How to Write One Book A Year and Keep Your Day Job

By Ronda Simmons

Anthony Trollope did it. Can you?

Mr. Trollope was an English novelist of the Victorian era most well-known for a series of books called The Chronicles of Barsetshire. 

Two Great American Pastimes

by Laura Mahal

Isn't she beautiful?

Whether the hashtags you follow are #MSWL or #MLB, you've got terrific taste. Writing and baseball have quite a lot in common, if you stop to think about it. 

Both make for outstanding careers, but you've got to have heart and a helluva level of commitment to make it to the big time.

Batting Averages and Rejection Rates

In baseball, a batting average above .300 is considered quite good. This means the batter hits the ball less than one out of every three times he steps up to the plate.

A writer should consider it an extraordinary success to earn acceptances for 1 out of every 3 submissions. Generally, the rate of rejection is much higher than that lofty goal. Some studies show that only 4 percent of authors seeking agents land one.

Hey, Would You Mind Asking Your Agent If . . .

By JC Lynne

Some of you may have heard it.

Hey friend, I'm coming up short on the queries for this project and I wondered if you'd pass it on to your agent/publisher? 

Or

Hey friend, would you ask your agent/publisher if they know anyone looking for a futuristic adventure/romance quest about a one-handed alligator mutant and a three-legged dog?

Oh shite, that might be a good story. 

How to Write an On-line Book Review

By Ronda Simmons

      

Where does an author go when his or her latest book finally comes out? On-line reviews, of course, the same place we go to when we're looking for a good read.

Reviews on sites like Amazon and Goodreads are important, but don't be too intimidated to write them. This isn’t about writing your best prose. It’s about the book, not you, and unlike so many other things in life, size really doesn’t matter.

Your Book 2: The Sequel That Didn't Suck

One of the pinnacles of writing a manuscript, is achieving your own satisfaction. We are often our hardest critics (at least we should be), and being able to read your own work without throwing furniture through windows is a real benchmark. Having reached this threshold, with a publishing deal under your belt no less, you are ready to bask in the glow of your accomplishments.

Aaaaand… Done! Okay, stop loafing. Time to get back to work.

You've got to write a follow-up now. Somehow you got the crazy idea to tell the publisher that this was the first in a series and that means you are now face to face with the daunting task of writing a sequel that doesn't suck.

But, hey! Sucking is what sequels do best! Sure, there are writers who pull it off, but there are lot of others who… uh… don't. Your clambering readers want more of your world and your characters, but the mounting pressure to not disappoint them is overwhelming. What's the secret?

That's been the subject of my own recent research. Here are my findings:

Rejection: It's Not You, It's Me

By Kristin Owens

It’s inevitable when you dip your big toe (or entire foot) into the publishing pool, rejection floats to the surface. That is IF you have the gumption of putting your work out there. And you should - the sooner the better. If words were important to write down in the first place, then share. Please.

If publishing were a game, you’d have better odds winning

Not Your Everyday Mountain Troll

 by Laura Mahal

If you are a Harry Potter fan, surely you recall the scene where Hermione, Ron, and Harry encounter a full-grown mountain troll in a girl’s bathroom. Ultimately, they subdue the troll—but Harry’s wand will never be the same.

Trolls may be a welcomed addition to a fantasy novel, but facing one on social media is intimidating. Celebrities routinely deal with everything from stalkers to sensationalists, eager to share in a flash of Internet fame. These are not your everyday mountain trolls.

Merriam-Webster defines trolling as “to antagonize (others) online by deliberately posting inflammatory, irrelevant, or offensive comments or other disruptive content.” Wikipedia adds that this is done “with the intent of provoking readers into an emotional response . . . for the troll’s amusement.”