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Article Index


Starting Out
Begin at the Beginning...
What Is a Writer? - Moira Allen
A Beginner's Guide to Writing Terminology - Dawn Copeman
Planning Your Writing Career - Dawn Copeman
Should You Specialize or Generalize? - Moira Allen
Take Your Specialty for a Spin - Moira Allen
Setting Effective Writing Goals - Moira Allen
Goals Are Worthless If... - Brian Jud
Getting the Most from Online Writing Classes - Moira Allen
How to Read 'How To Write' Books, by Sean McLachlan
Learning the Craft - Dawn Copeman
Should You Write for Free? - Moira Allen
What Kind of Writer Do You Want to Be? - Terje Johansen

Finding Ideas
Five Unusual Places to Look for Article Ideas - Chryselle D'Silva Dias
Where Oh Where Are All the Good Article Ideas? - Patricia Fry

Finding Markets
Bread and Butter Markets - Moira Allen
Exploring New Markets - Moira Allen
Finding Sample Magazines - Without Breaking the Bank - Moira Allen
How to Study a Magazine You've Never Seen - Mridu Khullar
Researching Markets: Looking Beyond the Obvious - Karen Luna Ray
A Smorgasbord of Markets - Penny Ehrenkranz
Targeting the Wrong Markets: The New Writer's Most Common Mistake - Moira Allen

Queries and Submissions
Queries vs. Articles: Which is Best? - Moira Allen
How to Write a Successful Query - Moira Allen
E-mail Queries and Submissions: How to Keep Editors Happy - Moira Allen
What to Do if You Don't Have Clips - Moira Allen
A Quick Guide to Manuscript Format - Moira Allen
Cover Letters: When, How and Why to Use Them - Moira Allen
Cover Me - I'm Going In! - John Floyd
Pros and Cons of Simultaneous Submissions - Moira Allen
Who's Who on the Magazine Masthead - Moira Allen
Writing Your Bio - Terje Johansen

Conducting Research and Interviews
A Beginner's Guide to Interviewing - Dawn Copeman
Conducting Interviews - Moira Allen
Conducting E-mail Surveys and Interviews - Moira Allen
Creating an Expert File - Kathryn Lay
Expert-Finding Strategies Every Writer Needs to Know - Mridu Khullar
Don't Reach for Any Old Quote - John Rains
It's Interesting -- But Is It Accurate? (The Perils of Online Information) - Moira Allen
Searching the Web - Moira Allen
Why Libraries Still Matter - Ellen Metter

Crafting Your Article
Avoiding Comma Confusion - Moira Allen
Becoming Your Own Editor - Moira Allen
Death by Revision - Kristin Camiolo
Facing the First Draft - Moira Allen
Five Fatal Flaws that Can Lead to Rejection - Moira Allen
Five Tips to Writing Great Subheads - Kristina Springer
Grammar Gaffes and How to Avoid Them - Marg Gilks
How A Good Editor Can Help You (including 20 mistakes writers commonly make) - Patricia Fry
How to Craft a Great Article, Part I: Structure, Focus, Unity and Flow - Dawn Copeman
How to Craft a Great Article, Part II: Hooks, Leads, and Endings - Dawn Copeman
How to Outgrow "Write What You Know" - Jenna Glatzer
How to "Show Don't Tell" - Dawn Copeman
How to Sit Down and Write an Article - Dawn Copeman
How to Write Like an Expert - Moira Allen
The Outline Demystified - Moira Allen
Proofread Your Article Professionally! - Janis Butler Holm
Tapping Your Innate Creativity - Barbara Florio Graham
What Every Writer Needs to Know About Article Titles - Julie K. Cohen
When "First Person" Is the Last Person You Need - Moira Allen
Why You Can't Rely on Your Spellchecker - Jan K. the Proofer

Networking
The Benefit of Critique Groups - Michele Acker
The Buddy System - Carol Sjostrom Miller
How Online Critiquing Can Help Your Writing - Moira Allen
How to Give and Receive Critiques - Dawn Copeman
Ten Great Reasons (Plus One) to Attend a Writers' Conference - by Susan Denney
Using Informational Interviews to Advance Your Career - Terri Mrosko

Should You Quit Your Day Job?
Balancing Act: Ten Reasons to Keep Your Day Job - Denene Brox
Making the Leap from a "Real Job" to Freelancing - Kathy Sena
To Plunge or Not to Plunge? - Moira Allen
Fifty Tips on Taking the Plunge - Moira Allen
Ready to Quit Your Day Job? - Hasmita Chander

Freelancing for Magazines and Periodicals
General Freelancing Tips
As Easy As ABC: Writing List Articles - Theresa O'Shea
Eight Things that Can Go Wrong for a Freelance Writer - Patricia Fry
Expert-Finding Strategies Every Writer Needs to Know - Mridu Khullar
How to Write Effectively for a Cause - Mary Emma Allen
Make an Extra $1,000 a Month - Mridu Khullar
Newspapers: A Great Source of Freelance Opportunities - Sue Fagalde Lick
The Newspaper/Blog Connection - Sue Fagalde Lick
Organizing and Maintaining Your Market Notes - Hasmita Chander
Participatory Journalism for Magazines and Newspapers - Larry Atkins
Six Tips on Selling Lists Articles - Kathryn Lay
Writing for (not by) the Ear - Donnell King
What's Your Writing IQ? (Fillers and Quizzes) - Marie E. Cecchini
Why Write for Newspapers? - Sue Fagalde Lick
Writing for the General Public: It's Not as Easy as it Sounds - Mary J. Breen
Writing to Trends - Susan Sundwall

