Bad editing is torment. Office workers know what I am saying. After unclear initial direction, a document goes around and around, everyone making petty and arbitrary changes, and then changes to the changes, and sometimes people make changes to their own previous changes. It only stops with the deadline, when the document is different but …
Yesterday I completed final revisions on two books, both of them projects I started more than five years ago, in 2019. A feeling of vacancy comes with the departure of these constant life presences. After writing many books, this strange stage of creation is a familiar part of the pattern. And understanding the shape of …
I was asked again today how to become a writer—how did I do it? My first piece, a short story, was published in the Southeastern Sun and Salmon Wrapper, a Juneau alternative paper, when I was in third grade. I had only recently learned to write, but I already thought of myself as a writer. …
Some writers I coach need me to be a teacher, mentor, or therapist. Others are just looking for someone to tell them the truth. I might make more money by lying with promises of publishing success. There’s a whole industry of folks who take advantage of hopeful writers. I’d rather be honest and help you …
Beginning authors often receive the advice that to publish a book they need to develop a large social media following. Or, I would add, you could become a rock star or a professional athlete. That helps get publishers’ attention and sells books, too. Social media stardom is stardom. Authors always need to self-promote, but writing …
Publishing a book is easy, but selling books is hard. For the most part, only books from mainstream, traditional publishers reach wide readerships, and those big publishing houses have many gatekeepers. I frequently explain this difficult news to potential clients at our initial, no-cost meeting. Most of what I say is discouraging. But there are …
Here are some of the rules I’ve learned from doing thousands of interviews. Real people are more interesting than famous ones. Preparation can ruin your interview. Lists of questions are worst of all. You’ve got to care about the person and be honestly curious. Interviews are among the most intimate conversations you’ll ever have. How …
