Writer Unboxed

So, How Do I Find The Time To Do All This?

It's the most common question I get: How do you find the time to do everything you do? Until now,
Pulitzer Prize

8 Writing Techniques to Win You a Pulitzer

Today's guest post is from writer Joe Bunting, who blogs at The Write Practice. We all know there are novels
Keynoting the Indy Authors Fair (2011)

How Perfect Does Your Manuscript Have to Be?

As part of the 2012 Missouri Writers Guild conference faculty, I did a Q&A for their conference blog that discusses
Wordpress

The Big Mistake of Author Websites and Blogs

One of the easiest ways for an author to get a site up and running is to use Blogger or
Sheep herd

How to Confront the Fear of Public Speaking

Today's guest post is by author Deborah Niemann. Last week as my adult daughter was driving me to a TV
The Secrets They Kept by Joanne Tombrakos

What Good Salespeople Know That Writers Should

Today's guest post is by author and business person Joanne Tombrakos. What ultimately spurred my decision to self-publish was a
Janice Hubschman

Writing Advice That Saves You in 5 Years

I just discovered this wonderful article, "Steal This List," by Janis Hubschman (featured in the latest Glimmer Train bulletin). It
Writer Unboxed

Writers Need More Copywriting Training

Today I'm the featured contributor at Writer Unboxed, where I talk about copywriting: The No. 1 Overlooked Skill for Every
website

3 Reasons to Have a Website If You’re Unpublished

J Garrattley / Flickr When I tell writers it's mandatory they have a website, those who are unpublished will immediately
The Writer's Workout

Platform and Social Media Must Not Be Your Center

Today's post is excerpted from The Writer's Workout: 366 Tips, Tasks, & Techniques From Your Writing Career Coach (Writer's Digest,
How Should You Spend Your Book Marketing Budget?

How Should You Spend Your Book Marketing Budget?

Author Brad Swift asks the following: I have a number of fiction and nonfiction books now available through Amazon as
lone tugboat

A Tugboat Arrived

Today's guest post is by Louisiana writer Darrelyn Saloom. Read more of her posts here. On a brisk, clear morning
Word Savvy

10 Phrases to Purge From Your Speech & Writing

The following is excerpted from Word Savvy by Nancy Ragno, recently released by Writer's Digest Books. The following mistakes occur
Jane Knows

When to Modify Your Name Due to SEO Concerns

I received the following question from Jan O'Hara: I have a dilemma to sort out about author names. These are the
Lego Computer Guy

How to Hire the Right Website Designer

by slackware / Flickr Today's guest post is by Eliana Berlfein, a website designer based in Boulder, Colorado. A website
Laura Oliver

What Territory Do You Explore With Your Writing?

I love this insight from Laura Oliver on the writing life, in a post called "Territory." She discusses the themes that
Cat and chicken sharing breakfast

Go Fly a Kite

Today's guest post is by the lovely Darrelyn Saloom. Read her previous guest posts, or follow her on Twitter. The
Jane Knows

When’s the Right Time to Leave Your Big Six Publisher?

I received the following question from published author Lisa Earle McLeod—who I remember first meeting at a Foothills Writers Guild
Writer Unboxed

Do-It-Yourself vs. Professional Help

Yesterday was my regular contribution to Writer Unboxed. I discussed how some independent authors are putting their work out there with
Blank Faces by Rommel Adao

I Hate Press Releases

This is part rant, part advice. I don't write this post as if my needs were everyone's. But it's frustrating
Why Writers Should Get Over Pop Music

Why Writers Should Get Over Pop Music

Pop music is the worst thing that could happen to your writing. It's for dates and bad wedding receptions. Turn
by Emilie Ogez / Flickr

My Secret for Battling Procrastination

by Emilie Ogez / Flickr To some, I may appear productive. But like many, I'm a horrible procrastinator. I try
Are You Worried Your Ideas or Work Will Be Stolen?

Are You Worried Your Ideas or Work Will Be Stolen?