Targeting Specific Markets
Christian:
Break Into the Religious Market With a Devotion - Tatiana Claudy
Environment:
Going Green: Green Markets, Green Topics - Wenona Napolitano
Family History/Genealogy:
Writing for Family History Magazines - Rosemary Bennett
Health:
Here's to (Writing About) Your Health! - Jenna Glatzer
Writing about Diet, Nutrition and Food - Kelly James-Enger
Writing for US and UK Health Publications - Rachel Newcombe
History:
Local History: A Lucrative Niche Market - Patricia Fry
Making Your Future Out of the Past: How to Break into the Burgeoning History Market - Sean McLachlan
People and Steeples: Writing Church Histories - Wendy Hobday Haugh
Misc.:
Writing Comic Books - Barry Lyga
Writing for the Gaming Industry - Melissa Brewer
Lights, Camera, Action! How to Get Paid to Write About Motion Pictures - Paul Armentano
Five Steps to Writing Great Quizzes - Kelly James-Enger
Music:
Writing for the Music Market - C.J. Chilvers
Writing for Music Magazines - Ruth McHaney Danner
Personal Experiences:
Fifteen Paying Markets for Personal Essays and Life Stories - Chryselle D'Silva Dias
How to Turn "First Experiences" into "First Sales" - Moira Allen
Mastering the Personal Experience Article - Deborah Newton
Writing (and Selling) Personal Experience Articles - Moira Allen
Pets:
How to Write for Pet Magazines - Moira Allen
Writing for Pet Markets: An Interview with Moira Allen - Kelly Milner
List of Paying Pet Markets - Moira Allen
Profiles:
Crafting the Perfect Profile - John Rains
Procedures, Perks and Pitfalls of Profile Writing - Shirley Byers Lalonde
Six Tips for Writing Celebrity Profiles - Kayleen Reusser
Writing Mini-Profiles for Maximium Profit - Lisa Beamer
Regional:
State Magazines: Ten Tips for Landing Great Features in Your Home Area - Sean McLachlan
Increase Your Income by Writing Close to Home - Patricia Fry
Teaching:
Teaching Writing Online - Moira Allen
Tips on Conducting a Successful Workshop - Moira Allen
Tips on Teaching Creative Writing - Shirley Kawa-Jump
Travel:
The Business of In-flights - Tim Lehnert
Bylines from Near and Far: Travel Writing in 2009-2010 - Myrna Oakley
Do's and Don'ts of Travel Writing - Jennifer Stewart
How to Organize Sponsored Travel - Susan Miles
Looking for Travel Sidebars - Jack Adler
To Job or Not To Job: A Writer's Question - Antonio Graceffo
How Writers Can Score Press Trips, by Roy A. Barnes
Tourism Authorities: The Travel Writer's Best Friend - Susan Miles
Travel that Pays - Kayleen Reusser
The Untraveled Travel Writer - Isabel Viana
What's a Press Trip? A Travel-Writing FAQ - Kathryn Lemmon
Writing Opportunities on the Road - Susan Miles
Writing the World: Ten Tips to Breaking into the Guidebook Market, by Sean McLachlan

Creating, Selling and Syndicating a Column
How to Self-Syndicate Your Column - Moira Allen
How to Write a Book Review - Bill Asenjo
How to Write an Op-Ed - John McLain
Syndicating Your Weekly Column - Elizabeth Laden

Selling Reprints
Can I Sell a Previously Published Article? - Moira Allen
Making the Most of Your Inventory (Selling Reprints) - Dana Cassell
Marketing Reprints Through International Syndication: An Interview with Sheila O'Connor - Moira Allen
One Article, Many Checks: Selling Reprints - Kelly James-Enger
Selling Reprints - Moira Allen

Photography
Eight Steps to Professional Travel Photos - Bob Difley
Picture Perfect: Using Photos to Sell Your Articles - Christine Ridout

The Writing Life
Coping with the Writing Life
Excuses, Excuses... How to Guarantee Failure as a Writer - Lee Masterson
Feeling Guilty about Writing Too Much for Too Little? Shed the Guilt, Discover the Rewards - Susie Yakowicz
Making Your Writing World Safe - Jane Anne Staw
Recharging the Writer Battery: Six Ways to Keep Going When Times Get Tough - Mindy Hardwick
Ten Tips on Beating the Writing Blues - Lynn Alfino
What To Do When the Writing Motivation Wavers - Susan Miles
When Fear Gets in the Way - Moira Allen
Write What You Want to Write! - Dawn Copeman

Rejection
Coping with Rejection - Moira Allen
Why You Get Form Rejection Letters - Jenna Glatzer

Writer's Block
Beating Writer's Block and Honing Your Skills - Dawn Copeman
Facing Down Life Block - Donnell King
Fighting Writer's Block, Part I: Causes and Cures - David Taylor
Fighting Writer's Block, Part 2: Block Writing and Speed Writing - David Taylor
Writer's Block: Is It All In Your Head? - Leslie What

The Healthy Writer
Avoiding Repetitive-Stress Injuries: A Writer's Guide - Geoff Hart
Music to Write By - Indra Sena
RSI: A Danger to Chronic Computer Users - Radhika Meganathan
Yoga, Stretching and You - Penny Lockwood Ehrenkranz



Time Management
A Writing Plan for the New Year - by Shaunna Privratsky
Finding Time to Write - Moira Allen
Making Sure Others Respect Your "Right to Write" - Kristi Holl
I Could Be A Writer, Too - If I Only Had The Time - Roberta Roesch
Organizing Your Writing Time - Penny Lockwood Ehrenkranz
Take Control of Your Time! - Kelle Campbell
How Writing Every Day Keeps You Writing... Every Day! - Dana Mitchells
Tips from the Procrastination Princess - Mridu Khullar
Using Footpower to Boost Your Brainpower: How Walking Away Can Improve Your Writing, by Leigh Anne Jasheway-Bryant

Coffee on the Deck - Ramblings on the Writing Life - by Moira Allen
A Letter from Nigeria, by John Conclivè
We Never Think It Will Happen... (Protecting Your Work and Photos from a Disaster)
What Do You Know?
The Disappearing Writer
Seeking the Muse
Bite-Size Resolutions
Permanence vs. Accessibility (or, Books vs. Web)
Grammar Matters!
Remember Summer Vacation?
Feeling Like a Dinosaur
Our Reach and Our Grasp
But First...
Stirring the Nest
Why We Do What We Do
Wish You Merry... (Happy Holidays in Not-So-Happy Times)
Are You Doing What You Love?
Prophets Without Honor
Does Your Work "Deserve" Copyright Protection? Just Ask Google!
Koziol vs. Booksurge -- Cause for Cheering... or Head-scratching?
How Do You Define Success?

