I talk a lot about trying to find time/make time to write. I don’t talk enough about what enables me to actually sit down and do my writing. That would be my family (and to a lesser, but equally important extent, my friends). When I have writing that needs to be done, my spouse and children have always allowed me to do what was necessary. Even those times when they had activities going on that required my attention, they put them on hold for my writing. Without that support, I could never have done what I’ve done so far and will do in the future. So why am I talking about it now? Well, today I fly to Toronto to […]
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Get Published Episode 94 – Barbara Galler-Smith, Multi-faceted Writer
I often think that, to be a successful writer, you should have a good understanding of the writing craft from multiple angles. That means writing, reading, editing, marketing and promotion and even publishing. That’s the ideal, of course, and few of us have either the time or the connections to make that experience happen. On today’s episode, I get to talk to someone who has seen publishing and the writing industry from several different directions. She is a writer, editor, slush pile reader, writing instructor and published author. Barbara Galler-Smith couples that with a wealth of varied life experiences and has a lot of interesting things to say. I also talk about my experiences collaborating on a novel with JR […]
Read moreBuilding an Author’s Signing Survival Kit
Let me begin by saying, the ideas that follow are not wholly mine. The idea of the survival kit was given to me during the “When Words Collide” writing conference. A very nice lady came to talk to me while I was manning the publisher booth and she asked me if I had a kit put together. She then explained what it was and some of the items that should go in it. Essentially, the purpose of the Signing Survival Kit (SSK) is to give the author the best flexibility and preparedness for any possible signing opportunity. It should be constructed in such a way that it is easy to carry, and store. So, here is the SSK in its […]
Read moreLearning as I Go
There are days when I think I know quite a lot about being published and the trials and tribulations of being a writer. That is largely because I’ve had the grand opportunity to meet and speak with many fantastic authors and edits and publishers and…well you get the idea. Then there are days when I know I’m a fledgling writer N00b who has a lot to learn. For example, I naively thought I could walk into my local public library, introduce myself to one of the librarians and offer to come in to do readings/signings/whatevers and they would fall over themselves (okay, be receptive at least) to book me in. The reality is, I am now 0/4 on my attempts. […]
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