The Declaration of Independence! Why does this document work? 247 years later? Because it was written with passion. Writing meaningful works requires passion. A level of belief in what you write. Even if I argue the “devil’s advocate” side of an issue in a story, I do it with what I believe is the conviction of the characters. Thomas Jefferson penned a document we should all study. And believe in! Without further ado… Happy Independence Day! When in the Course of human events, it becomes necessary for one people to dissolve the political bands which have connected them with another, and to assume among the powers of the earth, the separate and equal station to which the Laws of Nature and of Nature’s God entitle them, a decent respect to […]
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Hot Pitching Tip #1: The ONE thing all first time Novelists MUST do!
Hey! The ACFW Conference is just around the corner, and we at MBT want to help you get published (and stay published!) Every week for the next 10 weeks we’ll offer a tip on how to PITCH your novel. And TIP #1 is… FINISH YOUR BOOK! I know you have a great book idea, and you are anxious to get it out there – worried that someone might even steal it, but as a first time novelist, you need to have your book finished before you pitch it – for a couple reasons. Watch the video and discover WHY! Need more help? Check out our Pitch and Promotion Seminar! Go write something brilliant! See you next week – XO! Susie May
Read the RestSizzling Summer Success, Final Cut: Chill Out!
I’m in the mountains and summer has finally hit. Steamy hot days with a thunderstorm or two between daylight and dark make for a sticky, hot mess. On days like these, you may find it difficult to meet all your goals and accomplish your to-do lists. So what? Will the world come to an end because you didn’t finish the seventeenth load of laundry? Contrary to what your teenage daughter might tell you, the answer would be no. Get as much done as you can. If you can’t get the rest completed, don’t sweat it. Chill out. Most likely, there’ll be tomorrow. Here are a few things that may help you get more done and have more time to chill out: Work during your most productive time. In Florida, I […]
Read the RestStuck in the Quagmire of Editing?
Now that the joy of finishing my first draft has faded, the angst of editing the manuscript has begun. I completed the first draft, the rest should be a piece of cake. Right? Not. Even. Close. All of a sudden I had a multitude of questions and not enough answers. First I tried an easy approach. I purchased “Grammar Girl’s Quick and Dirty Tips for Better Writing”. While it was an interesting read, it didn’t answer all the questions that arose while editing my manuscript. I also went to Chip MacGregor’s blog. He recently posted a huge list of resources to help writers. http://www.chipmacgregor.com/blog/career/150-resources-to-help-you-write-better-faster-and-more-persuasively/ Finally, I went to my friends Beth Vogt and Edie Melson for assistance. They suggested I look at the big picture and keep it simple. We […]
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