I am all about the energy of words and the way that they reflect intentions as well as aspirations.   So I choose not to use the words “freelance” or “small business owner” to describe my endeavors.
 
My objections have nothing to do with the way my job title sounds to anyone else.  I’ve already carried impressive [...]

I’ve heard lots of writers say that writing is revision, and I know what they mean. Because this has been a week of huge insight about revision, I’ve decided to periodically write posts on the subject and devote a category to revision on this blog.
In the last week, the revisions have proven a challenge [...]

Writing before Christmas is proving a real challenge this year.
At the moment, the revisions seem monumental, even though I’m through the first round.  I am distracted by the season, despite my best organization.  I feel tense and edgy.  Sleigh bells ring in my ears.  Jingle bells distract me as I sit at the computer.
What do [...]

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Over and over again, books about writing instruct us to maintain continuity.  “Write everyday” is the most often quoted charge.
I just learned another valuable lesson about continuity and rituals.  I honestly thought I’d learned this one, but stress clouded my mind and made me resume a bad old habit.
In my former life as a smart [...]

My editor called me today.  She wanted to answer any questions I had about her comments.  She also wanted to let me know that the book people are excited about the book.  Wow.
But what does that excitement actually mean?  They want the revisions ASAP so that they can put the book into production.
This is wonderful [...]

My writing implement always says a lot about where I am in the writing process.
Today was a red pen day. I continued making my first round of revisions, essentially correcting typos, adding words, removing redundant phrases.
I love red pen days! They give me such a sense of accomplishment. But I know that the [...]

It took me nearly a week to digest my editor’s comments on my manuscript. Wonderful notes, incisive questions, but it was still daunting. Why?
Because the manuscript was no longer just mine, it had morphed again, and I had to adjust.
With each phase of the project, it has gained another dimension that I’ve had to [...]

So, I asked my friends to read the proposal to get their feedback. I made it clear to them that if they disliked the final proposal or felt that it wasn’t ready to send along, that they would tell me with no hard feelings. But in asking for their insight, I was taking a [...]

FYI: This is what I learned about the non-fiction agent and book selling process.  Fiction works in a different manner.
You will need three things before you can have meaningful contact with an agent:  a query letter, a book proposal, and a sample chapter or chapters.
The query letter is a brief (usually no more than two [...]