So you say you want have a career as a writer or you want to become an author? Stop talking about writing and publishing, and take some solid steps toward those goals. Becoming a writer or an author is not as difficult as it might seem. These titles are not unattainable, although you might need to chunk down a few…
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Today’s guest post is written by my colleague Carolyn Howard-Johnson, author of Your Blog, Your Business and a new edition of the multi award-winning The Frugal Book Promoter. I often coach authors with their blogging projects. I not only give them personal help but I also recommend the best of the blogging books out there. Now I have Nina Amir’s new “How…
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No matter where or when I speak about building an author platform, inevitably someone–or more than one person–begins to whine and complain. “Writers should just be allowed to write. Publishers should just buy our books because we have a good idea and are good writers. We shouldn’t have to do all that social networking and speaking and media stuff to…
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How often do you start something and not finish it? Be honest. If you have a ton of started manuscripts or proposals that you haven’t finished, this could be one reason you aren’t achieving your writing goals. Do you go to conferences or conventions, make connections, say you will do something–like send a proposal, make a phone call, send information,…
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Social networking. The bane of a writer’s existence. Right? We just want to right. Why join even one let two or three—or one more? Because that’s how we build platform and get notice by potential readers and possibly by agents, acquisitions editors and publishers. Today I offer you an interview with agent and author Jeff Herman, founder of, yes, another…
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As I mentioned in my last post, despite my earlier intentions, I did spend a fair amount of time pitching book ideas at Book Expo America. In this post I’ll tell you a bit about what that was like, what strategies I used, and what I found most beneficial. As I walked around the expo hall, I looked for publishers…
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I attended Book Expo America this year with little thought of doing much other than reporting on it, if possible. I was going to spend most of my time at Blog World & New Media Expo, which happens concurrently, and hop upstairs now and then for a friend’s book signing and to scope out the free books. However, I did…
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This is part 3 in the series on The Importance of Passion, Purpose and Authenticity in Your Pitch Almost two years ago heard Kathryn McHugh, former executive editor at Da Capo Press Lifelong Books, a member of the Perseus Books Group, in New York City, talk about how purpose, passion and authenticity can turn into publishable products. McHugh took on…
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