I recently received the following question from working writer Shannon Traphagen: I have been fervently working on my novel (I
by Garda / Flickr

3 Blunders That Can Kill Your Author Platform

Today's guest post is from author Kristen Lamb. The digital age author has more opportunities than any writer in the
Write-a-thon

The Story Bible: What It Is and Why You Need One

The following is an excerpt from Write-a-Thon: Write Your Book in 26 Days (And Live to Tell About It) by Rochelle
Glacier National Park

3 Questions Every Creative Person Must Ask

I'm starting to find that the same dilemmas come up again and again when I talk with a group about
Sean Platt

The Evolving Model of the Entrepreneurial Novelist

It's pleasure to bring you this insightful Q&A with writer Sean Platt. As his own website states, Sean Platt writes
Rumors of Water

You Don’t Need a Degree to Find Your Voice

The following excerpt is from Rumors of Water: Thoughts on Creativity & Writing by L.L. Barkat. I am opening a
Scott Sigler

3 Keys to Sustainable & Successful Indie Authorship

Note from Jane: I don't usually run posts that feature or promote a single service or solution. Authors need to
My Memories of a Future Life

Should You Serialize a Novel on Kindle?

Today's guest post is by Roz Morris. Last month I released my literary novel as four episodes on Kindle: 100,000
Will Boast

Write More Raw Material Than You Need

Last year, when I became a professor at the e-media department at the University of Cincinnati, I started working with
Phil Gibbs

3 Tips for Professional E-Book Covers

Today's guest post is from Biba Pearce at Your Novel Online. An e-book cover has an important job to do. Not
How to Write Your Best Story

What Is a Story?

The following is excerpted from How to Write Your Best Story by Philip Martin. It may seem to address a
4-Ps of Marketing

E-Book Marketing 101

In case you missed it, my monthly column at Writer Unboxed was posted yesterday: A Checklist for Marketing Your E-Book.
Going Geek by John Carpenter

Using an Agent to Get on Kindle

I've been keeping an eye on John Carpenter and his book project ever since we first started having conversations on
Uncertainty by Jonathan Fields

A Hidden Aspect of Creative Life That Underpins Great Work

The following is excerpted from Uncertainty: Turning Fear and Doubt Into Fuel for Brilliance by Jonathan Fields. Uncertainty and fear
The Memoir Project

Don’t Write a Memoir to Get Revenge

The following is excerpted from The Memoir Project: A Thoroughly Non-Standardized Text for Writing & Life by Marion Roach Smith. It
The Funny Man by John Warner

Using Word of Mouth (Not Media Attention) to Sell Books

I've known John Warner since my days as an acquisitions editor at F+W Media. He is among the most decent,
Has Rejection Turned You Into Someone You're Not?

Has Rejection Turned You Into Someone You’re Not?

"Don't allow your wounds to transform you into someone you are not." —Paulo Coelho It doesn't happen often, but every
When Writing Doesn't Pay the Bills

When Writing Doesn’t Pay the Bills

In celebration of Labor Day, Open Road Media has produced a video that features writers talking about the jobs they
Melanie Rae Thon (photo by Andi Olsen)

7 Reasons to Tell a Story in 2011

In the latest Glimmer Train bulletin, there's an amazing piece by Melanie Rae Thon, "The Heart Breaks, and Breaks Open:
Nobility of Time

How to Waste Your Time on Social Media

Last week, I discussed how you can waste your time trying to get published. You can also waste your time
Michael Hyatt interview

Hello to Visitors From Michael Hyatt’s Blog!

Today, Michael Hyatt is featuring a 12-minute interview with me on his blog. We talk about the following: How important
The Myth of the Lone Creative Genius

The Myth of the Lone Creative Genius

Today's post is an excerpt from the recently published Birth Your Book! by Dr. Liz Alexander. Find out more about Liz
Alan Watts

I Am Always Sincere, But Never Serious

I am always sincere, but never serious. —Alan Watts When I started my first professional blog, I struggled to give
Banksy in Boston by Chris Devers

Stop Being an “Aspiring” Writer

Today's guest post is by Ollin Morales from Courage 2 Create. Find out more about Ollin at the end of
Writer's Digest (July/August 2011)

Are You Wasting Your Time Trying to Get Published?

Don't you wish someone could tell you if you're wasting your time trying to be a writer? Or if you're
Inis Meáin

Grantwriting 101 for Writers

It doesn't occur to most writers that there is "free" money—from government and nonprofit foundations—that is available to support creative
Facebook logo

3 Principles for Facebook Fan Pages

Facebook is the No. 1 most popular website in the United States in terms of visits, which means it's more
Amy Stolls

How Much Has Book Marketing Changed Since 2005?

Amy Stolls is the author of The Ninth Wife, a novel just released from HarperCollins as a paperback original. The