A month or two ago, I wrote a LinkedIn post that had over 40,000 views, which is unusual for me. The next post did normal numbers—a few thousand. Reversion to the mean can be very discouraging. On the day my
How to tell an emotionally compelling story
I recently read The Story Paradox by Jonathan Gottschall, which is all about the dangers of storytelling. If you’re interested in learning how stories work, you’ll want to set aside some time to read this book. I wanted to talk
Respecting the creative process
The creative process is not timely and linear, which is why I don’t book edits before an author’s manuscript is finished, though I will book coaching when an author is stalled and needs to do some brainstorming and problem-solving. I
Writer’s Workshop – Starting January 9, 2023!
Register here. In each session of the Club Ed for Writers Writers’ Workshop, we’ll discuss storytelling techniques and how to identify common problems in your own story. In the first session, January 9 – February 28, 2023, the storytelling technique
Finding an agent after poor sales
Recently a writer wrote to me asking for help. He’d sold several novels to a small press, and despite winning a number of awards, the books did not sell well. He wanted to know what that meant for his career.
Growing your writing career
Coaching clients sometimes ask me about how to continue a writing career that has gotten off to a promising start. You can’t throw a rock without hitting someone who has written a book on how to break into publishing, but maintaining
Memoir, platform, and your query letter
From a writer: “I’m sending queries to agents regarding my memoir. I’ve noticed a lot of writers talking about the importance of platform, basically saying you can’t get a book deal without one. I don’t have a huge platform, but
Networking 101 for Writers
In any profession, having contacts can help you succeed. Yet most of us don’t start off knowing anyone who can help us get published. I’ve often said, “It isn’t who you know, it’s who you get to know.” Successful writers read
“How do I . . .?” on Agents
From a writer: “I have an agent who is new interested in my manuscript. Based on her existing clientele, I feel I have a good chance of sparking this woman’s attention. I also have a well-known agent sitting on a full of
New! Classes for writers
If you’re a writer (or know a writer), you might find these new classes helpful: Writing Romance Writing Mystery, Thriller, and Suspense Writing Science Fiction and Fantasy Each class ($79) covers the basics of writing in the genre, including how