Category: Writing

Before You Publish, Speak Your Story

At last the moment arrives—your manuscript is complete! You’ve read it and re-read it one, two, three times. You’ve made tweaks, fixed typos, run spelling and grammar checks, and read it one more time for good measure. You may think your manuscript is polished to perfection, but before you hand

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Writing in the Margins

Do those words bring to mind doodling in a notebook during class? I certainly found myself doing that back in the day, especially when the subject matter was less than riveting. More recently, in my work supporting authors through the publishing process, I’ve come to understand “writing in the margins”

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Publishing Is a Team Sport

“I don’t know why they call this self-publishing. I couldn’t have done this without you.” That’s an actual quote from an author I helped. It’s one of my favorites, but I’m not sharing it to toot my own horn. Rather, I’m highlighting it to acknowledge all the players who contribute

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Getting Onboard with Professional Book Design

The beginning is a very good place to start, as Julie Andrews’ Maria tunefully taught us in The Sound of Music. But life doesn’t always work out that way. This article focuses on a book that started well north of the beginning, at least in terms of when it hit

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Memoir or Autobiography?

This article is provided courtesy of my colleague, writing coach and editor Jasmyne Boswell. Photo by Sincerely Media on Unsplash.    How does a memoir differ from an autobiography? That is the number one question I am asked by clients writing their first memoir. An autobiography tells one’s life story from

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Think Slow Cooker, Not Fast Food

We all give in to the temptation of a fast food meal every once in a while. Most of them look tasty, are marketed exactly to trigger our cravings, and they’re quick to get and consume. They’re convenient — but lacking the nutrients we need to be healthy. Believe it

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What Copy Should You Write for the Copyright Page?

As a reader, you might not pay much attention to the copyright page in books, which is typically located on the back (verso) of the title page. However, it’s an essential part of the book’s front matter, containing valuable information for librarians and bibliographers, as well as anyone who wants

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