» A Guest Author

Copyright Tips and Traps … Don’t Trust Your Intuition!

Susan Upton Douglass There is a lot of misinformation about copyrights and the protections afforded by copyright law and related areas of law. Indeed, much of the law is counter-intuitive, or simply different from the common wisdom and folklore passed around in business circles. So, to set the record straight, here are some answers…

Issue Four Hundred Seventeen

To Self-Publish or to Not Self-Publish, That Is the Question

By Holly Garcia When I first started writing my poetry collection, it didn’t occur to me to publish it traditionally. From the moment I decided I was going put it out there, I wanted to do it myself. I’d seen countless people saying their experience with self-publishing was a breeze. I’m a do-it-yourself baker, party…

Issue Four Hundred Sixteen

U.S. Copyright Basics for Authors

By Susan Upton Douglass Copyright law in the U.S. is governed by federal statute; there is no “common law” copyright. Copyright protects original (i.e., not copied from someone else) authorship in text, including compilations of text (selecting and arranging pre-existing text if you have permission to use it), photographs, illustrations and other creative expression. It…

Issue Four Hundred Fifteen

How I successfully launched a children’s book during a global pandemic

By Phillipa Warden Rupert’s Snowman is my dyslexic friendly picture book for children aged 2-6 published in September 2020 by the all-female publishing house Purple Butterfly Press. It is based on a true story about a boy who refuses to leave his snowman behind after a snow day spent with his mummy. The heart melting…

Issue Four Hundred Fourteen

Where to Submit Your Haiku and Other Japanese Poems in English

Zebulon Huset There has been a lot written about the haiku and Japanese forms in English—some love the elegant poetic forms while others find them ‘simplistic’ or too short. I like Haiku Journal’s description of what they want from a submission: “Simplicity is the key here. Keep it simple and beautiful. Haiku should seem to…

Special Issue

One Publication Is All You Need

By Olaitan French Not all publications will give you the fulfillment you seek. Not all will walk with you through your writing journey. And the fact is, you don’t need all; you need just one. That one publication is the reason most writers are more intentional in their relationships with the editors and journals that…

Issue Four Hundred Ten

Writing Letters to the Editor: A Great Exercise for Any Writer

by Ellen Levitt Savvy, enterprising writers look for publishing opportunities all over the place, and there are always opportunities for writing letters to editors. While it’s rare to receive monetary payment for this sort of writing, there are many reasons to undertake this exercise. Newspapers, magazines, journals — either online or in-print — offer many…

Issue Four Hundred Nine

How Strong Is Your Narrative Arc?

Holly Garcia When I first started writing fiction, I thought it was as simple as having a good idea. Sure, there would be characters involved in a particular setting. The plot I had in mind would send my readers on a journey, but once I got deeper into crafting my work, I realized how important…

Issue Four Hundred Eleven Special Issue

Interviewing for Fiction and Nonfiction Writers

by Ellen Levitt For some authors, writing is a solitary craft; just the creator and the computer (or notebook with pen); occasionally they correspond via email or traditional mail with other people. But for others, there is necessary, frequent and important interaction with other people. Nonfiction writers in particular often must interview people for their…

Issue Four Hundred Eight Special Feature

A Warning Against Contributory Contracts

By Rumbidzai Whena The publisher listed here is renamed, but it is one of the many publishers on Writer Beware Thumbs Down list. Contributory. An adjective, stemming from the word contribute, meaning to give something which will become part of a greater whole. Morally, contributions show a unity of purpose, a togetherness of sorts. It…

Issue Four Hundred Eighteen

The Plagiarism Plague

By Brian Douglas I was thrilled when I got the call. A local writer’s group, after receiving a draft of a short story I’d written, extended an invitation for me to join their circle. I showed up at the appropriate time and place and was warmly welcomed. As time went on, I came to value…

Issue Four Hundred Seven Special Feature

5 Magazines that Publish Strange Poetry

Kallie Falandays Writing poetry is just part of the process. After you write and edit, you have to think about—ya know—the publication process. Normally, you might group a series of poems and send them out to tried-and-true magazines. But not all of your poems fit neatly with what editors say they want. That cross-genre poem…

Issue Four Hundred Twelve

Five Lessons Writers Can Learn From Fanfiction

By Cat Sole fanfiction: fiction written by a fan of, and featuring characters from, a particular TV series, film, etc. Up until last year, I had completely dismissed fanfiction. From my limited exposure to the art form, I was under the impression that it was poorly written, a waste of time, and was exclusively for…

Issue Four Hundred Six Special Feature

Flash Fiction, Short Stories, and Novels, Oh My! What is the Best Fit for Your Work?

By Holly Garcia When someone tells you they’re a fiction writer, what do you imagine they write? Maybe the next great literary novel comes to mind. Or perhaps a series of short stories, à la Edgar Allen Poe. What if they told you there is a form of storytelling that can occur in as little as…

Issue Four Hundred Five Special Feature

How to Lose an Agent in Ten Seconds

By Katherine DeGilio While querying is an essential part of the traditionally published author’s journey, the process can begin to feel a lot like climbing a never-ending ladder. Every step up leads to more steps. There is a myriad of information on how to make the process easier. “How to Query” articles rule the internet,…

Issue Four Hundred Four Special Feature

Articles by A Guest Author