I just signed on with the Irene Goodman Literary Agency in NYC, and though nobody knows what the future holds, I’m thrilled to reach this milestone in my writing career! It took me three weeks to find an agent - and here are the steps I took.
First, though, I gotta share a quip I found [...]

In this guest post, author and psychologist Dr. Paulette Kouffman Sherman, Ph.D., describes how to stay in the zone and succeed as a writer. 
First, a quip from Arthur Hailey on how to be a successful writer:
“I set myself 600 words a day as a minimum output, regardless of the weather, my state of mind or [...]

The panels of professional writers, agents, and editors were one of the best parts of the Surrey International Writer’s Conference. I love panels because they give you a great cross-section of experience and opinions. Here’s what I learned from one of the writers’ panels at this conference, in a Q & A format.
First, a quip from [...]

If I could attend a writing conference (or a conference for entrepreneurs) every month, I’d be one happy woman! Here’s what I learned in my three days at the Surrey International Writer’s Conference in October, 2008.
First, a quip from best-selling author Mary Jo Putney: “Writers are introverted and insecure.”
I’m a little insulted by that. I [...]

New York Times bestseller Vicki Pettersson, who is working on her fourth book, spoke at the Surrey International Writers’ Conference about self-sabotage, goals and habits.
Outwardly, Pettersson looks like a writing success. But, like most writers, she struggles with motivation, time, and energy. She doesn’t feel totally successful…
“I just feel like I’m failing forward,” says Pettersson. [...]

I’ve been loving the Surrey International Writers’ Conference in British Columbia, and have attended two workshops hosted by Vancouver technologist and writer Darren Barefoot. In his second workshop, he spoke about increasing your blog’s visibility (I blogged about his first workshop too, called Blogging101).
Below are Barefoot’s suggestions for increasing your blog readership and networking for writers. For more info about [...]

This panel of editors, agents, and publishers spoke to writers at the Surrey International Writers’ Conference in British Columbia. I’ve not only pulled out 17 reasons book manuscripts are rejected, but also some nuggets of gold from about the book publishing business.
First, a great quip from an agent about getting published:
“You don’t have to have an [...]

Literary coach and book doctor Don McQuinn shared his writing and editing tips at the Surrey International Writers’ Conference in British Columbia. Here are several of his tips, which range from editing yourself to dealing with writer’s block.
“Editing yourself takes cold-blooded analysis,” says McQuinn. He doesn’t show his writing to anyone until it’s completely ready to [...]

Ruth E. “I can write about anything!” (TM) Thaler-Carter wrote Get Paid to Write! Getting Started as a Freelance Writer. Here, I’ve asked her five questions about earning money while freelancing for magazines. 
Before the writing tips, here’s a writing quip:
“It is not hard work that is dreary; it is superficial work,” says Edith Hamilton.
Earning a living as [...]

To be a successful freelance writer, you need to stop treating writing like a hobby and start treating it like a serious business. Never forget that you’re an entrepreneur - someone who has to work hard to sell services or products - not just a hobbyist writer.
Check out this writing quip:
“Publishing is a business, and [...]