By Aaron Gansky @ADGansky Charles Baxter, in Burning Down the House, Essays on Fiction, devotes an entire chapter to a principle he calls “Stillness.” To paraphrase a rather lengthy and well documented argument, he proposes that stillness, a moment in fiction where action subsides and characters/narrators focus on the minutiae of their…

By Cherrilynn Bisbano @bisbanowrites Agent’s and publishers scan the Competitive Analysis section of a proposal to see if your book is similar enough to published books, yet different enough to grab those reader’s attention. It provides information on how well your book might sell. Publishers and agents love to a…

By JP Robinson @JPRobinsonBooks Every indie author knows that standing out from the crowd is an uphill battle. And, like most battles, it won’t be won by sheers numbers of dollars or manhours. Instead, authors are most likely to succeed if they implement effective marketing strategies. When I mention marketing,…

By Candyce Carden @CandyceDeal I write nonfiction, yet I don’t outline before I write. I start with an idea of where I’m going and see where the road leads. Lots of writers proudly proclaim to be a Pantster — one who flies by the seat of her pants. No thoughts…

by Blythe Daniel @ByltheDaniel There’s never been more chances to connect with people online, try this event, run to that meeting, and make sure that you don’t miss an opportunity to promote your book, get your name out there, publicize your business, your organization, and advance your mission. These aren’t…

By Leilani Squires I had all but lost my confidence. Due to former unhealthy work environments, I had internalized unrealistic expectations and belittling which developed into a perfect storm of self-doubt and fear.  But because we had bills to pay and children to raise, I tried to fake it until…