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Topical Article Index

Agents · Backups · Basics · Bios & Clips · Blogs · Book Covers · Book Reviews · Booksignings · Branding · Business Issues · Business - Expanding · Characters, Creating · Children's Writing · Classes · Collaboration · Columns & Syndication · Conferences · Contests · Contracts · Copyright · Copywriting · Creativity · Critique Groups · Dialogue · Editing & Proofreading (Professional) · Electronic Publishing · Essays · Fantasy · Fear & Procrastination · Fiction - General · Flash Fiction · Full-Time Freelancing · Goals · Grammar · Grants & Funding · Greeting Cards · Healthy Writing Habits · Helping Writers · Horror · Ideas · International Freelancing · Interviews · Journaling · Journalism · Libel · Literary & Experimental Fiction · Market Research · Markets, Topical · Memoirs · Misc Editorials · Mystery · Names · Networking · Outlines · Payments & Fees · Permissions · Photography · Plagiarism & Piracy · Poetry · Press Releases · Print-on-Demand Publishing · Promotion · Proofreading & Self-Editing · Pseudonyms · Public Speaking · Publishing · Queries & Submissions · Rejection · Reprints · Research · Retreats, Residencies, Vacations · Rights · Romance · Science Fiction · Screenwriting & Scriptwriting · Self-Publishing · Series, Writing · Setting & Description · Social Media · Speculative Fiction - General · Subsidy Publishing · Success · Teaching · Technical Writing · Time Management · Titles · Translation Issues · Travel Writing · Viewpoint · Website Development · Word Counts · Writer's Block · The Writing Life · Writing Tools & Technologies · Young Adult

Agents
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

Backups - Protecting Your Work
Back Up Your Writing -- And the Rest of Your Life! - Moira Allen
Protecting Your Passwords, Writer-Style - Moira Allen
We Never Think It Will Happen... (Protecting Your Files) - Moira Allen

Basics - Getting Started
A Beginner's Guide to Writing Terminology - Dawn Copeman
How to Read 'How To Write' Books, by Sean McLachlan
How to Sit Down and Write an Article - Dawn Copeman
Self-Belief: The Vital Ingredient - Dawn Copeman
Should You Write for Free? - Moira Allen
Should You Specialize or Generalize? - Moira Allen
Take Your Specialty for a Spin - Moira Allen
What Is a Writer? - Moira Allen
What Kind of Writer Do You Want to Be? - Terje Johansen
Crafting Your Work
Facing the First Draft - Moira Allen
Five Fatal Flaws that Can Lead to Rejection - Moira Allen
How to Craft a Great Article, Part I: Structure - Dawn Copeman
How to Craft a Great Article, Part II: Focus, Unity and Flow - Dawn Copeman
How to Craft a Great Article, Part III: Hooks, Leads, and Endings - Dawn Copeman
How to "Show Don't Tell" - Dawn Copeman
Rules vs. Tools - Moira Allen
When "First Person" Is the Last Person You Need - Moira Allen
Writing for (Not by) the Ear - Donnell King
Writing for the General Public: It's Not as Easy as it Sounds - Mary J. Breen
See also Outlines

Biography - See Memoirs

Bios & Clips
Fine-Tuning Your Author's Note
What to Do if You Don't Have Clips - Moira Allen
Who Are You? How to Write a Good Bio - Devyani Borade
Writing Your Bio - Terje Johansen

Blogs & Blogging
Blogging for Business - Dawn Copeman
How to Evaluate a Good Blog Gig and Earn What You Deserve! - Jennifer Brown Banks
How to Leverage Guest Posting to Get (Paying) Writing Gigs - Jennifer Brown Banks
How to Think Outside the Blog "Box" to Increase Your Productivity and Creativity - Jennifer Brown Banks
The Rights and Wrongs of Blogging for Pay - Dawn Copeman
Virtual Book Tours: A Five-Step Planning Process - Mohamed Mughal
What Grocery Shopping Can Teach us About Branding Our Blogs - Jennifer Brown Banks
See also Social Media; Promotion

Book Covers
Designing a Print-on-Demand Cover, by Cathi Stevenson
Sell More Books with a Powerful Back Cover - Judy Cullins

Book Proposals - See Publishing, Traditional

Book Reviews
Children's Book Reviewers
Getting Your Self-Published 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

Booksignings
40+ Ways to Make Your Next Book Signing an Event! - Larry James
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

Branding
Five Steps to Developing Your Writing Brand - Sonya Carmichael Jones
What Grocery Shopping Can Teach us About Branding Our Blogs - Jennifer Brown Banks

Business Issues
Back Up Your Writing - and the Rest of Your Life! - Moira Allen
Building a Writer's Business Plan - Moira Allen
Creating a Writer's Resume - Moira Allen
Eight Things that Can Go Wrong for a Freelance Writer (And What to Do About Them) - Patricia Fry
Handling Writing Income and Expenses - Moira Allen
How to Master (and Survive) a Career as a Solo Writer! - Jennifer Brown Banks
Planning Your Writing Career - Dawn Copeman

Business, Expanding
Boost Your Bottom Line - Mridu Khullar Relph
Build Your Writing Business Through Testimonials - Jennifer Brown Banks
Five Steps to Developing Your Writing Brand - Sonya Carmichael Jones
Increase Your Success with Tickler Files - Robert Moskowitz
The Key to Success: Write More! - Lee Tobin McClain
Mastering the Midlist: How to Thrive as a Non-Bestselling Author - Sean McLachlan
Movin' On Up: Graduating to Better Paying Markets - Audrey Faye Henderson
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
They'll Pay Me to Write my Novel? Six Steps to Help You Win a Fiction Grant - Elizabeth Creith
Wish You Merry... Happy Holidays in Not-So-Happy Times - Moira Allen
Writing in a Recession - Dawn Copeman
See also Grants & Funding

Characters, Creating
Character Tags and Tics - Victoria Grossack
Creating Great Heroes and Heroines - Anne M. Marble
Creating Villains People Love to Hate - Lee Masterson
Do Werewolves Wear Shoes? Building Successful Horror Characters - Shaunna Privratsky
Don't Treat Your Characters Like Puppets! - Anne M. Marble
The Ethics of Tragedy: Plot Victims are People Too! - Paula Fleming
Everybody Lies - Victoria Grossack
Extending Your Character Range: Sex, Age and Other - Victoria Grossack
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
How Not to Create a Villain - Anne M. Marble
Mentors in Your Masterpiece - Victoria Grossack
Motivation - Hank Quense
The Mystery of Character - Robert Wilson
Plotting by Personality - Marg McAlister
The Secrets of Characterization - Sigrid Macdonald
A Study in Sidekicks - Victoria Grossack
We All Need Someone To Love: Creating Characters Readers Will Care About - Victoria Grossack
What Do Your Characters Want? (Part One) - Victoria Grossack
What Do Your Characters Want? (Part Two): How to Use Characters' Goals to Move the Plot - Victoria Grossack
What Type Is Your Character? - Paula Fleming
What's My Line? Character Professions in the Romance - Anne M. Marble
See also Names; Fiction; Children's Writing; Mystery; Romance; SF/Fantasy

