December 19, 2013
For the month of December we have created a number of inspirational images that are not quote related. They are all focused on what a writer wants for Christmas, ideally. Some of these wishes are practical and others are extravagant, but they are all focused on what writers desire. These images are just part…
“When you catch an adjective, kill it. No, I don’t mean utterly, but kill most of them–then the rest will be valuable. They weaken when they are close together. They give strength when they are far apart.” Mark Twain An adjective is a describing word. In general, its purpose is to modify the word following…
Every week we send you reviews of literary journals open to submissions. As the end of year approaches we are releasing a list of the Ten Best Literary Journals that we have reviewed this year. All the Journals on the list are currently open to submissions, so keep that in mind. Some journals that we…
Whether you decide to self-publish or are a first-time author with a traditional publishing house, you will be expected to do the bulk of your own marketing and publicity. One thing the vast number of new and emerging writers have in common is tiny budgets. Social Media is a vital tool when it comes to…
December 12, 2013
A really silly first line will stop me from reading the rest of the book, and a really good first line will prompt me to take the book up to the cash register. Because of this I have always put a lot of effort into my first lines. A good first line tends to lead…
The unfinished manuscript for my first novel, Alarm Clock Dawn, sat on the shelf for years at a time before I gained the confidence to begin a serious effort to complete it in late 2010. I was working a full time job and publishing smaller works of poetry, short stories, and children’s books. I was…
December 11, 2013
Update July 2016: Jupiter Gardens is out of buisness as of August 2016 Jupiter Garden Press was started in 2007 by Mary K. Wilson. It started out as a metaphysical press that also sold other items, such as crystals. A lot has changed since then. Their main publication, Jupiter Gardens Press, is mainly non-fiction focused…
December 5, 2013
No, I don’t propose to teach you how to drive an 18-wheeler in a magazine article, although I could. I’ve had a hand in numerous publications that teach truck driving, including BUMPER TO BUMPER®, The Complete Guide to Tractor-Trailer Operations. If you’ve never done it, you can imagine how unnerving is the prospect of getting…
Most of Shakespeare’s plays hinge on the fact that the audience knows more than the characters. In Romeo and Juliet we know that Juliet is not actually dead, even though Romeo takes his own life believing that she is already dead. In the Twelfth Night we know who is a male pretending to be a…
Each month many journals close to submissions and many re-open. December is a particularly good month for journals accepting submissions. Some of the top journals that have been closed since June are just now opening their doors to submissions. The top five journals are listed in no particular order. Gurenica They are an online journal…
UPDATE February 2021: Author Jason Sanford has been investigating the situation at Baen’s Bar, the private forum of Baen Books, after hearing that it was being used increasingly to advocate for political violence. You can read his report here. Baen has temporary placed the forum on hiatus in a reaction to this report. Baen is…