Category: writing craft

picture of a man screaming at his laptop with crumpled pieces of paper littered around his desk

How to Use Triggers to Write Better Articles and Stories

I have to give props to DRM for his honest article on the need to be loved and the impact of negative comments about our writing in a public environment. Why Do We Care So Much What Strangers Think of Us? It triggered my own struggle with being a good writer, one who helps others […]

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Judging Writing Quality

One of the refrains I hear constantly from authors is: “If I get a contract from a publisher, I’ll know the book is good enough to publish.” What they are saying is that acquiring editors at publishing houses know what good writing looks like and, if they meet their criteria, they will be offered a […]

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Photo by Maggie Lynch. First chapter edits on left with notebook of chapter planning on right.

Why Is “Crappy” Writing Rewarded?

Throughout my publishing career, there have always been authors who complain that they are not fairly compensated for their writing. That complaint is often couched in a comparison of their income to someone else writing in the same genre who is doing significantly better. Furthermore, the complaining author has judged that person to be undeserving […]

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