Children's Writing
The ABCs of Writing for Kids: Active, Brief, and Cut Cut Cut - Eugie Foster
Editing Secrets to Make Your Work Shine - Laura Backes
Finding Your Voice as a Children's Writer - Laura Backes
Frequently Asked Questions About Children's Writing - LeMieux, Lubar and Singer
Happily Ever After: Finding the Perfect Ending - Eugie Foster
Six Steps to Make Your Children's Story Sparkle - Laura Backes
Ten Myths About Writing for Kids - Eugie Foster
Throw Obstacles at Your Characters - Laura Backes
When the Guidelines Say "7-12": The Ages and Stages of Children's Literature - Eugie Foster
Worldbuilding Considerations for the Children's Writer - Eugie Foster
Writing About Controversial Subjects - Laura Backes
Writing Captivating Dialogue for Children - Mary Emma Allen
Writing Humor (As Demonstrated by Buffy the Vampire Slayer) - Eugie Foster
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
Writing Talking Animal Tales - Eugie Foster
Picture Books
Eight Things Picture Book Editors Don't Want - Penny Lockwood Ehrenkranz
Exploring Sparkle: An Interview with Peggy Tibbetts - Moira Allen
Make Your Picture Book Sparkle! - Peggy Tibbetts
Nonfiction, Poetry & Special Markets
The Christian Children's Market: A Place for Beginning Writers - Marcia Laycock
Doing Your Homework: Tips for Cracking the Educational Market - Christine Venzon
Five Reasons to Write Children's Nonfiction - Rita Milios
Retelling Bible Stories for Children - Rose Ross Zediker
Short Stuff for Children - Marie Cecchini
So You Wanna Be a Children's Poet... - Linda Phillips
Hi/Lo Books: Writing for Reluctant Readers - Eugie Foster
Children's Writing - Publishing & Promotion
Children's Book Reviewers
Digging for Gold: Researching Awards for Your Book - Naomi C. Rose
The Elephant in the Room: Marketing Your Children's Manuscript - Peggy Tibbetts
Let Them See Your Title: Publicizing Your Children's Book - Noelle Sterne
School Bookfairs: A Great Opportunity for Market Research - Carol Baldwin
School Visits: An Author's Serendipity - Mary Emma Allen
Understanding Children's Writing Genres - Laura Backes
What Do Editors Want? - Laura Backes
A Writer's Resolution: I Will Submit! - Eugie Foster
Writing for Children's Magazines - Eugie Foster
See also Young Adult

Classes
Fundamentals of Fiction: Courses, Workshops and Tutors - Marg Gilks
Is an MFA Program Right for You? - Amy White

Collaboration & Co-Authorship
Double Vision: The Secret to Forming a Successful Co-authorship - Vickie Britton and Loretta Jackson
Questions to Ask Before Collaborating - Moira Allen
Writing in Pairs - Victoria Grossack

Columns & Syndication
How to Self-Syndicate Your Column - Moira Allen
How to Write a Book Review - Bill Asenjo
How to Write an Op-Ed - John McLain

Conferences
How to Become a Presenter at Prestigious Conferences - Patricia Fry
How to Pitch Your Book at a Writing Conference - Cynthia Gallagher
Networking and Promotion at a Writer's Conference - Debby Ridpath Ohi
The Perfect Pitch: Pitching to Agents at a Writing Conference - Sue Fagalde Lick
Speak Out: Networking through Speaking at Writing Conferences - Tami Cowden
Ten Great Reasons (Plus One) to Attend a Writers' Conference - by Susan Denney
Presenting at Conferences
How to Become a Presenter at Prestigious Conferences - Patricia Fry
Networking and Promotion at a Writer's Conference - Debby Ridpath Ohi
Speak Out: Networking through Speaking at Writing Conferences - Tami Cowden
See also Public Speaking

Contests
A Beginner's Guide to Writing Competitions - Dawn Copeman
Choosing a Writing Contest - Tammy Mackenzie
Contesting: Why and How - Kathryn Lay
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 the Prize-Winning Script - Laura Brennan
Writing to Win - Moira Allen

Contracts
"First Sale" Mistakes Every Writer Can Avoid - Moira Allen
Five Magic Phrases: Tips for Negotiating Contracts Like a Pro - Jenna Glatzer
Understanding Contracts - Moira Allen
The Art of Negotiation – 16 Tips on How to Ask for More Money - Devyani Borade

Copyright - See Rights & Copyright

Copyright Infringement - See Plagiarism, Piracy & Infringement

Copywriting & Business Writing
Beating Burnout - Tips for Copywriters and Every Writer - Dawn Copeman
Be Careful Out There! - Dawn Copeman
FICO Scores for Clients? How to Gauge the Probability of Getting Paid for Your Work - Jennifer Brown Banks
How to Leverage Guest Posting to Get (Paying) Writing Gigs - Jennifer Brown Banks
Seven Signs That You Need to Break Up With a Client - Jennifer Brown Banks
Take Control of Your Schedule! - Geoff Hart
Task-Based Logs - The Most Useful Method of Record Keeping - Laurie Lewis
Promoting Your Copywriting Business
Build Your Writing Business Through Testimonials - Jennifer Brown Banks
Five Steps to Developing Your Writing Brand - Sonya Carmichael Jones
Building Your Tech-Writing Portfolio - Mandy Hougland
Business and Commercial Writing
An Introduction to Commercial Writing - Dawn Copeman
Blogging for Business - Dawn Copeman
Everybody's Business: Writing for the Corporate World - Barbara Neal Varma
The Rights and Wrongs of Blogging for Pay - Dawn Copeman
How to Write a Competitive Analysis - Michael Knowles
How to Write a White Paper - Michael Knowles
Resume Writing - Mandy Hougland
Writing Corporate Newsletters - Moira Allen
Writing Press Releases - Dawn Copeman
See also Technical Writing; Editing & Proofreading

Cover Letters - See Queries & Submissions

Creative Nonfiction - See Essays; Memoirs; Journaling

Creativity
How To Always Be a Passionate Writer - Maria Chatzi
Mindplay - Peggy Bechko
Six Ways To Make Your Racing Thoughts Work For You! - R.H. Ramsey
Tapping Your Innate Creativity - Barbara Florio Graham
'Tis the Season to Get Crafty - Moira Allen
Using Footpower to Boost Your Brainpower: How Walking Away Can Improve Your Writing - Leigh Anne Jasheway

Critique Groups
The Benefits of Critique Groups - Michele Acker
Critiquing Poetry (Including Your Own) - Gwyneth Box
Fundamentals of Fiction: Critique Groups and Writers' Groups - Marg Gilks
How Online Critiquing Can Help Your Writing - Moira Allen
How to Get - and Take - Criticism - Victoria Grossack
How to Give and Receive Critiques - Dawn Copeman
Processing Feedback - Joni B. Cole

