You Can Always Do More Than You Think You Can

In life, we never achieve anything meaningful without overcoming some fear or wound from our past and giving up some thought or behavior pattern that keeps us locked into one plane of existence. And it takes test after test, try after try, opportunity and failure after opportunity and failure before we finally throw up our […]

As Marc Zicree says, "Your career will be defined by two poles: what you stand for and what you won't stand for." I hope that my body of work communicates to the world what I value, but I also believe that it's important to codify and share upfront my values and how they guide my […]

guest post by developmental editing client Scott Forrester What have you done recently that was a bit challenging? I recently participated in the Western States 100 training run that covers the last 22 miles of its 100.2-mile race course. The training run is a unique event and wonderful opportunity to experience the legendary course if […]

I’m actively looking for compelling, high stakes survivor, medical, and adventure memoir projects and literary memoirs and essay compilations that have strong themes and a built-in audience. If a results-oriented developmental editor or book collaborator and long-term strategic partner is on your wish list, let's talk to see if we're a good fit. SOME OF […]

I'm looking for thought-provoking, nuanced academic and subject matter expert written nonfiction projects focused on veganism. My degree in anthropology and focus on medical anthropology means I love working with people who shine a light in dark places and help readers better see, understand, and navigate the world around them in a healthy, sustainable way. […]

I'm actively looking for thought-provoking and nuanced literary, upmarket, and Southern Gothic (grit lit) fiction projects. I help clients develop high-stakes fiction that moves: clear goals, conflict, strong character development, interesting protagonists, complex antagonists, and situations that drive the story. I’m particularly interested in nuanced stories with a strong sense of place, where setting and […]

Being right is one thing. Being persuasive quite another. Often passionate people--myself included--communicate in ways that appeal only to those who already agree with or think like us. We "school" people with facts and logic and congratulate ourselves for our reasoning skills and courage but are confused and frustrated when met with silence and inaction […]

Colson Whitehead's Pulitzer Prize-winning book, The Underground Railroad, offers an excellent example of the relationship required between the protagonist and antagonist to craft a page-turning, stick-with-the-reader story. The Underground Railroad tells the story of (no spoilers ahead) a runaway slave girl's journey from the plantation she'd been forced to call home across the antebellum South […]

Many authors don't understand the value of book awards or are hesitant to enter them because they've been told that anything they have to pay for is a scam. Are Book and Writing Awards Scams? I'm sure there are scams out there, which is why you must do your due diligence by researching them before […]

originally posted 2015 Are you writing a book but aren't sure which publishing option is right for you? There are many options: traditional, indie, hybrid (sometimes called partner), and self-publishing. This article is designed to help you identify which one fits your needs and goals. I’ll provide a brief overview of each option’s business model, […]