You’ve heard this: You have to kiss a lot of frogs before you find your prince. The same mindset holds true for writing. You have to submit to a lot of literary journals before you find the perfect fit for your story or essay. You have to query a lot of agents before you find … Read More
Should You Become a Content Creator?
A friend recently forwarded me an issue of author Leigh Stein’s newsletter, Attention Economy: Writing + Publishing in the Digital Age. The issue was a thoughtful discussion of the need for writers to get into content creation, titled “audience is a business problem you need to solve.” Stein writes, “I believe that writers who want … Read More
Submission Etiquette
This morning, I am thinking about submission etiquette for writers. I hope you’ll indulge what may come off as a bit of a rant, but it’s not really. A week ago, it might have been, but I’m over it at this point. Still, I think it’s important for writers who are submitting to understand the … Read More
Introducing Juliet McDaniel
Photograph of Juliet McDaniel by Dianna Gonzalez. I recently shared the news my fiction manuscript was selected as the Book Winner in Launch Pad’s 6th Annual Prose Writing Competition. But, as if that wasn’t so much more than enough, I was also picked as one of three Mentorship Prize Winners. What does that mean? It … Read More
Rejection Rituals
Last week I wrote about Celebration Rituals. Writing wins are unquestionably something to celebrate. But guess what? Rejections are something to celebrate, too. Rejections are progress. I know it doesn’t feel like it in the moment, but they are. They mean you’re out there trying. You can’t get a rejection unless you submit something or … Read More
Celebrating the Wins
I’m celebrating a big win today. Big. Huge. I have to go shopping now. But before I do, I want to tell you about my win, not to brag, although I’m proud of the accomplishment, but because it’s a perfect example of something I want you to know and to believe with all your heart: … Read More
10 Tips for Submitting to Literary Journals
Submitting prose to literary journals is a long game for most of us. Success doesn’t come overnight or easily, and it’s easy to get discouraged. I speak from personal experience. But you don’t have to close your eyes, cross your fingers, and leave things to chance. There are some things you can do to increase … Read More
5 Reasons Not to Enter Writing Contests
Writing contests are fun. I love them, and I enter them often, although I’ve yet to make it past the “finalist” level. But I don’t care! During those weeks or months of waiting for the winners to be announced, it’s exciting thinking that one of the winning stories might be mine. I recently read an … Read More
KISS Your Manuscript
KISS: Keep it simple, scribbler. When I’m working with writers, I ask that manuscripts be submitted to me in Times New Roman typeface, 12-point font, double-spaced, with one-inch margins and a half-inch indentation at each new paragraph. Why? Well, yes, it makes my job easier–help me help you and all that. But most importantly, this … Read More
Believe in Yourself
I want to talk to you today about a Flavorwire article I read eight years ago. It’s an old article, yes, but (1) it’s still relevant today, and (2) it made such an impact on me that I’m still thinking about it eight years later. I also want to point out that, while the 2014 article … Read More