Writer’s block. I don’t believe in it. Okay, I’ll hedge that a bit. All writers have moments when the words don’t come, or they have to be pried out of our brains like candy out of a three-year-old’s grasp. I do acknowledge that fact. Those moments are not fun. Those […]
The “Whole Package” Novel
Are you currently writing a novel? If so, my previous post encourages you to read great books in order to be a better writer. For me, as a novelist, my goal is to write novels that encompass the “whole package.” So what is the “whole package” in novel writing? In […]
How (Not) to Record to Audiobook
Soon after I published The Rose Ring, I decided it would be great to record an audio book. After all, it was something new to try and would be another way to share the story. I have absolutely no experience with recording of any kind, but I figured this would […]
Unique Marketing Opportunity – The CWG Booth
Every year at the Catholic Marketing Network Trade Show, the Catholic Writers Guild organizes a booth which displays members’ books. Wholesalers, bookstore owners and other attendees can see, page through and even read excerpts of displayed books. This is a well-attended event so it presents a unique opportunity for CWG […]
Narrative Voice, Characterization and Reading To Improve Writing
Novelists should always be willing (and eager) to improve their craft. Writing fiction is difficult and complex because of the many complicated aspects (narrative voice, writing style, imagery, plot lines, characterization, setting etc). Whether you’re a bestselling author or an aspiring novelist, one of the best ways to improve your […]
Improving Your Fiction Manuscript: Common Errors To Avoid
A good novel begins with a great story, a compelling plot, interesting characters. But it doesn’t end there. A good novel also needs to be well written. I’ve been editing other authors’ novels for two years and writing novels for ten years. What follows are the most common mistakes I […]
Digital, Print or Both?
New self-publishers often ask the question: should I go digital, print or both? Ten years ago when I was in the beginning stages of self-publishing my first book, I never considered offering my book digitally on a wide scale. Although I occasionally sent PDFs to reviewers, the digital revolution had […]
Investing in Failure
Here’s a concept that helps keep me going through discouragement: Invest in Failure. Josh Waitzkin, in The Art of Learning, uses the phrase to describe his attitude toward mastering new skills. The image of him, beaten and exhausted, going back in for round after round of brutal martial arts practice […]
Self-Publishing and Web Presence
Since I self-published my first book eight years ago, there has been a dramatic increase in the number of self-published books being released. In 2009, nearly 80 percent of all books released were self-published. And with the e-book revolution, there are even more independently published books released each year. Many […]
Free to Guild Members!
Have you heard about Catholics Communicate Christ? Catholics Communicate Christ is a pithy dose of encouragement for grassroots Catholic writers. Writers are needed for the New Evangelization, in Catholic Education, New Media and the Arts. From wise spiritual counsel to names, links and lists, Catholics Communicate Christ delivers a much-needed […]