writing tips

Pen to Pen: Liv Rancourt on Plotting and Character Motivation for Novelists

I’m thrilled to welcome Liv Rancourt back to my blog in this installment of Pen to Pen, a series of guest posts by authors about all aspects of writing. Here, she talks about plotting versus pantsing—that is, do you plan your story ahead of time, or discover what will happen as you write? … Read more

The Quick & Dirty Guide to Exporting Your Books from Pronoun

Here’s my quick-and-dirty guide to the essential information you should download from Pronoun before the site ends distribution on January 15. (Previously, MacMillan had promised to keep account information accessible through February 15, but I can no longer find this promise on its site. So stop whatever you’re doing and DOWNLOAD YOUR STUFF NOW.) … Read more

Romance Writer Problems: “My Mommy Writes Kissy Books!” with J.V. Speyer

two men kissing

I don’t have kids, but I do know a lot of kids, and J.V. Speyer’s guest column for this week’s Pen to Pen feature had me laughing in recognition. Whether you’re a parent or simply have trouble explaining your job to loved ones of any age, this post is sure to strike a chord. It also provides some great ideas for melding career and family life. Read on! … Read more

Four easy online editing tools for writers

red pen resting on marked up piece of paper

When you’ve revised your story so many times you can no longer see its flaws, online copyediting software can help. Here are four of the best for writers. … Read more

What to Look for in a Small Publisher, Part 2: Contract Terms

Infographic with the following text: What to Look for in a Small Publisher Contract Terms Advice from M Pepper Langlinais more info: dalecameronlowry.com/contract-terms/ For how long does the publisher plan to hold the rights? There should always be an end date with the opportunity for the publisher to renew. Is there something in the contract for rights reversion? Is there a way to get your rights back if the publisher closes or you want to try a new publisher? Will your book appear in print? Does the publisher guarantee your title will have a print version? If not, how important is that to you? Does the publisher have distribution and marketing? Are they going to actively market your book? Will they distribute your book to stores and libraries? How and when do you get paid? Do you get paid monthly, quarterly, or yearly? Are royalties based on cover price ("gross"), or what the publisher gets after expenses ("net")? Do they own your next book(s)? If things don’t go well with your first book, you don’t want to owe the publisher all your manuscripts.

It’s important not to sign any offer that a publisher sends you. M Pepper Langlinais was here on Tuesday talking about how to evaluate a small publisher based on its books, online presence, and marketing efforts. Now she’s back to talk about the legal stuff: contract terms.
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Pen to Pen: Finding Time to Write as a New Author with Sarah Hadley Brook

person typing on manual typewriter

In this week’s Pen to Pen column, author Sarah Hadley Brook tells of her entry into publishing later in life and the challenges of fitting her second career into an already busy schedule. It’s advice we can all benefit from, whether we’re new to writing or have been publishing for a long time. … Read more

Pen to Pen: Write Sex Scenes that Sizzle with Elizabeth Lister

Two men kissing under a white sheet

Just like it takes practice to get good at sex, it also takes practice to get good at writing about it. Award-winning romance author Elizabeth Lister is here to pass on what she’s learned and to help you draw from your own experiences when writing about this crucial part of a character’s story. … Read more