If You've Ever Dreamed of a Career in Fiction...

I hope you'll visit Boxing the Octopus, a blog for new writers I'm doing with fellow author Joni Rodgers. For a place to get inspired and get answers, I hope you'll stop by and join the discussion.

Articles

• Keep 'Em Coming Back for More (Writing Great Endings)

• Writing First Chapters That Win

• The Psychology of Writing: Tips to Keep You Gaining on Your Goal

• From Acceptance to Print Date: the Top Ten Things You'll Need to Know

• New Novelists' Terms of the Trade

• Getting the Most Out of Your Critique Group

• Point of View Primer

• Tips to Making Your Book Signing a Success

• Coping with Critics

• How to Judge a Writing Contest

• Making Villains Real

Recommended Books on Writing
 

		The Artist's Way, by Julia Cameron  This book is a must for anyone feeling "blocked" or anyone wishing to jumpstart his/her creativity.  I haven't done all of the exercises, but even so, the book helped me considerably.
		Bird by Bird, by Anne Lamott  One of the funniest, most helpful books on what it is to be a writer. This book tells it like it is in terms of writers' fears, jealousies, and sublime moments.  Very entertaining, this is a book I revisit frequently.
		The Career Novelist, by Donald Maass  My favorite book about the nuts and bolts of being a professional novelist, written by a respected agent. Excellent career advice.
		Gift from the Sea, by Anne Morrow Lindbergh  Though not strictly a writing book, this is incredibly inspirational, with valuable advice on "filling the well" of creativity. I wouldn't be without this book.
		Writer's Guide to Book Editors, Publishers, and Literary Agents, by Jeff Herman  An excellent market guide, this is a great place to start investigating agents and publishing houses.

Click here for Quotes to Inspire the Writer Within