If you don’t define your brand, others will do it for you. In today’s world, writers aren’t just authors; they are brands. Learn how to take control of your identity, craft a clear message, and build a brand that reflects your true creative purpose.
Success Points Highlights
Storytelling Lessons from A Trip to the Moon by Méliès
Why A Trip to the Moon Still Matters for Writers In graduate film school, I first watched Georges Méliès’s short 1902 French film A Trip to the Moon (Le Voyage dans la Lune). At the time, I didn’t really appreciate all it had to offer. It’s a classic, for sure, often...
The Difference Between a Personal and Academic Essay
There are seemingly erudite writers who not only publish writing we expect, such as novels, nonfiction books, and short stories but also write essays. I used to wonder what an essay was and how to write and sell one. After years of playing with this and publishing...
Great Beginnings—The Core Attributes of a Strong Protagonist: Clear Goals and Complex Motivations
Great beginnings hook readers, but before them, they hook agents, editors, publishers, script readers, directors, actors, producers, and studios. When you think of great beginnings, one of the best ways to start your story is with a strong and memorable protagonist....
Perfectionism. Really?
My daughter caught my attention. “But I want it to be perfect.” It was a moment of awakening. My daughter's innocent desire for perfection echoed my own inner struggle, a battle I’ve been fighting for years. The realization that this ideal of perfection was already...
5 Common Misconceptions About the Writing Business
Professional writing, like anything professional, is a business. For those who want a career as a writer, business requires daily attention, just like writing. Remember: if you are not growing daily, you are getting worse. There is no stasis, stagnation, or limbo in...
Six Common Questions About a Writing Career
So, you're considering writing a book or becoming an author, but you're unsure where to start. Let's address some of the most common questions I receive as the founder of the Killer Nashville International Writers' Conference; the #1 voted writers’ conference in the...
Forget the Rules. Just Write.
When I started studying writing, I thought there were rules. There are not. There are good practices, but there are no rules. If you are following rules right now, they are holding you back. When I started writing, like the Greeks, I thought there was some Muse, some...
Seven Common Questions I Get About Writing Full-Time
If you're aspiring to have a career where you write full-time, it's crucial to understand that it's not just about the writing itself. It would be best if you also grasped the business side of it. I aim to equip you with the knowledge to achieve that balance. To be a...
On Being a Writer: Overcoming Doubt and Getting Started
Overcoming self-doubt is the first step to becoming a writer. Whether you’re starting with personal stories, memoirs, or fiction, the key is simply to begin writing.