Description - See Setting

Dialogue
Anything You Say... Tips for Effective Dialogue [in Mystery Writing] - Stephen Rogers
Creating Dynamic Dialogue - Will Greenway
Dialogue in Speculative Fiction - Paula Fleming
I Love You, My Little Cabbage: Using Foreign Words in Your Fiction - Cora Bresciano
Interjections and Profanity - Victoria Grossack
It's Not What They Say... - Mary Cook
Setting the Scene for Dialogue - Ginger Hanson
Slang and How to Sling It - Randall Platt
What Are They Thinking? Portraying Your Characters' Thoughts - Victoria Grossack
What Should They Talk About? - Victoria Grossack
Writing Captivating Dialogue for Children - Mary Emma Allen
Writing Romantic Dialogue - Anne Marble
See also Fiction; Children's Writing; Mystery; Romance; SF/Fantasy

Dialogue - Grammar & Punctuation
Off with the Talking Heads! - Marg Gilks
Punctuating Dialogue - Marg Gilks
The Use and Abuse of Dialogue Tags - Anne Marble
Who Speaks? Pointers about Attribution in Dialogue - Victoria Grossack

Editing & Proofreading
Breaking Into Corporate Editing - Moira Allen
Editing as a Profession - Aline Lechaye
So You Think You Want to Be a Freelance Proofreader... - Jan K., The Proofer

Electronic Publishing
Brave New World... Or Not? Two Sides to the E-Book Revolution - Moira Allen
E-Books: A Revolution We Can't Ignore - Moira Allen
The E-Book Revolution: Different Music, Same Song - Moira Allen
E-Readers and the Changing Nature of the Story Experience - Victoria Grossack
The New Publishing Paradigm - Or Is It? - Moira Allen
Books: Read and Delete, or Read and Share? - Moira Allen
See also Publishing; Self-Publishing; POD Publishing; Subsidy Publishing

Essays
Essay Writing: When It's Just Too Personal - Heather Haapoja
An Exercise in Essay-Writing - Sheila Bender
Finding Your Writing's "Occasion" - Sheila Bender
Personally Speaking - Kathryn Lay
Writing From Anticipation - Sheila Bender
Writing the Personal Essay - Mridu Khullar Relph

Family Histories - See Memoirs

Fantasy Fiction
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 - Tal Valante
See also Speculative Fiction; Science Fiction; Horror

Fear & Procrastination
Beating Burnout - Tips for Copywriters and Every Writer - Dawn Copeman
Disheartened and Dragging? Write Yourself a Letter - Noelle Sterne
Drowning in Backlog - Moira Allen
Excuses, Excuses... How to Guarantee Failure as a Writer - Lee Masterson
Facing the Second Draft: Creativity vs. Drudgery
How Writing Every Day Keeps You Writing... Every Day! - Dana Mitchells
Nine Anti-Muses and How to Placate Them - Victoria Grossack
Recharging the Writer Battery: Six Ways to Keep Going When Times Get Tough - Mindy Hardwick
Stirring the Nest - Moira Allen
Tips from the Procrastination Princess - Mridu Khullar Relph
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
When Procrastination is a Good Thing - Barbara Florio Graham
When You're Not in the Mood to Write - Noelle Sterne
Why Don't You Reach the End? - Victoria Grossack

Fiction - General
Fundamentals of Fiction Series
I: "I've Got an Idea!"
II: Read, Read, Read!
III: Critique Groups and Writers' Groups
IV: Writers Write!
V: Learning How: Courses, Workshops and Tutors
VI: Learning the Lingo
VII: Being Realistic About Your Work
VIII: Finding Markets for Your Fiction
IX: Writing Etiquette
X: Avoid Those Beginners' Blunders
Story Essentials
The Case for Intriguing Eccentricity in Fiction - Philip Martin
Conflict - Victoria Grossack
Confrontations - Victoria Grossack
Do You Hear Voices? Refining Your Authorial Style - Victoria Grossack
Exposing Exposition - Victoria Grossack
Expressing Exposition - Victoria Grossack
Evaluating a Novel's Plot and Scenes - Frances Beckham
Hanging on Cliffs - Victoria Grossack
The Order of Things - Victoria Grossack
Plotting by Personality - Marg McAlister
Prayers, Promises and Prophecies - Victoria Grossack
Raising the Stakes - Victoria Grossack
Satisfaction Through Frustration - Victoria Grossack
Scenes Grown in the Valley of Despair - Victoria Grossack
Tell, Don't Show - Victoria Grossack
Story Structure & Plot
A Story, B Story, Part One: Why Use Subplots? - Victoria Grossack
A Story, B Story, Part Two: Challenges of Working with Multiple Plots - Victoria Grossack
Chatting About Chapters - Victoria Grossack
Choosing the Right Name for Your Story - John Floyd
Components of a Good Opening Scene - Joseph Bates
Dynamic Beginnings: Getting Your Story Off to a Great Start - Will Greenway
The End - Victoria Grossack
How Long Should Your Story Be? - Lee Masterson
Keeping Your Story On Track with Style Sheets - Marg Gilks
Levels of Structure in Fiction - Victoria Grossack
To Outline or Not to Outline - Tim Hallinan
Plunging Into Your Project - Victoria Grossack
Plunge Right In... Into Your Story, That Is! - Rekha Ambardar
Stories Within Stories - Victoria Grossack
Twisting the Plot - Victoria Grossack
Where to Begin? When, Where and How to Write a Prologue - Tal Valante
Your Story Outline: What It's All About - Rekha Ambardar
More Fiction Topics...
The Author-Reader Contract
The Case for Intriguing Eccentricity in Fiction - Philip Martin
Does Accuracy Matter in Fiction? Part I - Moira Allen
Does Accuracy Matter in Fiction? Part II - Moira Allen
Facts in Fiction - Victoria Grossack
Five Fiction Mistakes that Can Spell Rejection - Moira Allen
The Greater Logic of Fiction - Victoria Grossack
Lessons from TV: Six Mistakes to Avoid in Your Fiction! - Noelle Sterne
The Moral of Your Story - Victoria Grossack
The Reader's Emotional Journey - Victoria Grossack
The Satisfied Reader Experience - Victoria Grossack
Some Absurdities in Fiction - Victoria Grossack
The Top Ten Mistakes New Fiction Authors Make - Sally Zigmond
The One Rule for Writers... - Moira Allen
Why Doesn't the Dog Bark? Plot Points vs. Plot Holes - Victoria Grossack
See also Dialogue; Characters; Viewpoint; Setting & Description; Series and specific genres

