The Angst of Finding a Great Book Title: If You, Like Me, Don't Score High at This All-Important Task, Some Tips to Try
How to Plan, Write, and Develop a Book
by Your Book Starts Here
9M ago
OK, I admit. I am not the best when it comes to book titles. Occasionally, I score. But most times, in my publishing history, editors or agents have changed my proposed title. Radically. Case in point: When my second novel was ready to be shopped to publishers, my agent emailed me with a big problem—the title. I had written the novel under the title of OUTLAWS. I loved that title because it represented all the bad-ass glory I love in women who are heroes at heart. I embedded the theme of outlaws into the story, placed it (very occasionally) in dialogue as a marker for the reader to go “Ah-ha ..read more
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When Private Becomes Public: Facing Criticism and Exposure As Your Book Gets Published
How to Plan, Write, and Develop a Book
by Your Book Starts Here
10M ago
We all have a great deal of personal freedom with what we choose to write--or do we? I've spoken with many writers, of all genres, who are conscious of the reader looking over their shoulder, judging their words. Or family, people they want to include (fictionalized or real), who may get hurt or shun them for the way they tell their story. Some writers don't care. "It's my story, I lived it, and I can tell it however I like," one student told me. More power to you, I thought. I knew her as a forthright activist, never shying from truth telling and confrontation. I'm not that way, and maybe so ..read more
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Organizing the Mess of a Book: Four Methods for Staying Sane and Focused
How to Plan, Write, and Develop a Book
by Your Book Starts Here
10M ago
The two most common questions I get: (1) how do you find your ideas and (2) how do you keep it all organized? I used to write a weekly food column for the Los Angeles Times syndicate. My job was simple: come up with 600-1000 words about something related to food, design and test one or more recipes to go along with it, and send it off to my editor. Other than the natural mess recipe-testing makes in a home kitchen, I didn’t have much to organize. I liked the ease of the weekly deadline, I loved eating the leftovers from testing or inviting a bunch of friends to come over and share. My column ..read more
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It's All Too Much! (Risk, That Is): Recognizing and Balancing the Risk Quotient in Your Writing (and Your Life)
How to Plan, Write, and Develop a Book
by Your Book Starts Here
10M ago
Long ago, I wrote a book called How to Master Change in Your Life, which is, as you probably guessed, about how different people view and react to change of all kinds. One of the more fascinating parts of my research for that book was what I began to call the risk quotient of each person. Including myself. Evidently, there can be a vast difference between how we deal with external risk (driving across Europe alone) and internal risk (telling a friend that we can’t be friends anymore). Since the book was published, I’ve kept that fascination with risk. I use it to weigh my characters’ effecti ..read more
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What Works When Sharing Your Work? Unexpected and Traditional Publicity Tips from Five Published Writers
How to Plan, Write, and Develop a Book
by Your Book Starts Here
10M ago
Be sure to scroll down to the Shout Out! at the end of this post for some exciting news. I've been learning--somewhat to my private self's dismay--that reaching out to readers requires not only persistence but exposure. It's risky to share the author behind the book. Yet this week I interviewed five published writers--and former students of mine--who have gone on to reinvent their outreach and succeed beautifully in touching readers and building a worthwhile, supportive community in the process. What if you don't want to build community? Or have readers know you behind your book? I've hear ..read more
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How to Plan, Write, and Develop a Book
by Your Book Starts Here
10M ago
Dear wonderful subscribers, This is just to let you know that I'm moving my blog to Substack this week, which allows you to receive my weekly posts in your inbox each Friday morning.  If you prefer that option to reading it here, please go to my Substack page and subscribe.  It's free! Substack has the advantage of a cleaner format, easier reading, and cool links to browse.  Check it out. Thanks for being a subscriber! Mary ..read more
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Bringing Authenticity into Your Writing: The Challenges and the Benefits of One Writer's Journey with His Memoir
How to Plan, Write, and Develop a Book
by Your Book Starts Here
11M ago
Many of us say we want to write with authenticity.  Of course, that's a worthy goal, as is living an authentic life. But it can also be a challenging one. In our lives, we can decide what to reveal or not reveal, and still live authentically within those perimeters, I believe. On the page of a book, it's different. You share a story from your life, from your heart and core values, and readers can take it anywhere they want.     I've been drafting short essays about my mom, who was a pilot in World War II.  Her story of being in the Women's Airforce Service Pilots prog ..read more
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Good News for Older Women Writers: Your Age Is a Bonus!
How to Plan, Write, and Develop a Book
by Your Book Starts Here
11M ago
Imagine my surprise when I came across this article in The Guardian: older women writers (in their fifties, sixties, even seventies) are now a hot item with publishers. The trend is slow but steady, according to the editors and agents interviewed. My surprise came because of decades of reading the "30 Under 30" lists and being dismayed at the publishing industry's romance with youth, youthful appearance, and many years ahead to write. I was even told--before I signed with my agent--that trying to get another agent after sixty was iffy. You may have a good track record, you may write publisha ..read more
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Personal Narrative--What You (and Your Book) Are Trying to Say
How to Plan, Write, and Develop a Book
by Your Book Starts Here
11M ago
Now that review copies (ARCs) are being readied and I'm entering the window of pre-publication excitement with my new novel, A Woman's Guide to Search & Rescue, I'm studying up on something I never took time for while I was busy writing: the book's narrative and how it intersects with my personal narrative. Turns out, this element of your story--its message, its meaning--is the way readers most engage with your work. Sure, an exciting plot is important. Great people to populate your book's stage. But the take-away, the story's impact, is what makes a book truly loved. This isn't just a ..read more
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Rituals for Writing--The Relief of No Choice
How to Plan, Write, and Develop a Book
by Your Book Starts Here
11M ago
A Woman's Guide to Search & Rescue, my second novel, is getting its cover designed this week. A huge step in making any book real and soon to be released. It takes all my patience to stay patient! Good distractions are needed--and there's only so much pie in the house--so gardening is my answer. Getting deep in the dirt, getting way out of my head. Allowing time to pass and trusting the process. All those good things. Spring in New England is an iffy time, too--kind of like my own temperament these days. The week begins with temps soaring into the lovely 70s then plummeting to thirties a ..read more
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