Everyone's been talking about the future (or sometimes the end) of publishing lately. As a spectator, I am totally unqualified to talk about it, but I'm going to anyway because it's my blog and that's the way I like it. (Likewise, if this is a little stream-of-consciousness, I apologize. I'm kind of...

Near the gate between the first and second layer of Hell, there lies a grotesque monument of the damned. Towering more than a mile high, howling and writhing with eternal torment, is a terror to match any other in the Nine Hells. Here lies the Pillar of Skulls. It seethes with the frustration and ha...

Maralys Wills has written some successful books, but I had never heard of her until I read this fascinating, entertaining, and informative guide to writing and publishing. Among Wills’ best-known books is "Higher Than Eagles" about her son, an accomplished......

The terms "hard sell" and "soft sell" are so imbedded in our society that they are commonly used to describe social and professional endeavors as diverse as the gentle art of romance and seduction to scoring a job after a......

What is the short answer? It is possible to make money as a novelist, but it isn’t easy. Can anyone write novels? There are no educational or social requirements to becoming a novelist. Education helps you develop writing skills and get involved in the community of writing, but it is not a req...

Well, according to Comscore’s latest report, YouTube has now overtaken Yahoo and sits in second position (behind Google of course) when it comes to online search. Quite an achievement! But, to be honest, it some respects, it really doesn’t matter where they are in the rankings - the fact...

As we continue with this series on blogging jobs, it’s time to look at the income a blogger can make by blogging for pay. The skills and qualities a company or blog owner is looking for from a blogger are extensive, far beyond just writing abilities. As with any freelance job, determining how ...

It happens to all freelance writers at some time. Since writers always have to plan ahead to manage their workload, they may find that a rush job comes in to disturb their well organised schedule. For example, an established client may need something in a hurry, and you may not want to refuse becaus...

Last night, a client I hadn’t heard from in just over a year emailed me to ask about rates for a new job. This is not the first time this has happened. I get a lot of repeat business from old clients and a few referrals as well. This is a gold mine for the freelance writer, and it’s some...

photo credit: Zawezome As the Maven fans know, I teach an online copywriting course for Accelerated Training Services. The course focuses primarily on novice copywriters - folks looking to make a career change or perhaps strengthen a marketing skill set or two. One of the first assignments I have st...