Have We Changed How We Use and View the Internet?

The Business of Writing
Handling Income, Expenses and Records
Back Up Your Writing - And the Rest of Your Life! - Moira Allen
Handling a Windfall Profit - Moira Allen
Handling Writing Income and Expenses - Moira Allen
How to Make Sure You Get Your Check - Felicia Hodges
Keeping Records - Moira Allen
When Clients Don't Pay - Melissa Brewer

Increasing Your Income
Boost Your Bottom Line - Mridu Khullar
How Much Should a Freelancer Charge? - Moira Allen
Internet Want Ads: Finding Writing Jobs Online, by Julie Bloss Kelsey
The Key to Success: Write More! - Lee Tobin McClain
One Dozen Unique Ways to Make More Money - Patricia Fry

Recession-Proof Your Writing Business - Patricia Fry
Ten Tips to Reaching Financial Success as a Freelance Writer - Bev Bachel and Jennifer Lawler
There's No Free Lunch -- But There Is Free Software! - Des Nnochiri
Twenty Ways Writers Can Save Money - Mridu Khullar
The Worth of a Freelancer's Work - Donald Denier
Writing in a Recession - Dawn Copeman

Rights and Contracts
"First Sale" Mistakes Every Writer Can Avoid - Moira Allen
Five Magic Phrases: Tips for Negotiating Contracts Like a Pro - Jenna Glatzer
Rights: What They Mean and Why They're Important - Marg Gilks
Selling All Rights: Right or Wrong? - Moira Allen
Selling International Rights - Moira Allen
Understanding Contracts - Moira Allen
Understanding Rights and Copyright - Moira Allen

Reprints and Permissions
Everything You Always Wanted to Know about Permissions - Brandon Trissler
Increase Your Market with a Creative Commons License - Josh Smith
Top Ten Questions About Copyright Permissions - David Taylor
Using Song Lyrics - Dawn Copeman

Other Business Issues:
Building a Writer's Business Plan - Moira Allen
Creating a Writer's Resume - Moira Allen
Five Letters Every Writer Will Need - Rose Ross Zediker
Grants, Fellowships, & Residencies - Megan Potter
Questions to Ask Before Collaborating - Moira Allen
Retreat! How to Get Away to Write - C. Hope Clark
Should You Use a Pseudonym? - Moira Allen
Taking Time Off: Planning a Vacation - Denene Brox

Plagiarism, Piracy and Infringement
Don't Do Us Any Favors -- Don't Steal Our work! - Moira Allen
How to Protect Yourself from Editorial Theft - Kyle Looby
Plagiarism, Copyright, and the Eighteenth Century - Jack Lynch
Protecting Your Work from Electronic Pirates - Charles Petit
Research or Plagiarism? - Moira Allen
Someone Stole My Article! What To Do When It Happens To You - Moira Allen
Understanding Fair Use - John Savage
What Is Libel? - David Taylor
Will an Editor Steal Your Ideas? - Moira Allen

Scams and Other Perils
Canning the Spam - Moira Allen
It Might Not Happen, But... (backing up/restoring your work) - Des Nnochiri
Watch Out for Web Scams! - Moira Allen
Writing Contests: When Winners are Losers - Moira Allen

International Freelancing
Reaching International Markets
Affordable Market Resources for International Writers - Hasmita Chander
Breaking into the Spanish-Language Greeting Card Market - Susana Baughman
Don't Write Down to European Audiences! - Nancy Arrowsmith
Do Not Go Clueless Into That Strange Culture! - Ysabel de la Rosa
Finding UK Experts and Spokespeople - Rachel Newcombe
Getting Information from UK "PRs" - Rachel Newcombe
The Global Marketplace - Michael Sedge
How to Become a Foreign Correspondent -- Without Leaving Home! - Ysabel de la Rosa
How to Become an International News Reporter - Huw Francis
India as a Writer's Market - Hasmita Chander
Interviewing American Artists for International Publications - Lawrence Schimel
Writing for ESL Markets - Amy Chavez
Writing for the NGO Community - Kimberly Baldwin Radford
Writing for UK County Magazines - Rachel Newcombe
Writing Fillers for the UK (and US) Markets - Sara Wilson
Writing for the UK Gardening Market - Rachel Newcombe
Writing for UK Travel Magazines - Rachel Newcombe
Writing for US and UK Health Publications - Rachel Newcombe

Language and Translation Issues
Conducting Interviews in International English - Ysabel de la Rosa
Five Tips on Translating Poetry - Jennifer Liddy
How to Get Your Work Translated Properly - Jim Pierce
How to Use an Interpreter - Nancy Tangemann
Launching a Translation Career - Maya Mirsky
Learning a Language Without Lessons - Ysabel de la Rosa
Preserving Your Words in Translation - Jennifer Hutchins
Providing Glossaries for Your Translator - Lawrence Schimel
Writing in International English - Martin Schell

