How do I set the stakes in my story?
My friend Erynn recently emailed me this question. "I've submitted to The Company's critique group a few times and one of your comments kind of stuck with me. I was wondering if you wouldn't mind giving me a little writing advice? You mentioned the last time I...
Three Secret Super Powers of Failing Publicly
In order to accomplish anything, you have to be willing to fail. It's the one common trait among all successful people. For writers, that means putting yourself out there. Publish that blog, make that reel, tweet that joke...before you're confident it's ready. Doing...
Feeling indecisive? Do you know your mission?
Are you ever paralyzed by small decisions? Like you’re going to get some lunch, but you just can’t seem to pick somewhere and make it happen? Try defining the mission. It may seem silly, but getting lunch is a big theoretical idea. With no parameters, it’s a wide open...
It’s ok to just write.
I have a startling message for you. You can just write. You don’t have to want to publish or build a platform. You’re allowed to just enjoy the art form and express yourself. I own a meat smoker and I love it. During the warmer months, most weekends you’ll find me...
They want to publish your story? Six keys to prevent future cringe.
So you’ve had a short story accepted for publication! Congratulations. Paid or unpaid, it doesn’t matter, I bet you’re tickled pink! Someone else believes in your work and soon real readers are going to see your story in print. Hallelujah! I know what it’s like to be...
The #1 advice every writer needs
This is a hard truth. But you need to hear it. So does every other writer you know. I need to hear it. I am getting the results I deserve. I am not unlucky. It’s not that I haven’t “gotten my break.” Things are not harder for me than they are for someone else. If I’m...
“Never pay anyone to publish your book.” Good advice?
“Never pay to publish your book.” This is the dumbest advice I’ve ever heard. It comes from a place of inexperience, underfunding, and fear. It's the exact opposite of what successful business people say in virtually any industry. I don’t care what industry you’re in,...
Should I use internal dialogue in a short story or novel?
My friend and fellow author Eliza June Sapphire and I were recently having a chat about internal dialogue, or what another friend calls free and direct thoughts. We might also call them an internal aside. In theater, an aside is when a character says something not to...
Prioritize readers and the profits will follow
One of the most common mistakes I see new authors making is focusing on capitalizing on their work too early. Until you have an audience that can sustain a fulltime income that you can live on, your top goal is to connect with new readers. To win the game, so to...
One Step at a Time
The only thing that we can ever do is take the next step. I once worked with an author who said, “God told me I’m going to sell 100,000 books by the end of the year.” His book wasn’t even released by the end of the year. The timeline of the prophecy shifted to “in the...
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