Dogs in Fiction:The “Woof” Perspective
June 11, 2013 by Gina Conroy
Filed under Blog, Craft
Guest Post By Becky Jacoby The ASPCA claims that 5-7 million dogs inhabit the USA. Considering how that number might have been ascertained, I would bet it did not include strays or dogs in shelters. I would love to see all dogs in good homes, wouldn’t you? Not only do I love dogs, but a [...]
Writing Tools Review- How Scrivener Changed My Writing Life
June 4, 2013 by Ron Estrada
Filed under Blog, Editing, Fiction, Time Management
While Super G is off galavanting through New York, doing writerly things and hobnobbing with the big muckety mucks on Avenue of the Americas, she has given me the keys to WI. It is always satisfying when my relentless charm and Charlie Brown good looks lure yet another female into trusting me with her career. [...]
How Not to Waste Your Writing Time
June 3, 2013 by Gina Conroy
Filed under Blog, Time Management
If you‘re a busy writer with other thing on your agenda, then it’s important not to waste your writing time. Here are 3 simple ways to help you be more productive when you write. Go with the Flow I’m not talking about the words that should flow from your fingers. I’m talking about the crazy [...]
Creating Quirky Characters
May 14, 2013 by Angela Strong
Filed under Blog, Craft, Fiction
I started novel-writing when chick-lit was “the thing.” It’s not “the thing” anymore, but I miss those quirky characters. Bridget Jones in granny panties. The Finland-loving Rebecca Bloomwood. And, of course, Kristin Billerbeck’s Ashley Stockingdale. Why? Because I relate to them. I’m not angst-ridden like Bella Swan or strong and silent like Katniss. I’m more [...]
The Power in a Photograph to Tell a Story
May 7, 2013 by Gina Conroy
Filed under Blog, Craft
Guest Post by Jeff Satterly It’s often said that a picture is worth a thousand words, but I think that saying a picture is “worth” any amount of words isn’t exactly true. Both images and written text have value for conveying information and providing insight and understanding into something, but some pictures, and photographs in [...]
How to Start your Writing Business: Famous Writer, Inc.
April 23, 2013 by Ron Estrada
Filed under Blog, Goals
Every writer has uttered the words “I want to write full time someday!” Unless you are the child of Donald and (insert bride name here) Trump, you probably don’t have the luxury of buying a beach-house in the Keys and living out your Hemingwayesque fantasy. You have bills, a mortgage, car payments, and probably someone [...]
The Lonely Writer: No Writer Left Behind
April 18, 2013 by Ron Estrada
Filed under Blog, Encouragement, Goals
Gina Conroy, who shall henceforth be known as Super G on this here blog, posted in Writer…Interrupted this week about her struggles as a “left behind” writer. She and I have shared this same lonely writer experience. We began writing years ago and found other newbies to hang out with (albeit electronically) and encourage. However, [...]
Taking the Sting Out of a Bad Review So You Can Become a Better Writer
March 18, 2013 by Gina Conroy
Filed under Blog, Encouragement, Writing Tips
No one likes a bad review, but let’s be honest, some of what the reviewer says might hold a bit of truth, if we’re brave enough to listen. So how do you get past the sting of a bad review so you can become a better writer? Grow Thick Skin Remember your first hard critique? [...]
How to Write a Good Bad Review
March 14, 2013 by Tanya Dennis
Filed under Blog, Book Reviews, Marketing, Writing Business
“If you can’t say anything nice, don’t say anything at all.” Mama’s advice serves well to keep us kind, but people don’t always need kind. We don’t even need polite all the time. Sometimes we need truth. Gina birthed the question on facebook: “Why do people post negative reviews?” Ron responded with a post about [...]
Feeling Overwhelmed with Your Work Load?
February 19, 2013 by Julie Jarnagin
Filed under Blog, Encouragement, Goals, Time Management
First drafts, research, edits – it’s easy to get overwhelmed. There are steps you can take to get through it. • Write it down – I often make lists of everything that’s causing me stress. There is something about getting it from your mind to paper that helps keep it in perspective. • Start with [...]





