by Ane Mulligan  @AneMulligan I’ve seen a lot about accepting critiques, but not a lot about being a good critiquer. There was an old TV show called Truth or Consequences. If the contestant couldn't guess the truth about the guest, he had to suffer the consequences and some of those…

by Lynn Blackburn @LYNNHBLACKBURN I’m a firm believer that you can learn lessons about your writing life anywhere—as long as you’re paying attention. Case in point? I got the idea for this blog post from taking my oldest to three different orthodontists. Stay with me. My daughter has disabilities and nothing—nothing—is…

By W. Terry Whalin @terrywhalin As an author, you want to hire a publicist who has connections to radio and podcast hosts and can book you on those programs.  As an editor, I’ve encouraged some of my authors to book radio interviews. After the interviews, one author told me he didn’t…

by Katherine Hutchinson-Hayes, Ed.D. @khutch0767 As an author, I’m guilty of flippantly joking about the craziness of creativity. I laugh off the characters in my head, bouts of depression, mood swings, isolation, and the many rejections I face as if it’s to be worn as a badge of honor. Yet, because…

By Larry Leech @LarryJLeechII Steve Martin, that wild and crazy guy, back in the 1970s uttered some famous words on an album (yeah, those things made out of vinyl) that I have never forgotten: “Punt on first down.” Those who understand football know that is just plain old crazy talk.…

by Julie Zine Coleman @JulieZColeman This week, we woke to a strange sound on our roof: the pounding of intense rain. It’s been one of the driest summers we have ever experienced in Maryland, and a soaking rain has been rare. So we rejoiced at the much needed relief. Steve…