Handling Overseas Business Issues
Cutting Your International Internet Costs - Ysabel de la Rosa
Handling an Overseas Writing Business - Moira Allen
Improving Your Global Image - Huw Francis
International Grant Resources - C. Hope Clark
Networking Opportunities for International Writers - Ysabel de la Rosa
Reaching International Markets Electronically - Moira Allen
Selling International Rights - Moira Allen

Commercial Corner: Business and Technical Writing
Business and Commercial Writing and Editing
An Introduction to Commercial Writing - Dawn Copeman
Breaking Into Corporate Editing - Moira Allen
Editing as a Profession - Aline Lechaye
Everybody's Business: Writing for the Corporate World - Barbara Neal Varma
Five Steps to Developing Your Writing Brand - Sonya Carmichael Jones
How to Write a Competitive Analysis - Michael Knowles
How to Write a White Paper - Michael Knowles
Presenting Your Portfolio - Mandy Hougland
Presenting Your Portfolio, Part II: What to Include - Mandy Hougland
Using Letters of Introduction to Land Assignments with Trade Publications - Denene Brox
Writing Corporate Newsletters - Moira Allen

Writing Proposals
The Art of Writing Grant Proposals - Penny Ehrenkranz
Writing Proposals: An Interview with Paul Weber - Barbara Vega

Technical Writing
13 Tips on How to Tech-Talk to Non-Techies - Hasmita Chander
Digital and Personal Tech: Writing for The Next Generation of Technical Magazines - Mridu Khullar
Indexing Technical Documents: An Interview with Lori Lathrop - Barbara Vega
Looking for Work as a Scientific Communicator - Geoff Hart
Marketing the Wily Technical Writer - Michael Knowles
Succeeding as a Technical Writer - Michael Knowles
Technical Writers: It's OK to Lie to Your Readers -- a Little! - Geoff Hart

Writing for Trade Magazines
Writing for Real Estate Trade Magazines - Dan Rafter
Writing for Trade Magazines - Mark Lamendola

Creative Nonfiction
Essays, Journaling, and Personal Writing
Essay Writing: When It's Just Too Personal - Heather Haapoja
An Exercise in Essay-Writing - Sheila Bender
Feeling Boxed In? Try an Extreme Makeover to Boost Your Creativity - Leigh Anne Jasheway-Bryant
Fifteen Paying Markets for Personal Essays and Life Stories - Chryselle D'Silva Dias
Finding Your Writing's "Occasion" - Sheila Bender
Grab That Memory Before It Slips Away! - Uma Girish
How to Create the Ultimate Holiday Newsletter - Moira Allen
How to Keep your Memoir Writing Sharp and Vital - Dr. Allan Hunter
How to Write Winning First-Person Stories - C.S. Paquin
Keeping a Writer's Journal: 21 Ideas to Keep You Writing - Sheila Bender
Mindplay - Peggy Bechko
Personally Speaking - Kathryn Lay
Portrait of a Relative - Ruth Danner
Twenty-Two Reasons to Turn to Your Journal for Catharsis and Creativity - Noelle Sterne
Writing a Family History - Moira Allen
Writing and the Cosmic Shopping Mall (or how to access your creative mind and silence the inner critic), by Emily Hanlon
Writing From Anticipation - Sheila Bender
Writing the Personal Essay - Mridu Khullar

General Fiction
Getting Started: The Fundamentals of Fiction, by Marg Gilks
Part I: "I've Got an Idea!"
Part II: Read, Read, Read!
Part III: Critique Groups and Writers' Groups
Part IV: Writers Write!
Part V: Learning How: Courses, Workshops and Tutors
Part VI: Learning the Lingo
Part VII: Being Realistic About Your Work
Part VIII: Finding Markets for Your Fiction
Part IX: Writing Etiquette
Part X: Avoid Those Beginners' Blunders

Characters and Viewpoint
Creating Memorable Characters - Lee Masterson
Creating Villains People Love to Hate - Lee Masterson
Do Werewolves Wear Shoes? Building Successful Horror Characters, by Shaunna Privratsky
Establishing the Right Point of View: How to Avoid "Stepping Out of Character" - Marg Gilks
Finding Your Characters - Mary Cook
Handling a Cast of Thousands I: Getting to Know Your Characters - Will Greenway
Handling a Cast of Thousands II: Your Story as Your Characters (and Readers) See It - Will Greenway
Handling a Cast of Thousands III: Developing the Five-Act Scene - Will Greenway
Headhopping, Authorial Intrusion, and Shocked Expressions - Anne Marble
Motivation - Hank Quense
The Mystery of Character - Robert Wilson
Plotting by Personality - Marg McAlister
The Secrets of Characterization - Sigrid Macdonald
Targeting Enemy Words - Sandra Miller
Viewpoint, Perspective and Time - Will Greenway

Dialogue
Creating Dynamic Dialogue - Will Greenway
It's Not What They Say... - Mary Cook
Off with the Talking Heads! - Marg Gilks
Punctuating Dialogue - Marg Gilks
Slang and How to Sling It - Randall Platt
The Use and Abuse of Dialogue Tags - Anne Marble

Description and Setting
The Art of Description: Eight Tips to Help You Bring Your Settings to Life - Anne M. Marble
Four Ways to Bring Settings to Life - Moira Allen
Houses are People Too: The Structure of a Literary Device - Geoff Hart
Location, Location, Location! - Jim C. Hines

Story Structure
Choosing the Right Name for Your Story - John Floyd
Dynamic Beginnings: Getting Your Story Off to a Great Start - Will Greenway
Fewer Words Mean Bigger Bucks, by Shaunna Privratsky
Five Fiction Mistakes that Can Spell Rejection - Moira Allen
From Beginning to End, A Fiction Format to Your Next Sale, by Shaunna Privratsky
Plotting Your Novel - Lee Masterson
Plunge Right In... Into Your Story, That Is! - Rekha Ambardar
To Outline or Not to Outline - Tim Hallinan
Where to Begin? When, Where and How to Write a Prologue - Lital Talmor
Why Do I Need an Outline? - Cheryl Sloan Wray
Your Story Outline: What It's All About - Rekha Ambardar