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

Freelancing - General
Creating an Expert File - Kathryn Lay
Expert-Finding Strategies Every Writer Needs to Know - Mridu Khullar Relph
Filing Works in Progress - Barbara Weddle
How to Outgrow "Write What You Know" - Jenna Glatzer
How to Write Effectively for a Cause - Mary Emma Allen
The Invisible Writer: The Art of Becoming a Ghost - Moira Allen
How to Write Like an Expert - Moira Allen
Love Thy Enemy: How Your Competitors Can Help You Make Money - Devyani Borade
Mining the Rejection Pile for Gold - Ann Brandt
The 20% Solution: How Much Do You Need to Change an Article to Make it Original? - Moira Allen
Why Writers Need Their Holidays - Joyce Frohn
Who's In Your Corner? (Tips on Making a Good First Impression) - Moira Allen
Writing to Trends - Susan Sundwall
See also Markets

Full-Time Freelancing
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
To Job or Not To Job: A Writer's Question - Antonio Graceffo

Goal-Setting
Bite-Size Resolutions - Moira Allen
Building a Writer's Business Plan - Moira Allen
Climbing the Mountain - Moira Allen
Goals Are Worthless If... - Brian Jud
Juggling Hamsters: Tips for the Busy Writer - Eugie Foster
Look Both Ways Before Crossing (Off) the Year... - Moira Allen
Mid-Year Course Adjustments - Moira Allen
A New Year, a Blank Book - Moira Allen
Our Reach and Our Grasp - Moira Allen
Planning Your Writing Career - Dawn Copeman
Setting Effective Writing Goals - Moira Allen
So Many Dreams, So Little Time... - Moira Allen
The Things We Are Good At - Moira Allen
The Things We Are Not Good At - Moira Allen
The Things That Matter - Moira Allen
Tips from the Procrastination Princess - Mridu Khullar Relph
Writing Time: A Vital Luxury - Moira Allen
What Did You Want to Be? - Moira Allen
When I Have the Time... - Moira Allen
See also Time Management; Success

Grammar
Avoiding Comma Confusion - Moira Allen
Connect with Conjunctions - Victoria Grossack
Grammar Gaffes and How to Avoid Them - Marg Gilks
Grammar Griping - Victoria Grossack
Grammar Groping - Victoria Grossack
Grammar Matters! - Moira Allen
Kill the Adverbs! - Kathleen Ewing
Mixing and Matching Metaphors - Victoria Grossack
My Sister, Eileen... or My Sister Eileen? Understanding the Apposite Phrase - Moira Allen
Parsing Paragraphs - Victoria Grossack
Pondering Personal Pronouns - Victoria Grossack
Punctuating Dialogue - Marg Gilks
Tense Matters: Verbs in the Past, Present, and Future - Victoria Grossack

Grants & Funding
The Art of Writing Grant Proposals - Penny Ehrenkranz
How to Become a Successful Grant Writer - Kathleen Ewing

Greeting Cards & Short Verse Markets
Boost Your Income by Writing & Selling Greeting Card Ideas - Sandy Forbes
Breaking into the Spanish-Language Greeting Card Market - Susanna Baughman
Going for the Knockout Punch(line) - Nadia Ali
Greeting Cards: Writing that's Short and Sweet - Marie Cecchini
Slogan Scribe - Jenna Glatzer
Writing for the Electronic Greeting Card Market: An Interview with Nadia Ali - Moira Allen
See also Poetry

Healthy Writing Habits
Avoiding Repetitive-Stress Injuries: A Writer's Guide - Geoff Hart
Improve Your Ability to Concentrate - Victoria Grossack
Music to Write By - Indra Sena
RSI: A Danger to Chronic Computer Users - Radhika Meganathan

Helping Writers & Others
Giving Something Back - Dawn Copeman
Giving Thanks - Or, Why Writers Are Still Needed - Moira Allen
Is It Always Better to Give than to Receive? - Moira Allen
Never Too Early to Give Thanks - Moira Allen
Thanksgiving with a Twist - Moira Allen

Horror Writing
Do Werewolves Wear Shoes? Building Successful Horror Characters, by Shaunna Privratsky
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
Writing the Modern Vampire: An Interview with Susan Sizemore - Moira Allen
See also Speculative Fiction; Fantasy; Science Fiction

Ideas, Finding/Generating
25 Unique Places to Find Story Ideas - Michelle Giles
Lateral Thinking - Ahmed A. Khan
Mindplay - Peggy Bechko
Stuck in the Middle of Your Story? Try Prompts! - Alina Sandor
What Do You Know? - Moira Allen
Where Oh Where Are All the Good Article Ideas? - Patricia Fry
Write What You Don't Know - Sean McLachlan
Write What You Know -- Because You Know More than You Think! - Marg Gilks

International Freelancing
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
Getting Information from UK "PRs" - Rachel Newcombe
The Global Marketplace - Michael Sedge
How to Become an International News Reporter - Huw Francis
Interviewing American Artists for International Publications - Lawrence Schimel
Job Hunting Strategies for the Expat Freelance Writer - Suchi Rudra
Networking Opportunities for International Writers - Ysabel de la Rosa
Selling International Rights - Moira Allen
Writing for the NGO Community - Kimberly Baldwin Radford
See also Translation; Freelancing - General

Interviews & Interviewing
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
Don't Reach for Any Old Quote - John Rains
Expert-Finding Strategies Every Writer Needs to Know - Mridu Khullar Relph
Getting Information from UK "PRs" - Rachel Newcombe

Journaling
Keeping a Writer's Journal: 21 Ideas to Keep You Writing - Sheila Bender
Twenty-Two Reasons to Turn to Your Journal for Catharsis and Creativity - Noelle Sterne

Journalism
Newspapers: A Great Source of Freelance Opportunities - Sue Fagalde Lick
Why Write for Newspapers? - Sue Fagalde Lick

Libel, Slander & Defamation
What Is Libel? - David Taylor
Writing About "Real" People - Robert Moskowitz

Literary & Experimental Fiction
Absurdities in Fiction - Victoria Grossack
Getting Past the Gatekeepers: Submitting to Literary Journals - Jocelyn Kerr
Having Fun with Fan Fiction - Victoria Grossack
To Lit or Not to Lit? - Moira Allen
What Is Literary Fiction? Literary Editors Share Their Views - Moira Allen
What Is Magical Realism, Really? - Bruce Holland Rogers

Market Research
Bread and Butter Markets - Moira Allen
Exploring New Markets - Moira Allen
Finding Sample Magazines - Without Breaking the Bank - Moira Allen
Getting Past the Gatekeepers: Submitting to Literary Journals - Jocelyn Kerr
Researching Markets: Looking Beyond the Obvious - Karen Luna Ray
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
Targeting the Wrong Markets: The New Writer's Most Common Mistake - Moira Allen

