Industry
Should You Go From Part-Time to Full-Time Writing
Going from part-time to full-time writing shouldn’t be considered lightly. Before you quit your day job, here are some things to consider. Find a place. Make this your writing space and designate it as your office. (If you’re serious about this, make that your official home office and start looking into the tax deduction you…
Seven Habits of Published Christian Writers
by Guest Author Mike Dellosso We all want to get published, to see our work featured in some magazine, or on some website, or nestled between the covers of a book, but for most the “promised land” of publication seems like it might as well be the moon—totally out of reach. But maybe we just…
Learn to Write Anywhere
Learning to write anywhere is really important. On most mornings after the sun has come up, I undock my laptop from its station and move into my living room where the sun pours through an East facing window. In Spring I can hear birds chattering from an evergreen tree off the back deck and with…
How To Write a Simple Summary
When I first query an editor with an story idea, I break it down into a few simple parts. A summary is not an overview of the entire novel, but rather a summary that will hopefully hook the editor into wanted to know more. This type of summary can be used on a One-Sheet (popular at…
My Best Writng Advice
Early on in my writing journey, my quest for publication, I received a bit of advice that at first I balked but now, in clear hindsight, value more than any other counsel I was offered. I was never a big reader. In school I skimmed, jumped, skipped, and trotted through books, pulling out the highlights…
Querying With an Unfinished Manuscript
AS A FIRST TIME AUTHOR, should you finish your manuscript before you query an editor? I have been asked this question by all kinds of hopeful writers, and the answer is, sorry Kids, but yes. I know, I know. I’m not exactly the most experienced “published” novelist on the block. After all, my book isn’t…
Professional Writer?
by Ron Estrada At some point, the average writer will make a decision: to continue writing for pleasure and occasional payment or to make it a career and become a professional writer. Either is fine. Some of you may not want the stress of producing words to keep your finances in the green. It’s no…
How Writers Can Use Pinterest for Marketing
Pinterest has quickly become one of the fastest growing social networks and is turning heads in marketing circles. It’s time writers get on the train. Last month Brandy gave us a great piece on why writers should NOT use Pinterest. Anyone who has visited the site can tell you how quickly a few minutes turn…
10 Uses for your Writing Tomato
by Ron Estrada It’s day 2 of my WI takeover. I was hoping for hostages, but they all told me they had to use the restroom and I haven’t seen them since. However, in a half-hearted attempt to follow Super G’s instructions, I will post about tomatoes. Why tomatoes? I’m glad you asked. According to…
Writing is a Business
by Ron Estrada Yes, I know it’s Thursday, and my post is supposed to be one of encouragement. All butterflies and rainbows. Not gonna happen today. As some of you may have heard, we’ve had some bad news in the world of Christian fiction this week. B&H has decided to close down its fiction division.…