Flash Fiction
Flash What? A Quick Look at Flash Fiction - Jason Gurley
Flashes of Brilliance: Writing Flash Fiction - Joan Popek
Flashes on the Meridian: Dazzled by Flash Fiction - Pamelyn Casto

General Tips
25 Unique Places to Find Story Ideas - Michelle Giles
Becoming a Fiction Aficionado, by Shaunna Privratsky
Blueprints: Building a Home for Your Characters - Elizabeth Chayne
Can I Make a Living as a Novelist? - Marilyn Henderson
The Ethics of Tragedy: Plot Victims are People Too! - Paula Fleming
A Field Guide to Genre Writers' Organizations - Catherine Lundoff
Historical Research for Fiction Writers - Catherine Lundoff
How Long Should Your Story Be? - Lee Masterson
Keeping Your Story On Track with Style Sheets - Marg Gilks
Lateral Thinking - Ahmed A. Khan
Look before You Write: Applying the Lessons of the Visual Arts - Paula Fleming
Mindplay - Peggy Bechko
Mixing It Up: Writing Across Genres - Penny Lockwood Ehrenkranz
The Name Game - John Robert Marlow
Partly Cloudy, Scattered Showers: Setting the Scene with Weather - Larissa Ione
"Prove" Your Story with Evidence - Sue Fagalde Lick
A Research Primer for Historical Fiction Writers - Erika Dreifus
Stuck in the Middle of Your Story? Try Prompts! - Alina Sandor
The Top Ten Mistakes New Fiction Authors Make - Sally Zigmond
Visualization Exercises for Writers - Holly Lisle
What, Where, When and Why - Marg Gilks
Write What You Know -- Because You Know More than You Think! - Marg Gilks
Writing Experimental Fiction: Leaving the Problem Out of the Plot - Tantra Bensko

Getting Published
How to Write a Novel Synopsis - Marg Gilks
The Midlisters: Backbone of the Publishing Industry - Sean McLachlan
Research, Track and Conquer: How to Research Short Fiction Markets, Track Submissions, and Ultimately Get Published - Joseph Thomas
Small Press Magazines: Should You Bother? - Bruce Boston
Yes, You Can Make Money Writing Fiction - Patricia Fry

Tips from the Victorians (from Girl's Own Paper, 1881)
1: Literary Work for Girls
2: How to Write a Story

Children's Writing
Writing for Young Readers - by Eugie Foster
Happily Ever After
Worldbuilding Considerations for the Children's Writer
An Interview with Author Dallas Woodburn
Juggling Hamsters: Tips for the Busy Writer
An Interview with Tansy Rayner Roberts of Shiny
Writing Humor (As Demonstrated by Buffy the Vampire Slayer)
An Interview with Mark Justice of Story Station
Writing for Children's Magazines
An Interview with Judy Burke of Highlights for Children
The ABCs of Writing for Kids: Active, Brief, and Cut Cut Cut
An Interview with Johnny D. Boggs of Boys' Life
A Writer's Resolution: I Will Submit!
Writing Talking Animal Tales
Hi/Lo Books: Writing for Reluctant Readers
An Interview with Deborah Vetter of the Cricket Magazine Group
Writing for "Tweens"

Feature Articles
The Christian Children's Market: A Place for Beginning Writers - Marcia Laycock
Editing Secrets to Make Your Work Shine - Laura Backes
The Elephant in the Room: Marketing Your Children's Manuscript - Peggy Tibbetts
Exploring Sparkle: An Interview with Peggy Tibbetts - Moira Allen
Finding Your Voice as a Children's Writer - Laura Backes
Five Reasons to Write Children's Nonfiction - Rita Milios
Frequently Asked Questions About Children's Writing - LeMieux, Lubar and Singer
Funds for Children's Writers - Lynne Remick
Make Your Picture Book Sparkle! - Peggy Tibbetts
Retelling Bible Stories for Children - Rose Ross Zediker
School Bookfairs: A Great Opportunity for Market Research - Carol Baldwin
School Visits: An Author's Serendipity - Mary Emma Allen
Six Steps to Make Your Children's Story Sparkle - Laura Backes
Short Stuff for Children - Marie Cecchini
So You Wanna Be a Children's Poet... - Linda Phillips
Ten Myths About Writing for Kids - Eugie Foster
Throw Obstacles at Your Characters - Laura Backes
Understanding Children's Writing Genres - Laura Backes
What Do Editors Want? - Laura Backes
When the Guidelines Say "7-12": The Ages and Stages of Children's Literature - Eugie Foster
Writing About Controversial Subjects - Laura Backes
Writing Captivating Dialogue for Children - Mary Emma Allen
Writing for the Teen Religious Market - Kathryn Lay
Writing for Teen Magazines - Ursula Furi-Perry
Writing in Rhyme for Children - Laura Backes
Writing Multicultural Fiction for Children (Part I) - Eugie Foster
Writing Multicultural Fiction for Children (Part 2): Nuts and Bolts - Eugie Foster

Mysteries
Researching the Mystery
Conducting Forensic Research: A Tutorial For Mystery Writers - Hilary Conner
Don't Fire Blanks: Aim for Accuracy in Your Mystery! - Stephen Rogers
Don't Shoot Holes in Your Credibility (What You Need to Know About Firearms) - John Rains
Murder or Suicide? How You (and Your Detective) Can Tell the Difference - Michelle Acker
Reading to Write: Staying in Touch with Mystery Fiction - Stephen Rogers
Researching the Mystery Short Story - John Floyd
Somebody Call a Cop! Writing About Law Enforcement - Stephen Rogers
White Collar Crime - Stephen Rogers

