These are my favorite resources for finding an agent, improving your craft, and staying productive. — There’s a lot to learn about the writing and publishing business when you first start. It’s easy to get overwhelmed with all this talk of agents, editors, book deals, publishing imprints; the list goes on. Not to mention the core of what we do, actually writing books. As someone who’s…

Things to consider when your target audience doesn’t have social media, a credit card, or the final say in what they read. — My first middle grade novel came out with Scholastic in fall 2017, and I’ve learned a lot about marketing since then. I am not a marketing expert, and I do believe that only publishers can significantly move the needle in terms of sales. By significant, I mean that publisher activities…

A student recently asked me to vet their ideas so they wouldn’t waste time writing an unsellable novel. Here’s what I said. — This student was being earnest. They didn’t want to pour years into a project that would never go anywhere. I totally understand this feeling of not wanting to waste time. This is something I have struggled with since becoming a full-time author. If you want writing to pay the bills…

Create powerful stories full of action and emotion in only seven steps — A novel is more than a collection of interesting characters and events. It has form. It entertains, persuades, and often leaves a lasting impact. Novels can touch our emotions in ways real life sometimes can’t. “Fairy tales are more than true: not because they tell us that dragons exist, but…

How finding your purpose can help you overcome fear — When I first started writing fiction, I was totally fearless. Why wouldn’t I be? This was completely new ground. I expected to write total garbage, set it on fire, then have a laugh at my own expense. Sure, I might humiliate myself in some random critique group, but so what…

Learn how to fix four common mistakes I often see as a developmental editor — As a traditionally published author, I know the heartbreak of revision. You’ve worked months or years to get your novel just right. You’re ready to submit to agents — or you’re all set to self-publish — and now your beta readers point out big structural issues that need to be…

And how fighting against my messy writing process actually moved me farther away from my goals — Here’s what I’ve learned from four years of writing novels full time: I need to structure my life in a way that encourages crappy first drafts, because my writing process requires them. Some people spend weeks outlining. …

But understanding the publishing game can help you plan and make peace with an uncertain career — Let’s be clear. I don’t regret quitting my ‘real’ job in 2018 to go all-in with traditional publishing. I knew, even then, that my full-time author dream might be short-lived. My debut novel, which had sold at auction in a deal way beyond my expectations, had just released. I knew…

Tips for finding legitimate agents and avoiding scammers — I know what it feels like to be desperate to find an agent. In 2014, I had just moved back to my hometown to save money; my job was sucking out my soul; and I vividly remember breaking down one day and saying this couldn’t be my life. I had…