Writing

Leave a Review! (or, Developing a Culture of Praise)

I think most writers wrangle with the feeling that their writing is garbage, from time to time. Our own inner critics take our rough drafts and compare them incessantly and unkindly to the great works that exist in the world. And this is a normal part of the growth process. Read something polished, pick up those tricks, apply them to our works-in-progress lather-rinse-repeat. But another thing happens, sometimes. Sometimes the critics get you. I just recently completed a gig, writing blog posts for a software company. It's work I've been doing for decades, but this time I got a hold...

Continue Reading →

Nancy Wood: What is my measure of success as an author?

Wow, that’s a challenging question, and one with many answers that have shifted over time. When I first started writing, my goal was to publish commercial fiction. I started writing decades before I published anything, working on novels and short stories. Thankfully, they never saw the light of day! I attended workshops and conferences, and joined writers’ groups. I wanted to learn about the business of publishing, as well as how to improve my fiction writing skills. I read and read and read. When attending a workshop in 2006, I came up with the idea for mystery, using the themes...

Continue Reading →

Call for Submissions: Corporate Catharsis – EXTENDED THROUGH AUGUST 30, 2019

We’ve all been there: standing behind a desk or a counter for ridiculously long hours, letting the movie of our imagination roll behind our eyes. Maybe you open the supply room door and find another dimension; perhaps the photocopier reproduces cryptic messages from other realities. We’re certain that you can, far too easily, find inspiration from your workplace. Magic, mayhem, revenge — and, yes, perhaps even redemption — can all be found there. Corporate Catharsis is the anthology we all need — one that can help us survive our corporate servitude with our hearts and souls intact. Submission Details Open...

Continue Reading →

Call for Submissions: Corporate Catharsis – EXTENDED THROUGH JUNE 30, 2019

We’ve all been there: standing behind a desk or a counter for ridiculously long hours, letting the movie of our imagination roll behind our eyes. Maybe you open the supply room door and find another dimension; perhaps the photocopier reproduces cryptic messages from other realities. We’re certain that you can, far too easily, find inspiration from your workplace. Magic, mayhem, revenge — and, yes, perhaps even redemption — can all be found there. Corporate Catharsis is the anthology we all need — one that can help us survive our corporate servitude with our hearts and souls intact. Submission Details Open...

Continue Reading →

Call for Submissions: Corporate Catharsis

We’ve all been there: standing behind a desk or a counter for ridiculously long hours, letting the movie of our imagination roll behind our eyes. Maybe you open the supply room door and find another dimension; perhaps the photocopier reproduces cryptic messages from other realities. We’re certain that you can, far too easily, find inspiration from your workplace. Magic, mayhem, revenge — and, yes, perhaps even redemption — can all be found there. Corporate Catharsis is the anthology we all need — one that can help us survive our corporate servitude with our hearts and souls intact. Submission Details Open...

Continue Reading →

Why Haven’t You Written Your Book? (Part 4 of 4)

This is Part 4 of a four-part series reporting on the "Why Haven't You Written Your Book?" survey we offered last year. You can read Part 3 here. I would consider my book to be a success if … The answers we received showed a clear distribution of the responses. Here is how all of the answers ranked: I get it finished and published. I sell X number of copies during the first year. I get X positive reviews for it on Amazon/Goodreads. My friends and family all buy copies of it. Based on these results, we might conclude that...

Continue Reading →

Why Haven’t You Written Your Book? (Part 3 of 4)

The is Part 3 of a four-part series reporting on the "Why Haven't You Written Your Book?" survey we offered last year. You can read Part 2 here. I'm afraid to write (or submit) my book because … A clear margin shows that the two highest-ranked responses held true for most authors, while the remaining three ranked very close together. Here is how all of the answers ranked: I don't know if it will be any good. I don't know how to distribute/market it. I don't think anyone will read it. I'm afraid people will judge me. I don't know...

Continue Reading →

Why Haven’t You Written Your Book? (Part 2 of 4)

The is the second part in a four-part series reporting on the "Why Haven't You Written Your Book?" survey we offered last year. You can read Part 1 here. I would write my book if … The answers we received ranked fairly close in terms of the numbers of responses received. Here is how all of the answers ranked: I knew someone would be interested in publishing it. I had more time to do it. I had a support group to help me along the way. As the results were close across all three responses, we might conclude that writers:...

Continue Reading →