Writing the Mystery
Anything You Say... Tips for Effective Dialogue - Stephen Rogers
Beginings, Middles and Ends: Crafting the Mystery - Stephen Rogers
BulletProof Your Short Mysteries: Editors Tell You How! - Michael Bracken
Don't Drop Clues; Place Them Carefully!
Find the Motive, Find the Killer! - Stephen Rogers
From Cozy to Caper: A Guide to Mystery Genres - Stephen Rogers
Knock 'Em Dead -- Laughing! - Stephen Rogers
Red Herrings - Stephen Rogers
The Scene of the Crime: Choosing Your Setting - Stephen Rogers
What Is a Mystery Short Story? And How Do You Write One? - John Floyd
Writing the Cozy Mystery - Stephen Rogers
Writing Erotic Mysteries - Michael Bracken
Writing the PI Mystery - Stephen Rogers

Romance
The Basics of Romance
Building Humor into Your Romance - Anne M. Marble
Clichés to Avoid -- Or Reconstruct - Anne M. Marble
Conflict and Resolution in the Romance Novel - Linda Shertzer
Conflicted About Conflict? - Anne M. Marble
Foreshadowing and Suspense - Anne M. Marble
How not to Yank Your Reader Out of the Story! - Anne M. Marble
Research Flaws in Romance Novels - Anne M. Marble
Romance Plots from the Classics - Anne M. Marble
Seduce Your Reader with the Perfect Title! - Anne M. Marble
Story-Starters: Ten Ways to Jump-Start Your Plot - Anne M. Marble
When (and How) To Break the Rules - Anne M. Marble
Writing Emotional Scenes Without Melodrama - Anne M. Marble
Writing Romantic Dialogue - Anne M. Marble

Creating Great Characters
Creating Great Heroes and Heroines - Anne M. Marble
Don't Treat Your Characters Like Puppets! - Anne M. Marble
How Not to Create a Villain - Anne M. Marble
In the Name of Love... Finding the Right Names for Your Characters - Desmond Lindo
Name That Character! - Anne M. Marble
What's My Line? Character Professions in the Romance - Anne M. Marble

Writing Love Scenes
20 Steps to Writing Great Love Scenes - Karen Wiesner
Keeping it Sweet While Turning Up the Heat - MaryJanice Davidson
Sizzling, Sensuous and Steamy: How to Write Love Scenes - Carolyn Campbell
Ten Essentials for Writing Love Scenes - Anne M. Marble

Subgenres and Related Genres
Fantasy, Futuristic and Paranormal Romances - Anne M. Marble
Is Erotica Right for You? - Tracy Cooper-Posey
The Subgenres of Romance - Anne M. Marble
Time-Travel Romances - Anne M. Marble
Writing and Selling Erotic Fiction - Catherine Lundoff
Writing Romantic Comedy - Shirley Kawa-Jump
Women's Fiction vs. Romance: A Tale of Two Genres - Lisa Craig

Interviews
Diana Gabaldon (by Sue Perry)
Kim Headlee (by Moira Allen)
Teresa Medeiros (by Gayle Trent)
Fern Michaels (by Gayle Trent)
JoAnn Ross (by Gayle Trent)

Science Fiction & Fantasy
General Speculative Fiction Tips
Blending Fiction and History - Paula Fleming
Dialogue in Speculative Fiction: When Space Bugz Speakie Funnie and Other Problems - Paula Fleming
Finessing the Infodump - Paula Fleming
Using Current Events in Speculative Fiction - Paula Fleming
Using History: We Know Stuff Happens, but How? - Paula Fleming
What Does Your Protagonist Want? - Paula Fleming
What "Type" Is Your Character? - Paula Fleming
What's in a Name? - Moira Allen

Science Fiction
Aliens: Relatives of Ours? - Paula Fleming
Science Fiction: The Literature of Ideas - Marg Gilks, Paula Fleming, Moira Allen
Setting: The Key to Science Fiction, by Bruce Boston
Sex in SF - Paula Fleming
The Subgenres of Science Fiction - Marg Gilks, Moira Allen
Weird Science: Stranger than Fiction - Paula Fleming
Writing Soft SF - Penny Ehrenkranz

Fantasy
The Care and Feeding of Fictional Horses, by Mary K. Wilson
Contemporary Fantasy: Setting the Fantastic in the Everyday World - Paula Fleming
Creating a Realistic Fantasy World - Penny Ehrenkranz
Creative Uses of Magic in Your Fantasy Story - Philip Martin
Mixing Science and Magic: A Recipe for Disaster? - Paula Fleming
The Numberless Hordes: Keeping Your Fantasy Armies a Little Less Fantastic - John Savage
Shapeshifters: When It's Time to Shift the Story's Shape - Paula Fleming
What Is Magical Realism, Really? - Bruce Holland Rogers
What's the Magic Word: Defining the Sources, Effects and Costs of Magic - Lital Talmor

Horror
How To Write Today's Horror, Part I: The Seeds of Horror - David Taylor
How To Write Today's Horror, Part II: What Readers Want - David Taylor
How To Write Today's Horror, Part III: What Readers Don't Want - David Taylor
What Makes a Horror Writer? - Elizabeth Peake

Market Tips
Attending a Speculative Fiction Convention - Paula Fleming
Finding Good Markets, Avoiding Bad Ones - Paula Fleming
Writing for Themed Anthologies - Paula Fleming

