By Cindy Sproles @CindyDevoted Learning the skill of writing comes with a lot of vague areas. For example, writing on a publishable level differs from writing a college paper. The grammar doesn’t change, but the styles are two different bears. Sometimes, the only way to learn the tricks of the…

by: Shannon Redmon @shannon_redmon If you were to look into the deep, dark recesses of my computer files you might find one or two completed manuscripts that never saw the light of day. I loved those books when I first wrote them, even cherished them as my first completed book…

by DiAnn Mills @DiAnnMills The Blue Ridge Conference is fast approaching, and writers are polishing their manuscripts and proposals One of the conference highlights is the ability for the writer to schedule two face-to-face appointments with an agent, editor, or professional writer. We want that event to be a positive…

By DiAnn Mills @DiAnnMills Sometimes coming up with unique and creative blog post idea is a challenge. I understand because I’ve been there more than once. Out of frustration and discouragement, I found a solution that I’ve used repeatedly. Enlist your readers to help you with blog ideas. Think about…

By Debb Hackett @debb_hackett One of the first things I learned when I decided stop fighting and be a writer, was that I needed to be an avid reader. I was told this at my first ever creative writing class and have heard the same message from agents, editors and…

by Ane Mulligan  @AneMulligan When I was a new writer, I learned the writing “rules” and adhered to them, preached them like a religious zealot to anyone who asked. I lived and breathed RULES. Fortunately, as I grew in my craft, I learned there are times to break the rules…