Sunrise at Tutka Bay Writers Retreat Sleep on your writing; take a walk over it; scrutinize it of a morning; review it of an afternoon; digest it after a meal.” ~A. Bronson Alcott Like a note held long in a song, a pair of eagles glides effortlessly across a crisp September sky as sixteen writers […]
Deb: Treat Yourself to a Writing Retreat Read More »
I want to speak a moment to those of you who aren’t “making it” in publishing the way you’d hoped. J.A. Jance, Dan Brown, James Patterson, J.D. Robb: you can quit reading now. For the rest of you—those who’ve been struggling to place your book with an agent, those who’ve placed a book but suffered
Deb: Ten Truths about Publishing Read More »
As cuts to the state’s film subsidy program threaten the booming reality TV industry, what will be the next big draw to Alaska? Books, of course. At least that’s what the editors at the Running Fox authors’ co-op are counting on. Following the success of last year’s Alaska Sampler, a free e-book anthology, Running Fox
Deb: It’s Back! The Alaska Sampler 2015 Read More »
A scam: don’t fall for it! Let’s keep this simple. Everyone likes to get things for free. (Whether they value them is another matter; mostly, they don’t.) Say you want free books. There are good ways to get them. Libraries, for certain. If they don’t have the book you’re looking for, ask them to order
Free Books: The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly Read More »
My new book won’t sell. Okay, that’s a bit of an exaggeration. A few readers will buy it, ones like those who’ve kindly endorsed it.* But I’m not expecting it to attract a huge number of readers. I expect you’re wondering: Why would I bother writing a book when I don’t expect to sell many
Deb: Why My New Book Won’t Sell Read More »
I wish I could say I’ve never submitted any of my work before it was ready to publish. In truth, I’ve done it more often than I care to admit, especially in my early days of publishing. Some “too soon” submission, or even “too soon” publishing, is unavoidable, and perhaps even necessary to a writer’s
Deb: Ready to Publish Read More »
As an author, you’re a creative type. That goes without saying. But in your approach to your craft, your publishing, and your promotion, are you actually as creative as you might be? Writing is a scary business, any way you cut it. In Write Your Best Book, the companion volume to What Every Author Should
Creative Mistakes: Five Ways Authors Box Themselves In Read More »
One reason first pages matter: the “look inside” feature No matter how you publish, first pages are crucial. From reading the first five to ten pages (sometimes even your first page or two), your readers—including agents and editors, if you’re going that route—are going to decide whether your book is worth their time, money, and
Deb: Your Book’s First Pages – Why They Matter, and a Critique Opportunity Read More »
I’ll begin with the same disclaimers as last year: I have no crystal ball. I’m not clairvoyant. And admittedly, Alaska is pretty much as far as a writer can get from the Right Coast publishing industry without needing a passport. But I’ve published several books in a variety of ways—mostly traditional, but also independently and in
Deb: 9 Publishing Trends to Watch for in 2015 Read More »
Not long ago, I took a writerly side trip. You know how it goes. You’re getting back to your novel after a few too many days away for celebrations and family and a whole lot of other things that matter a lot, plus a few that only matter a little but still manage to snag
The Writer's Mind – and Heart Read More »