Interviews:
Kevin J. ANDERSON - Lynne Jamneck
Piers ANTHONY: Master of Punmanship - Moira Allen
Bruce BOSTON: Writing Speculative Poetry - John Amen
David BRIN - Lynne Jamneck
Orson Scott CARD: On Religion in SF and Fantasy - Moira Allen
Jeanne CAVELOS - Lynne Jamneck
Douglas CLEGG - Lynne Jamneck
Kate ELLIOTT: An Eye for Detail - Moira Allen
Lynn FLEWELLING - Lynne Jamneck
Lynn FLEWELLING: Writing the World of the Series - Moira Allen
Ursula LEGUIN: Steering Her Craft - Faith Justice
Anne MCCAFFREY - Lynne Jamneck
Susan SIZEMORE: Writing with Bite - Moira Allen
Gordon VAN GELDER, editor of Fantasy and Science Fiction magazine - Lynne Jamneck

Contests
Tips on Entering and Winning Writing Contests
A Beginner's Guide to Writing Contests - Dawn Copeman
Choosing a Writing Contest - Tammy Mackenzie
Contesting: Why and How - Kathryn Lay
Contests: To Enter or Not to Enter? - Kathe Gogolewski
Through Judge-Coloured Spectacles: How to Win a Writing Contest - Sue Emms
21 Ways to Better Your Chances Winning Screenplay Contests - Elizabeth English
Writing Contests: When Winners Are Losers - Moira Allen
Writing to Win - Moira Allen

Poetry and Greeting Cards
Poetry
Cowboy Poetry - Kennerly Clay
Critiquing Poetry (Including Your Own) - Gwyneth Box
Five Tips on Translating Poetry - Jennifer Liddy
Give Me a Meter, I'll Take a Foot - Tami Krueger
Poetic Forms: The Ballad - Conrad Geller
Poetic Forms: The Sonnet - Conrad Geller
Poetic Forms: The Triolet - Conrad Geller
Poetic Forms: The Villanelle - Conrad Geller
So You Wanna Be a Children's Poet... - Linda Phillips
Some Thoughts on Free Verse, Part I: The Line - Lawrence Schimel
Some Thoughts on Free Verse, Part II: The Shape of the Poem - Lawrence Schimel
Some Thoughts on Meter - Lawrence Schimel
Some Thoughts on Fun and Verse - Lawrence Schimel
Some Thoughts on Nontraditional Forms - Lawrence Schimel
Some Thoughts on the Sestina - Lawrence Schimel
Three Bad Reasons to Write Poetry - and One Great One! - Conrad Geller
Three Classic Welsh Poetry Forms - Tami Krueger
Turning Your Day Job Into Poetry - Shanna Germain
Visual Poetics - Nirmaldasan
Whose Rhyme Is It Anyway? - Dana Mitchell
Writing in Rhyme For Children - Laura Backes
Writing Speculative Poetry: An Interview with Bruce Boston - John Amen
Writing the 'Not-So-Simple' Haiku - Patricia Spork

Greeting Cards and Short-Verse Markets
Breaking into the Greeting Card Market - Shery Ma Belle Arrieta
Getting Your Greeting Card Line to Market - Karen Moore
Going for the Knockout Punch(line) - Nadia Ali
Greeting Cards: Writing that's Short and Sweet - Marie Cecchini
How to Succeed Writing Spanish-Language Greeting Cards - Susanna Baughman
Slogan Scribe - Jenna Glatzer
Writing for the Electronic Greeting Card Market: An Interview with Nadia Ali - Moira Allen

Scripts and Screenwriting
Scripts and Screenwriting
21 Ways to Better Your Chances of Winning Screenplay Contests - Elizabeth English
Creating Character and Characterization in Screenplays - Elizabeth English
Evaluating Your Movie Idea - Laura Brennan
The Field of Dreams: Conflict as Metaphor in Screenplays - Elizabeth English
From Novel to Screenplay: The Challenges of Adaptation - Lynne Pembroke and Jim Kalergis
How to Develop Your Premise into a Compelling Script - Kathryn McCullough
The Making of a Hollywood Film: A Guide for Screenwriters - Elizabeth English
Securing Film Rights to Published Material - Lenore Wright
What is Coverage? - Kathryn McCullough
Writing the Prize-Winning Scripts - Laura Brennan
Writing the TV Spec Script - Laura Brennan

Publishing Your Book
Finding a Publisher: The Basics
10 Steps Toward Finding a Publisher - Moira Allen
Author Showcase and Syndication Services: Do They Work? - Debby Ridpath Ohi
Enhance Your Publishing IQ - Marilyn Henderson
A Quick Guide to Manuscript Format - Moira Allen

Finding an Agent
Ask an Agent: Four Agents Answer Your Questions - Natalie R. Collins
How to Play the Agent Game - Chris Gavaler
How to Pitch Your Book at a Writing Conference - Cynthia Gallagher
How to Protect Yourself from Questionable Agents - Marg Gilks
The Perfect Pitch: Pitching to Agents at a Writing Conference - Sue Fagalde Lick
What Agents Really Want - Natalie R. Collins

Pitching the Novel
How to Write a Novel Synopsis - Marg Gilks
Writing a Synopsis from the Ground Up - Dee-Ann Latona LeBlanc

Proposing a Nonfiction Book
The Art of Assembling Anthologies - Arlene Uslander and Brenda Warneka
Cast the Vision for Your Book - W. Terry Whalin
Building a Book from Your Columns or Articles - Mary Emma Allen
Selling Your Nonfiction Book, Part I: Finding the Right Publisher - Moira Allen
Selling Your Nonfiction Book, Part II: Making Your Pitch - Moira Allen
Selling Your Nonfiction Book, Part III: Check the Competition on Amazon! - Moira Allen
Two Sample Nonfiction Book Proposals

Electronic Publishing
Creating an Ebook in Word and PDF - Moira Allen
E-Books from the Publisher's Perspective - Sean McLachlan
Electronic Publishing: Subsidy vs. Nonsubsidy - Karen Wiesner
Formatting Your E-Book with Adobe Acrobat - Geoff Hart