Markets, Topical
Christian:
Break Into the Religious Market With a Devotion - Tatiana Claudy
The Christian Children's Market: A Place for Beginning Writers - Marcia Laycock
People and Steeples: Writing Church Histories - Wendy Hobday Haugh
Stealing Ideas at Church & Selling Them Back - S.R. Morris
Writing for the Teen Religious Market - Kathryn Lay
Cooking & Food:
Cooking Up a Sale: Getting Into Recipe and Food Writing - Dawn Copeman
From Bananas to Blintzes: Writing about Diet, Nutrition and Food - Kelly James-Enger
Gardening:
Writing for UK Gardening Publications - Rachel Newcombe
Health:
Here's to (Writing About) Your Health! - Jenna Glatzer
From Bananas to Blintzes: Writing about Diet, Nutrition and Food - Kelly James-Enger
History/Family History/Genealogy:
How to Break into the Burgeoning History Market - Sean McLachlan
How to Tell - and Sell - Your Ancestor's Life Story - Susie Yakowicz
Local History: A Lucrative Niche Market - Patricia Fry
People and Steeples: Writing Church Histories - Wendy Hobday Haugh
Portrait of a Relative - Ruth Danner
Writing a Family History - Moira Allen
Writing for Family History Magazines - Rosemary Bennett
Lists, Quizzes and Fillers:
As Easy As ABC: Writing List Articles - Theresa O'Shea
Filling in on Fillers - Moira Allen
Five Steps to Writing Great Quizzes - Kelly James-Enger
Six Tips on Selling Lists Articles - Kathryn Lay
What's Your Writing IQ? (Fillers and Quizzes) - Marie E. Cecchini
Misc:
Writing Comic Books - Barry Lyga
Writing an Obituary: How Your Words Can Heal The Grief-stricken - Jeanine DeHoney
Writing for Music Magazines - Ruth McHaney Danner
Personal Experiences:
How to Turn "First Experiences" into "First Sales" - Moira Allen
How to Write Winning First-Person Stories - C.S. Paquin
Mastering the Personal Experience Article - Deborah Newton
Writing (and Selling) Personal Experience Articles - Moira Allen
Pets:
How to Write for Pet Magazines - Moira Allen
Profiles:
Crafting the Perfect Profile - John Rains
Interviewing American Artists for International Publications - Lawrence Schimel
Six Tips for Writing Celebrity Profiles - Kayleen Reusser
Writing Mini-Profiles for Maximium Profit - Lisa Beamer
Regional:
Increase Your Income by Writing Close to Home - Patricia Fry
Local History: A Lucrative Niche Market - Patricia Fry
State Magazines: Ten Tips for Landing Great Features in Your Home Area - Sean McLachlan
Writing for UK County Magazines - Rachel Newcombe
Trade Magazines:
Using Letters of Introduction to Land Assignments with Trade Publications - Denene Brox
Writing for Real Estate Trade Magazines - Dan Rafter
Writing for Trade Magazines - Mark Lamendola
See also Freelancing; International Freelancing; Travel Writing

Memoirs, Biography and Family History
Grab That Memory Before It Slips Away! - Uma Girish
How to Create the Ultimate Family Newsletter - Moira Allen
How to Keep your Memoir Writing Sharp and Vital - Dr. Allan Hunter
How to Tell - and Sell - Your Ancestor's Life Story - Susie Yakowicz
How to Turn "First Experiences" into "First Sales" - Moira Allen
How to Write a Travel Memoir - Aditi Bose
How to Write Winning First-Person Stories - C.S. Paquin
Mastering the Personal Experience Article - Deborah Newton
Portrait of a Relative - Ruth Danner
Writing a Family History - Moira Allen
Writing (and Selling) Personal Experience Articles - Moira Allen
Writing for Family History Magazines - Rosemary Bennett

Miscellaneous Editorials (Mostly About Books and Reading)
Bestsellerdom vs. Longsellerdom: Fireworks or a Working Fire? - Moira Allen
A Classical Education, At Last... - Moira Allen
Creating New Readers [in Our Kids] - Moira Allen
Feeling Like a Dinosaur - Moira Allen
The Freedom of the Fourth - Moira Allen
Is Writing an Art or a Craft? - Moira Allen
It Looks So Easy... - Moira Allen
Reading: A Mother's Gift - Moira Allen
Ruminations of the Book Dinosaur - Moira Allen
Seeking the Muse - Moira Allen
So Many Books, So Little Time - Moira Allen
Some Things Never Change... [Victorian Writing Tips] - Moira Allen
Why We Do What We Do - Moira Allen
Why We Mumble (Plus Tips on Using a Ghostwriter) - Moira Allen
The Writer's Gift - Moira Allen
So Hard to Say Good-Bye - Moira Allen

Mystery Writing
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
The Citizen Police Academy - Stephen Rogers
Conducting Forensic Research: A Tutorial For Mystery Writers - Hilary Conner
Don't Drop Clues; Place Them Carefully! Stephen Rogers
Don't Shoot Holes in Your Credibility (What You Need to Know About Firearms) - John Rains
A Field Guide to Genre Writers' Organizations - Catherine Lundoff
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
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
Red Herrings - Stephen Rogers
Researching the Mystery Short Story - John Floyd
The Scene of the Crime: Choosing Your Setting - Stephen Rogers
Somebody Call a Cop! Writing About Law Enforcement - Stephen Rogers
What Is a Mystery Short Story? And How Do You Write One? - John Floyd
White Collar Crime - Stephen Rogers
Writing the Cozy Mystery - Stephen Rogers
Writing the PI Mystery - Stephen Rogers

Names
In the Name of Love... Finding the Right Names for Your Characters - Desmond Lindo
The Name Game - John Robert Marlow
Name That Character! - Anne M. Marble
What's in a Name? - Moira Allen
What's In a Name? - Victoria Grossack

Networking
Being There - Audrey Henderson
The Buddy System - Carol Sjostrom Miller
Networking Opportunities for International Writers - Ysabel de la Rosa
School Bookfairs: A Great Opportunity for Market Research - Carol Baldwin
Speak Out: Networking through Speaking at Writing Conferences - Tami Cowden
Using Informational Interviews to Advance Your Career - Terri Mrosko

Outlines
The Outline Demystified - Moira Allen
To Outline or Not to Outline - Tim Hallinan
Five Tips to Writing Great Subheads - Kristina Springer
Why Do I Need an Outline? - Cheryl Sloan Wray
Your Story Outline: What It's All About - Rekha Ambardar

Payments & Fees
FICO Scores for Clients? How to Gauge the Probability of Getting Paid for Your Work - Jennifer Brown Banks
How To Spot Clients Who Won't Pay & What To Do When They Don't - Brandy Cross
Should You Write for Free? - Moira Allen
When Clients Don't Pay - Melissa Brewer
Seven Signs That You Need to Break Up With a Client - Jennifer Brown Banks
Setting Fees
How Much Should a Freelancer Charge? - Moira Allen
Setting Your Freelance Rates - Dawn Copeman

Pen Names - See Pseudonyms

Permissions
Everything You Always Wanted to Know about Permissions - Brandon Trissler
Increase Your Market with a Creative Commons License - Josh Smith
Securing Film Rights to Published Material - Lenore Wright
Top Ten Questions About Copyright Permissions - David Taylor
Using Song Lyrics - Dawn Copeman
See also Reprints

