It seems everywhere you turn, there are expectations heaped upon you. Those from family, friends, colleagues, and community, and you also have high expectations heaped on yourself to be better, stronger, smarter, and more successful. Now, couple that with being an author. Whether you’re rocking your writing as a full-time endeavor or must squeeze time […]
Archive | The Author’s Journey
Author’s Journey: How to Find a Good Lawyer, and Why an Author Might Need One
I once had a colleague who was terrified of lawyers. She believed that they heralded bad news whenever one came into the organization. I should’ve asked her what she thought about accountants, but I digress. My point? Employing a literary lawyer is brilliant business sense, especially if you are an author. Why? They help you […]
What Literary Agents Love in Their Authors
Getting your writing project in tip-top shape is just half the battle. The second half, and for some, seemingly more complex endeavor, is getting it into the hands of readers. If you choose to self-publish, the path may be more accessible and swifter—though much hard work and help is required. But if you decide to […]
How to Avoid an Inflated Author Ego
It can happen to the best of us. Fame, fortune, and followers bloom, boosting confidence to unimaginable heights. But most people have folks in their corner to help keep egos in check. Family, friends, colleagues, kids, or, yes, a setback or negative comment may gently or harshly rebalance the scales. Authors understand this well; if […]
The Best Podcasts for Authors and Writers
Authors and writers have historically been lifelong learners. We love reading, attending conferences, actively engaging in writers’ groups, and immersing ourselves in traditional and non-traditional training programs. But if you’re looking for something “newish” in the professional development arena that you can enjoy just about anywhere and anytime, look no further than podcasts. And boy, […]
How To Thoughtfully Manage Social Media Without Letting It Take Over Your Life
Your author’s journey, your personal and professional reputation, can easily be overshadowed by social media. Yes, it’s a necessary part of building your author’s story and brand, but if you let it take time from your career and your life (or it becomes a negative emotional environment), social media can quickly derail your life. Thoughtfully […]
Finding Your Author’s Voice
Finding your voice is an answer to the question “Who is your reader?” Is this person looking for something serious, suspenseful, authoritative, humorous, spiritual, entertaining, dark, deep, light-hearted, or something else, that you may find parallels in a category on the booksellers’ shelves? Regardless of the central thread, your voice is uniquely you. It’s ironic how your […]
Building Your Street Team
The phrase street team was a new one for me when I first embarked on the publishing journey. I had to ask a couple of seasoned authors what it meant, and though I received varying definitions, I got the gist. A “street team” is the group of people who act as ambassadors for your book and […]
Writing When You Don’t Want to Write
I laugh when I think about my history with schoolwork. Though I was a decent student, I was never keen on homework. Instead, I would write all sorts of fictional stories and journal entries (I still have many of them). Literally, I would avoid homework to write. But now I write full time for clients […]
How to Combat Lonely Writer’s Syndrome
Anyone that works remote, especially alone in home office, may experience feelings of isolation. While there’s plenty to do, and maybe you have a pet, kids, and several calls or virtual meetings, you’re still pretty much alone. Isolated. Possibly longing for adult conversation and the vibration and headiness of a bustling team atmosphere. While there […]