Blog
A Variety of Genres by Steph Beth Nickel
While there are several advantages to writing in only one or two genres, there are successful authors who write in a variety of genres. Authors choose the genre(s) they write in based on a number of factors. Not surprisingly, one of these factors is what they enjoy reading. The following are some of the genres… Read more »
‘Twas the Day Before Christmas by Steph Beth Nickel
Below is a poem I wrote several years ago. Be encouraged! ’Twas the day before Christmas and all through the land,The people were traveling, some hand in hand,No stockings were hung, no chimneys in sight,Just walking – keep walking – until it is night. Some people were nestled all snug in their bedsWhile others had… Read more »
What is the Ladder of Abstraction Part 2 by Sandi Somers
In Part 1 of “What Is the Ladder of Abstraction?”, I covered the basic concepts. Our speaking and writing can be compared to different rungs on a ladder. As your words climb up ladder, you increase the abstract language—concepts, ideas, and meaning. As you climb down to the bottom rungs, your language becomes more concrete—as… Read more »
What is the Ladder of Abstraction? Part 1 by Sandi Somers
When I was teaching, someone pinned on the bulletin board in our staff room this quote by Donald Rumsfeld when he was the US Secretary of Defense. There are known knowns. These are things we know that we know. There are known unknowns. That is to say, there are things that we know we don’t… Read more »
Nuggets from This Year’s Fall Conference by Tracy Krauss
Every year I look forward to attending InScribe’s annual Fall Conference. This year was no exception. From the onset, I knew it would be different because it was being held at a camp rather than in a conference centre or hotel. A more “rustic” atmosphere meant we were more relaxed. “Retreat style” was the phrase… Read more »
Writing Micro-Memoirs by Lynne Collier
In my previous post, I mentioned writing micro-memoirs. I’m new to writing my personal story in this form, but as I explained, short-form writing has become my preferred style due to necessity. So, what are micro memoirs? I read an interesting quote about writing memoirs in short-form by a fellow micro-memoirist. It’s the best short-form… Read more »
The Power of Short-Form Writing by Lynne Collier
How writing shorter pieces can help with long-term goals… I thought that to be a successful author, I needed to write a stack of epic novels. That was somewhat disheartening because I don’t have the talent or attention span for that. So, I began my career as a writer accidentally. A friend, a psychologist, suggested… Read more »
Tell Your Story by Mary Folkerts
Life is a beautiful, breathtaking, awe-inspiring journey strewn with hard decisions, unexpected diagnoses, unfulfilled dreams, and broken promises. No one is exempt from hard things. The expectation of a pain-free life is unrealistic, but that doesn’t mean it can’t still be a wonderful life! What if there was a way to reclaim that brokenness and… Read more »
What Do You Mean I’m Not Done? by Janice L. Dick
The Mystery of Marketing For writers, marketing can be a frightening proposition, partly due to the fact that many of us are more creative than business-minded. If that doesn’t apply to you, be thankful. It’s difficult to handle both, but it is necessary. Back in the day, traditional publishers took care of marketing, but now… Read more »
How Do I Turn This Manuscript into an Actual Book? by Janice L. Dick
Your book is complete, the final lines written. Your website is artistically designed with up-to-date, easy-to-read, marketable information. What’s next? Please remember we each have to find our own path. There is no right way, but there are many helpful tips and suggestions. As a flexible checklist, I suggest setting up a publication schedule. You… Read more »