Photography
Eight Steps to Professional Travel Photos - Bob Difley
Expanding Your Range as a Writer – with Your Camera - Audrey Faye Henderson
Picture Perfect: Using Photos to Sell Your Articles - Christine Ridout
Using a Camera to Collect Stock Images - It's a Snap! - Gail Kavanagh

Plagiarism, Piracy & Infringement
Copyright Infringement: A Question of Give and Take - Moira Allen
Copyright Infringement: Once More, with Slightly Sharper Teeth - Moira Allen
Don't Do Us Any "Favors" -- Don't Steal Our Work! - Moira Allen
Is It Research or Plagiarism? - Moira Allen
Plagiarism, Copyright, and the Eighteenth Century - Jack Lynch
Protecting Your Work from Electronic Pirates - Charles Petit
Someone Stole My Article! What To Do When It Happens To You - Moira Allen
When Your Words Are Stolen - Moira Allen
Will an Editor Steal Your Ideas? - Moira Allen
Writing under the Influence: Inspiration, Plagiarism and Homage - Victoria Grossack
Your Prose or Mine - Have You Ever Been Tempted to Plagiarise? - Devyani Borade

Poetry
Poetic Styles
Cowboy Poetry - Kennerly Clay
Critiquing Poetry (Including Your Own) - Gwyneth Box
Five Tips on Translating Poetry - Jennifer Liddy
So You Wanna Be a Children's Poet... - Linda Phillips
Three Bad Reasons to Write Poetry - and One Great One! - Conrad Geller
Turning Your Day Job Into Poetry - Shanna Germain
Writing in Rhyme For Children - Laura Backes
Poetic Forms
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
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 Sestinas - Lawrence Schimel
Three Classic Welsh Poetry Forms - Tami Krueger
Visual Poetics - Nirmaldasan
Whose Rhyme Is It Anyway? - Dana Mitchell
Writing the 'Not-So-Simple' Haiku - Patricia Spork
See also Greeting Cards

Point of View - See Viewpoint

Press Releases & Press Kits
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
See also Promotion

Press Trips - See Travel Writing

Procrastination - See Fear & Procrastination

Print-on-Demand (POD) Publishing
Formatting Your Book for Lulu or CreateSpace - Moira Allen
The Secret of My Success? - Moira Allen
Ten Questions to Ask Before You Sign that Print-on-Demand Contract - Sue Fagalde Lick
See also Self-Publishing; Electronic Publishing; Subsidy Publishing

Promotion - General
Developing a Pitch Message - Hank Quense
Digging for Gold: Researching Awards for Your Book - Naomi C. Rose
Features vs. Benefits, or "Why Should I Buy Your Book?" - Brian Jud
Finding Special Sales for Self-Published Books - Brian Jud
Five Steps to Developing Your Writing Brand - Sonya Carmichael Jones
If You Give It Away, Will They Still Respect You in the Morning? - MaryJanice Davidson
Let Them See Your Title: Publicizing Your Children's Book - Noelle Sterne
Marketing Your Book by Direct Mail - Brian Jud
Marketing Your First Nonfiction Book - Ann Brandt
The Missing Links to Successful Authorship - Patricia Fry
Promote Your Book Through Magazine and Ezine Articles - Patricia Fry
Promoting Your Book: Are You Doing the Right Job? - Moira Allen
Promote Your Book with Angle Articles - Dawn Colclasure
School Bookfairs: A Great Opportunity for Market Research - Carol Baldwin
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
The Simple Art of Saying Thank You - Patricia Ash
Ways to Profit from Writing for Free - Audrey Faye Henderson
What Do You Write? Using Writers' Platforms to Establish Subject Matter Credibility - Audrey Faye Henderson
Your Publicity Photo - Patricia Fry
See also Book Reviews; Press Releases; Public Speaking; Social Media; Blogs

Proofreading & Self-Editing
The ABCs of Writing for Kids: Active, Brief, and Cut Cut Cut - Eugie Foster
Becoming Your Own Editor - Moira Allen
Death by Revision - Kristin Camiolo
Editing [Fiction] for Consistency - Victoria Grossack
Editing Secrets to Make Your [Children's Writing] Shine - Laura Backes
Grammar Matters! - Moira Allen (editorial)
Why You Can't Rely on Your Spellchecker - Jan K. the Proofer

Pseudonyms
Everything You Wanted to Know About Pseudonyms - and Weren't Afraid to Ask! - Moira Allen
Pseudonyms: 10 Questions to Ask Before Choosing a Pen Name - Adrienne DeWolfe
Should You Use a Pseudonym? - Moira Allen
Using Pseudonyms - Dawn Copeman (survey)

Public Speaking
Preparing for an Interview - Debby Ridpath Ohi
Promote Your Book Through Alternate Speaking Venues - Patricia Fry
Promoting Your Book Through Telephone Interviews - Brian Jud
Speak Up for Your Writing - Donnell King
Speaking Without Butterflies - Moira Allen
Ten Tips for a Successful Reading - Jim Hines
What to Do When Someone Interviews You - Moira Allen
When Authors Engage in Public Speaking - Patricia Fry
TV, Radio and Other 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
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
Using Your Best VOICES on the Air - Brian Jud
See also Conferences (Speaking at); Promotion - General

Publishing, Traditional
Finding a Publisher
10 Steps Toward Finding a Publisher - Moira Allen
The Elephant in the Room: Marketing Your Children's Manuscript - Peggy Tibbetts
Enhance Your Publishing IQ - Marilyn Henderson
A Quick Guide to Manuscript Format - Moira Allen
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
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
Other Publishing and Business Issues
The Art of Assembling Anthologies - Arlene Uslander and Brenda Warneka
Fine-Tuning Your Author's Note
Mastering the Midlist: How to Thrive as a Non-Bestselling Author - Sean McLachlan
See also Self-Publishing; Electronic Publishing; POD; Subsidy Publishing

Queries & Submissions
Queries vs. Articles: Which is Best? - Moira Allen
How to Write a Successful Query - Moira Allen
Fundamentals of Fiction [Submissions]: Learning the Lingo - Marg Gilks
The Letter of Introduction: An Alternative to the Query - Shelley Divnich Haggert
A Quick Guide to Manuscript Format - Moira Allen
Pros and Cons of Simultaneous Submissions - Moira Allen
Who's In Your Corner? Seven Ways To Make Your Submission Stand Out - Moira Allen
Who's Who on the Magazine Masthead - Moira Allen
Cover Letters
Cover Letters: When, How and Why to Use Them - Moira Allen
Cover Me - I'm Going In! - John Floyd

Rejection
Coping with Rejection - Moira Allen
The Power of Rejection - Moira Allen
Why You Get Form Rejection Letters - Jenna Glatzer >Reprints
The 20% Solution: How Much Do You Need to Change an Article to Make it Original? - Moira Allen
Can I Sell a Previously Published Article? - Moira Allen
Increase Your Market with a Creative Commons License - Josh Smith
Making the Most of Your Inventory (Selling Reprints) - Dana Cassell
One Article, Many Checks: Selling Reprints - Kelly James-Enger
Selling Reprints - Moira Allen

