By Kristin Evans @AuthorKristinEv “Your writing is good. But you need to build your platform.” Can you relate? I wonder how many authors have abandoned their writing dreams at this stage on their journey to publication.  Meeting new people at meals grew to be a highlight of the conference for…

by Edie Melson @EdieMelson Writers are an odd lot. I can say that, because I am one. So I speak from experience, not judgment. Like all creative people, we tend to feel things more deeply, reacting poorly to criticism. We also have no perspective at all when it comes to…

By W. Terry Whalin @terrywhalin While many people are publishing books (over 4,500 new books every day, including the self-published books), the competitive nature of this work is rarely discussed. Editors and agents get pitches and proposals from many different authors. What are some of the difference makers that every author…

By Aaron Gansky @ADGansky I wanted to touch on a subject that’s been on my mind lately. When an idea for a novel pops into our minds, the first thing we like to do is flesh out a few major plot points, which is fine, but it can become a…

by Katy Kauffman @KatyKauffman28 What do I put? Even after thirteen years of writing, I often stop and wonder what I should put in my writer’s bio. The best determining factor is the amount of space. If you only have three sentences to work with, your options are streamlined for…

by Lindsey Brackett @LindsBrac Attending a writers’ retreat is not reserved for those with big budgets, published books, or ample travel time. In fact, taking a retreat can be one of the simplest ways to reignite your creativity and—to borrow the words of Emily P. Freeman—“create space for your soul…