When did you last update your author platform? Is it still eye-catching and interesting? Wherever you are on your writing journey—new writer, experienced writer, veteran writer—you need an author platform. It’s not something you can just do once and be done with it, however. It’s something that needs to beContinue Reading
I feel so excited while I’m writing, but when it comes time to share my work, I freeze. I’ve had to get over that, but rejection is difficult for me, as it is for a lot of writers. What Helps Me Deal with Rejection Rejection hasn’t stopped me, but I’veContinue Reading
You know you’re supposed to be working on it—your author platform. If you’re like most writers, the word “platform” brings up visions of soul-draining promotional activities that most of us wish we could pawn off on a full-time publicity department. But the reality is that we’re usually “stuck” tackling thisContinue Reading
I always thought the hard part of being a writer would be getting published. And that was a challenge; I was rejected over a hundred times for my first two books, books I ended up trunking. I got my agent with my third book, Jester, and after lots more rejectionContinue Reading
As a writer, you may find that you have to prove yourself over and over again. For years. Probably for your entire career. This can be discouraging, particularly after you’ve been writing for a while. I know what I’m doing, you think. I’ve paid my dues. Shouldn’t it get easierContinue Reading
When was the last time you composed handwritten notes? Author and leadership coach Carrie Pierce wrote a book about why you may want to get back into the habit! There’s something about getting cards, notes, and letters that’s both exciting and unexpected. They lend a unique and very special connectionContinue Reading
The biggest challenge I face as a writer is that I’m not a writer. Let me unpack that. I’m a Writer, In the Sense That I Write I am a writer, in the sense that I write. A lot. I must be a masochist. I love “having written,” but theContinue Reading
Easily, the biggest emotional challenge of being a writer is the rejection. No one likes rejection, no matter the circumstance, but with creative arts such as writing, it is unavoidable and painfully frequent. It’s Hard Not to Take Rejections Personally Since falling back in to writing in 2014, I’ve queriedContinue Reading
Productivity tips for authors from a productivity author? Sounds good to me! by Laura Vanderkam I began writing for local newspapers during college as a way to make money. Many wanted coverage of campus events. I did journalism internships during the summers, culminating with a year-long internship at USA TodayContinue Reading
I’d say my biggest emotional challenge started for me after I wrote my first novel. I sat at my computer staring into the illuminated screen and said, “Now what?” At first, I hadn’t a clue about self-publishing or traditional publishing. I researched and tried to wrap my head around theContinue Reading
“Book marketing is exhausting. I have no energy left for writing.” “I prefer to write, but I know I should be doing more book marketing.” “I’ve been pushing my latest book, but meanwhile my writing is suffering.” I hear comments like these from writers all the time. And I canContinue Reading
For me, the biggest emotional challenge of being a writer is also my biggest emotional challenge in general, which is perfectionism. My standards for myself are often unreasonably high, and the (obvious) inability to live up to these unrealistic expectations can lead to anxiety, depression, self-doubt, etc. This certainly spillsContinue Reading