Print-on-Demand (POD) Publishing
Designing a Print-on-Demand Cover, by Cathi Stevenson
DIY Publishing: Formatting Your Book for Lulu.com - Moira Allen
POD Books from the Publisher's Perspective - Sean McLachlan
The POD Quandary: How to Decide if Print-on-Demand Publishing is Right for You - Brenda Rollins
Ten Questions to Ask Before You Sign that Print-on-Demand Contract... - Sue Fagalde Lick
To POD or Not to POD: Some Pros and Cons - Moira Allen

Subsidy Publishing
The Price of Vanity - Moira Allen
Should You Pay for Publication? - Moira Allen
Subsidy Publishing: Sacrificing the Dream - Tina Morgan
Subsidy Publishing vs. Self-Publishing: What's the Difference? - Moira Allen

Self-Publishing
Self-Publishing FAQ - Moira Allen
Choosing a Self-Publishing Company - Ray Robinson
Establishing a Self-Publishing Business: The Basics - Moira Allen
Features vs. Benefits, or "Why Should I Buy Your Book?" - Brian Jud
Finding Special Sales for Self-Published Books - Brian Jud
From Self-Published Novelist to Best-Selling Author: An Interview With Richard Paul Evans - Carolyn Campbell
Fullfillment: How to Get Your Books to Your Customers - Moira Allen
Handling Orders and Invoices - Moira Allen
ISBNs, Copyright, and Other Technicalities - Moira Allen
Marketing Your Book by Direct Mail - Brian Jud
Preparing Your Book for Publication - Moira Allen
Sell More Books with a Powerful Back Cover - Judy Cullins
Setting a Price for Your Book - Moira Allen
Titles Sell Books! - Judy Cullins
Why Some Books Don't Work Well in Bookstores - Mary Westheimer

Promoting Your Writing
General Promotion Tips
Building a Customer Mailing List - Carolyn Howard-Johnson
Creating an E-mail Newsletter - Moira Allen
How Social Media Helps Writers - Penny J. Leisch
How To Promote Your Self-Published Book (survey response) - Dawn Copeman
If You Give It Away, Will They Still Respect You in the Morning? - MaryJanice Davidson
Mailing Lists: Their Uses and Abuses - Anne Marble
Making a List, Checking it Twice: How to Find Promotional Contacts - Debby Ridpath Ohi
Marketing Your Novel: Building the "Buzz" - Marilyn Henderson
The Missing Links to Successful Authorship - Patricia Fry
Networking and Promotion at a Writer's Conference - Debby Ridpath Ohi
Promote Your Book Through Magazine and Ezine Articles - Patricia Fry
Promoting Your Book Through Bookstores - Do You Need a Publicist? - Debby Ridpath Ohi
Selling Your Books at a Booth, Part I: Ten Tips for Success - Belea T. Keeney
Selling Your Books at a Booth, Part II: Working the Booth - Belea T. Keeney
Shouldn't You Be Podcasting? - Amy Chavez
Ten Tips for a Successful Reading - Jim Hines
Your Publicity Photo - Patricia Fry

Book Reviews
Getting Your Book Reviewed - Moira Allen
How to Get Your Book Reviewed - Debby Ridpath Ohi
The Review Process: How a Book Gets Reviewed - Sally Murphy
So You Got a Review -- Now What? - Sally Murphy
Who Reads Book Reviews Anyway? - Sally Murphy

Booksigning Tips
40+ Ways to Make Your Next Book Signing an Event! - Larry James
Dreaming of Writer's Cramp: Signing at Bookstores and Beyond... - Peter Bowerman
How to Have a Successful Booksigning - MaryJanice Davidson
How to Make Your Booksigning a Sell-Out! - Judy Azar LeBlanc
Tips and Tricks for Booksignings - Kim Headlee

Press Releases and Presskits
Creating an Author Press Kit - Debby Ridpath Ohi
The Essential Components of the Media Kit - Ink Tree Ltd.
Seven Steps to a Great Press Release - Elizabeth Hanes
Turning Press Releases into Publishing Profits - Brian Jud

Promoting Online
Creating an Online Portfolio - Moira Allen
Do You Need an Author Website? - Moira Allen
Promoting Your Book on the Internet - Moira Allen
Starting the Buzz Before Your Book Hits the Shelves - MaryJanice Davidson
Taking Advantage of Amazon's Marketing Programs - Niki Behrikis Shanahan

Public Speaking and Media Appearances
Getting on the Air - Brian Jud
Handling the Media Interview - Michelle Giles
Handling TV Interviews - Vera Marie Badertscher
Help! I'm Going to Be on TV! - Barbara Florio Graham
How to Appear Your Best on TV - Brian Jud
How to Be a Great Radio Guest! - Larry James
Preparing for an Interview - Debby Ridpath Ohi
Promote Your Book Through Alternate Speaking Venues - Patricia Fry
Promoting Your Book Through Telephone Interviews - Brian Jud
Radio Station Checklist: Stuff You need to Know Before You Go on the Air! - Larry James
The Seven C's of Media Appearances - Brian Jud
Speak Out: Networking through Speaking at Writing Conferences - Tami Cowden
Speak Up for Your Writing - Donnell King
Speaking Without Butterflies - Moira Allen
Using Your Best VOICES on the Air - Brian Jud
What to Do When Someone Interviews you - Moira Allen
When Authors Engage in Public Speaking - Patricia Fry

Surveys
Late Bloomers - Dawn Copeman
Our Readers' New Year's Resolutions 2007 - Dawn Copeman
What Do You Say To People Who Think Writing isn't a 'Real' Job? - Dawn Copeman

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Copyright © 2010 by Moira Allen. All rights reserved. Copyright to individual articles held by authors.