This is an excerpt from Dojo Wisdom for Writers, second edition Lesson #4: From your chi flows your creativity Chi (also qi and ki) is the life force that permeates the universe. You can think of this as your inner energy or enthusiasm, if that suits your mindset better. Martial artists learn to tap…
Category: The Publishing Business
On why I love freelancing
Jessica is seeing her neurosurgeon and getting good news, and the nurse makes an appointment for a follow-up visit in six months and ushers us out, asking, “Do you need a written excuse for work or school?” And for one mad moment I cannot make any sense of what he is saying. I hear…
Tuesday’s Tips!
Don’t miss more Conversations with Jessica! And some great articles from around the internet: 1. Why you shouldn’t worry about people stealing your ideas. 2. Self-editing tips. 3. Seth Godin on shipping versus rushing. 4. Research on getting things done. 5. Query letters that worked. If you see other great information…
On how a book is made. Or not.
A lot of people have asked for a book that includes all of my conversations with Jessica. I post these conversations on Facebook, where my friends hang out, so I sort of think, “Yeah, I collect the conversations into a book and then the three friends of mine who are solvent will buy it. The…
Thinking Like an Agent, Part 7
Back when I was working as a literary agent, Writer’s Digest published an article I wrote on thinking like an agent. Though I’m an acquisitions editor now, not an agent, these pointers are all still true. I wanted to update them and share them with you. 7. It really does take that long to read…
Thinking Like an Agent, Part 6
Back when I was working as a literary agent, Writer’s Digest published an article I wrote on thinking like an agent. Though I’m an acquisitions editor now, not an agent, these pointers are all still true. I wanted to update them and share them with you. What I wrote then: 6. Contests are great except…