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 [...]

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 [...]

Vancouver technologist and writer Darren Barefoot, who just posted his 5,000th article on his blog, spoke at the Surrey International Writers’ Conference in British Columbia about the fundamentals of blogging. Here’s what I learned!
First, a quip about writing:
“You don’t write because you want to say something; you write because you’ve got to say something” - [...]

During my massage the other day, I realized that my massage therapist could only earn money while she was actually working. But the best way to get rich is to earn money on something(s) while you do other things. For a writer, this means people paying for your old articles and buying your past books while [...]

Some say that writing a hook or a lead that keeps readers reading is the most important part of an article, essay, or story. So, I’ve rounded up some of the best ways to write strong leads from a variety of editors, writers, and creative gurus - and included several examples of their tips in action.
First, some [...]

I’ve been writing for Suite101 since October 1, 2006, and I love it. To commemorate my two year anniversary (since I didn’t get a watch), I decided to round up the top 10 reasons freelance writers love writing for Suite101. 
First, a writing quip: 
“Writing is elemental,” says Natalie Goldberg in Wild Mind: Living the Writer’s Life. [...]

Coming up with a brilliant idea only 10% of the battle; getting your book or article published is the rest. Check out these writing tips on getting published - there’s encouragement, practical advice, and hope for both fledgling and professional scribes! 
First, here’s some magazine writing advice from a former executive editor of Working Mother: 
“What we [...]

Here, I’ve rounded up the best freelance writing tips from a wide variety of authors, freelancers, novelists, journalism professors and writing coaches. The tips cover everything from “using the right numbers” to “finding your cojones.”
For instance, here’s one on queries from a seasoned freelance writer and book author:
“C. Hope Clark has a great rule of thumb to [...]

The most successful writers, freelancers, novelists, playwrights, and poets know how to stay motivated to write despite rejection. These writing tips from published authors and freelance writers will help you stay motivated even when you’re not getting paid - and when you feel despondent about your chances at getting published. 
Natalie Goldberg said, “I’ve never met [...]

Until I rounded up “the best writing advice you ever heard”, I hadn’t realized the importance of finding the right place to write. These tips about your environment can seriously increase your writing productivity. 
“In solitude we give passionate attention to our lives, to our memories, to the details around us.” - Virginia Woolf. 
As a writer, [...]