Research
Does Accuracy Matter in Fiction? - Part I
Does Accuracy Matter in Fiction? - Part II
Facts in Fiction - Victoria Grossack
It's Interesting -- But Is It Accurate? (The Perils of Online Information) - Moira Allen
Tips on Searching the Web - Moira Allen
Why Libraries Still Matter - Ellen Metter
Research Tips for Fiction Genres
Historical Research for Fiction Writers - Catherine Lundoff
Partly Cloudy, Scattered Showers: Setting the Scene with Weather - Larissa Ione
Research Flaws in Romance Novels - Anne M. Marble
Researching the Mystery Short Story - John Floyd
Write What You Don't Know - Sean McLachlan

Retreats, Residencies, Vacations
Grants, Fellowships, & Residencies - Megan Potter
Retreat! How to Get Away to Write - C. Hope Clark
Taking Time Off: Planning a Vacation - Denene Brox
The Virtues of Vacation - Audrey Henderson

Rights & Copyright
All Rights May Be All Right... And What to do When They're Not - Devyani Borade
Copyright, Public Domain, and the Wild Wild Web - Moira Allen
The Nitty-Gritty of Copyright - Abra Staffin-Wiebe
Rights: What They Mean and Why They're Important - Marg Gilks
The Rights and Wrongs of Blogging for Pay - Dawn Copeman
Selling All Rights: Right or Wrong? - Moira Allen
Selling International Rights - Moira Allen
See also Plagiarism, Piracy & Infringement

Romance Writing
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
Plotting the Teen Romance - Mindy Hardwick
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
Characters to Fall in Love With
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
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/Related Genres
Fantasy, Futuristic and Paranormal Romances - Anne M. Marble
A Field Guide to Genre Writers' Organizations - Catherine Lundoff
The Subgenres of Romance - Anne M. Marble
Time-Travel Romances - Anne M. Marble
Writing and Selling Erotic Fiction - Catherine Lundoff
Women's Fiction vs. Romance: A Tale of Two Genres - Lisa Craig
Interviews with Romance Authors
Diana Gabaldon (interviewed by Sue Perry)
Kim Headlee (interviewed by Moira Allen)

Science Fiction
Aliens: Relatives of Ours? - Paula Fleming
Science Fiction: The Literature of Ideas - Marg Gilks, Paula Fleming, Moira Allen
(Includes "Timelines of SF Ideas," by Marg Gilks)
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
See also Speculative Fiction; Fantasy; Horror

Screenwriting & Scriptwriting
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 Script - Laura Brennan
See also The Screening Room - Screenwriting Q&A by Laura Brennan

Self-Editing - See Proofreading

Self-Publishing
Self-Publishing FAQ - Moira Allen
Choosing a Self-Publishing Company - Ray Robinson
Finding Special Sales for Self-Published Books - Brian Jud
Formatting Your Book for Lulu or CreateSpace - Moira Allen
How to Format Your Self-Published Book - Moira Allen
Subsidy Publishing vs. Self-Publishing: What's the Difference? - Moira Allen
Why Self-Publish? An Interview With Richard Paul Evans - Carolyn Campbell
Titles Sell Books! - Judy Cullins
See also Electronic Publishing; POD Publishing; Subsidy Publishing

Series, Writing
Lynn Flewelling: Writing the World of the Series - Moira Allen
Planning the Series Novel - Vickie Britton and Loretta Jackson
The Stuff Series Are Made Of - Karen Wiesner
The Writer's Marathon: Seven Challenges to a Successful Series - Victoria Grossack

Setting & Description
Arcs of Artifacts - Victoria Grossack
The Art of Description: Eight Tips to Help You Bring Your Settings to Life - Anne M. Marble
Blueprints: Building a Home for Your Characters - Elizabeth Chayne
Developing Deftness in Description - Victoria Grossack
Flesh out Your Writing with Body Language - Victoria Grossack
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
Map Your Settings - Victoria Grossack
The Scene of the Crime: Choosing Your [Mystery] Setting - Stephen Rogers
Setting: The Key to Science Fiction, by Bruce Boston
Setting the Mood - Victoria Grossack
Visualization Exercises for Writers - Holly Lisle
Worldbuilding Considerations for the Children's Writer - Eugie Foster

Social Media & Online Promotion
Calling All Authors: The Key to Successful Social Media Promotion - N.N. Light
How to Use Social Proof to Win Clients and Influence Buyers (When You're Not "Social Media" Active) - Jennifer Brown Banks
Networking and Promotion: Blending Old Tools and New - Dee-Ann LeBlanc
Social Media: Getting Back to Basics - Sylvia Spruck Wrigley
Writers and Social Media: A Match Made in...? - Moira Allen
See also: Blogs & Blogging; Website, Building

Speculative Fiction - General
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
Market Tips
Attending a Speculative Fiction Convention - Paula Fleming
A Field Guide to Genre Writers' Organizations - Catherine Lundoff
Finding Good Markets, Avoiding Bad Ones - Paula Fleming
Writing for Themed Anthologies - Paula Fleming
Interviews with Speculative Fiction Authors
Piers ANTHONY: Master of Punmanship - Moira Allen
David BRIN - Lynne Jamneck
Orson Scott CARD: On Religion in SF and Fantasy - Moira Allen
Jeanne CAVELOS - Lynne Jamneck
Rosemary EDGHILL: Making the Fantastic "Real" - Moira Allen
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 the Modern Vampire - Moira Allen
See also Fantasy; Horror; Science Fiction

Submissions - See Queries & Submissions

Subsidy Publishing
Of Gates and Gatekeepers - 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
See also Self-Publishing; Electronic Publishing; POD Publishing

Success, Defining
Are You A Happy Writer? - Devyani Borade
Are You Doing What You Love? - Moira Allen
Dealing with Success - Devyani Borade (Guest Editorial)
Feeling Like a Fraud - Moira Allen
How Do You Define Success? - Moira Allen
Late Bloomers (survey) - Dawn Copeman
Self-Belief: The Vital Ingredient - Dawn Copeman
To Quit or Not to Quit, Part I - Moira Allen
To Quit or Not to Quit, Part II: Understanding The Writing Continuum - Moira Allen
To Quit or Not to Quit: Readers Respond
What Do You Say To People Who Think Writing isn't a 'Real' Job? - Dawn Copeman
Prophets Without Honor: Explaining to Your Family that Writing Is a Real Job! - Moira Allen
The Secret of Success - Moira Allen
What Do You Want on Your Tombstone? - Moira Allen
Whether to Be Rich, Enriched, or Enriching... - Moira Allen
Write What You Want to Write! - Dawn Copeman

Syndication - See Columns

Synopsis, Novel - See Publishing, Traditional

Teaching Writing
Tips on Conducting a Successful Workshop - Moira Allen
Tips on Teaching Creative Writing - Shirley Kawa-Jump

