract for your manuscript…” –Letter from a publishing company Who’s Looking for Manuscripts? Lots of indie publishers are looking for the next new voice. Is it yours? Is your manuscript complete? Was it professionally edited? Have you shared it with trusted readers? If so, it’s probably time to plunge into publishing.
Read More2022 ~~ Flash Prose Contest Winners
2022 Flash Fiction Winners
I’m always amazed at the range of experiences I read about in the Flash Prose Contest. Special thanks to the judges and to each of you who took courage in hand and submitted your work. We’re happy to read your pieces in any contest, so don’t hesitate to enter again. Thanks for sharing. First Place:
Read MoreFall 2022 ~~ Writing Advice
“Today, I realize acceptances and those dratted rejections remain an integral part of the writing life.” ~~ Catherine Forster NOTE: Right now I’m adding new prompts every 4 weeks. The current ones were added on 12/05/22 and are in this color. Scroll past the top 2 articles to find them. Want me to post them
Read MoreFall 2022 ~~ Hooked on Books
Read a good book lately? Want to review it? Please query us using the contact box. THE FAVOR: A Novel Written by Nicci French ISBN-13 : 978-0063243620 William Morrow Paperbacks (October 18, 2022) Earth Shattering Consequences Do you keep secrets? What have they cost you? Nicci French’s protagonist, Jude, looks at these questions and their ramifications
Read MoreYou Can’t Make This Stuff Up
What will you do today to obtain the guidance you need to succeed? ~~Lisa Demasi NEW SUBMISSION in November. Read “Late Bloomin’ Writer.” You Can’t Make This Stuff Up We want to share your stories about your publishing journey and your writing life here. Write to entertain, to enlighten, and to advise (but not
Read MoreFall 2022~~ Marketing Advice
“Podcasting is great. Total freedom.” ~~Bill Burr, Comedian Podcasters Are Looking for You Part of a good marketing strategy is finding podcasters that will interview you and linking those interviews to your webpage. Here are some steps to help you do that: Find podcasters that deal with your genre. A few possibilities are listed
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