Technical Writing
13 Tips on How to Tech-Talk to Non-Techies - Hasmita Chander
Indexing Technical Documents: An Interview with Lori Lathrop - Barbara Vega
KISS - Keep It Simple, Sweetheart: How to Write About a Complex Subject in a Simple Way - Devyani Borade
Looking for Work as a Scientific Communicator - Geoff Hart
Marketing the Wily Technical Writer - Michael Knowles
The Mythical, Magical Number 7 in Technical Writing - Geoff Hart
Succeeding as a Technical Writer - Michael Knowles
Technical Writers: It's OK to Lie to Your Readers -- a Little! - Geoff Hart
Writing Proposals: An Interview with Paul Weber - Barbara Vega
See also Copywriting; Editing & Proofreading

Time Management
Finding Time to Write
The Best-Laid Plans - Moira Allen
Deck the Halls... and Clear the Decks! - Moira Allen
The Dither Factor - Moira Allen
Drowning in Backlog - Moira Allen
Eliminating Timewasters - Moira Allen
Finding Time to Write - Moira Allen
I Could Be A Writer, Too - If I Only Had The Time - Roberta Roesch
Is Writing Every Day a Bad Idea? - Devyani Borade
Should vs. Want - Moira Allen
Too Busy Writing to Write - Moira Allen
Time Management Techniques
Freestyle Writing: The Psychology of Accomplishing Big Projects - Steve Aedy
Get Your Writing Life on Track with To-Do Lists - Moira Allen
How Writing Every Day Keeps You Writing... Every Day! - Dana Mitchells
Is Multitasking Good for Writers? - Moira Allen
Organizing Your Writing Time - Penny Lockwood Ehrenkranz
Take Control of Your Schedule! - Geoff Hart
Take Control of Your Time! - Kelle Campbell
Task-Based Logs - The Most Useful Method of Record Keeping - Laurie Lewis
A Writing Plan for the New Year - Shaunna Privratsky
Yes - No - Maybe - and Maybe Later - Victoria Grossack
Planning for Life...
But First... - Moira Allen
Remember Summer Vacation? - Moira Allen
Taking Time Off: Planning a Vacation - Denene Brox
See also Goals

Titles
Choosing the Right Name for Your Story - John Floyd
Titles for Your Texts - Victoria Grossack
Titles Sell Books! - Judy Cullins
What Every Writer Needs to Know About Article Titles - Julie K. Cohen

Translation & International Language 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 Succeed Writing Spanish-Language Greeting Cards - Susanna Baughman
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
See also International Freelancing

Travel Writing
Bylines from Near and Far - Myrna Oakley
Do's and Don'ts of Travel Writing - Jennifer Stewart
How to Write a Travel Memoir - Aditi Bose
How to Write an In-Depth City Logistics Article - Barbara Weddle
How to Write the Perfect Road-Trip Article - Barbara Weddle
Increase Your Income by Writing Close to Home - Patricia Fry
State Magazines: Ten Tips for Landing Great Features in Your Home Area - Sean McLachlan
Travel that Pays - Kayleen Reusser
The Untraveled Travel Writer - Isabel Viana
Writing Opportunities on the Road - Susan Miles
Information Sources
Four Ways to Use Visitor Centers and Welcome Centers as Sources of Information - Barbara Weddle
Tourism Authorities: The Travel Writer's Best Friend - Susan Miles
Markets
The Business of In-flights - Tim Lehnert
State Magazines: Ten Tips for Landing Great Features in Your Home Area - Sean McLachlan
Writing for UK Travel Magazines - Rachel Newcombe
Writing the World: Ten Tips to Breaking into the Guidebook Market, by Sean McLachlan
Press Trips
How to Organize Sponsored Travel - Susan Miles
How Writers Can Score Press Trips, by Roy A. Barnes
What's a Press Trip? A Travel-Writing FAQ - Kathryn Lemmon
Your First Press Trip: A Survival Guide - Erica Blair

Viewpoint / Point of View
Establishing the Right Point of View: How to Avoid "Stepping Out of Character" - Marg Gilks
Headhopping, Authorial Intrusion, and Shocked Expressions - Anne Marble
My Point of View on Point of View (Part One) - Victoria Grossack
My Point of View on Point of View (Part Two) - Victoria Grossack
Viewpoint, Perspective and Time - Will Greenway

Website, Building
Create a Website that Works for You - Barbara Florio Graham
Creating an Online Portfolio - Moira Allen
The Disappearing Writer - Why You Need a Website - Moira Allen
Do You Have a Website? - Audrey Faye Henderson
Do You Need an Author Website? - Moira Allen

Word Counts; Reducing Excess Words
Counting the Words - Victoria Grossack
Less is More: 15 Quick, Clever and Clean Tricks to Reduce Manuscript Word Count - Devyani Borade
Sensible, Sensitive Sentences - Victoria Grossack
Targeting Enemy Words - Sandra Miller

Writer's Block
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
How to Beat Writer's Block - and Hone Your Skills! - Dawn Copeman
Nine Anti-Muses and How to Placate Them - Victoria Grossack
When the Writing's Going Well: Ten Remedies to Demolish an Unexpected Block - Noelle Sterne
Writer's Block: Is It All In Your Head? - Leslie What

The Writing Life
Do You, Author, Take This Novel....? - Moira Allen
Feeling Guilty about Writing Too Much for Too Little? Shed the Guilt, Discover the Rewards - Susie Yakowicz
Giving Something Back - Dawn Copeman
New Beginnings, Again - Moira Allen
See also Rejection; Time Management; Success; Health Issues; Writer's Block; Procrastination
See also Editor's Corner: Ramblings on the Writing Life, by Moira Allen

Writing Tools & Technologies
Electronic Tools and Technology
Canning the Spam - Moira Allen
A Pair of Handy Freebies (Plus One) (Bulk Rename Utility & Copy Filenames) - Moira Allen
Tips on Searching the Web - Moira Allen
Old-School Tools
New Technology or Old Fashioned Ways? - Dawn Copeman (survey)
Old School Tech for Today's Writers - Dawn Copeman
Old-School Tools For Today's Writers: Save Time and Earn More Using These Three Near-Extinct Skills - Tiffany Jansen

Young Adult/Teen Writing
One of the 55 Percent (Adults Who Read YA) - Moira Allen (editorial)
Plotting the Teen Romance - Mindy Hardwick
Writing for the Teen Religious Market - Kathryn Lay
Writing for Teen Magazines - Ursula Furi-Perry
Writing for "Tweens" - Eugie Foster
See also Children's Writing

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Becoming a successful writer isn't just about mastering great writing skills. It's also about overcoming the challenges and obstacles of the writing life: Rejection, fear of failure, lack of time, writer's block, the "Am I Really a Writer?" syndrome, and, of course, friends and family who just don't get it.

Fortunately, you're not alone. We've all been there. So here's a handy "survival guide" that will bring you inspiration, motivation, support and good old-fashioned advice to help you through the tough times. Don't let those writing gremlins keep you from achieving your dreams!

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