Writing a memoir, novel, essay, magazine article, or blog post sometimes requires authors to tackle some tough topics, including content that might be psychologically or emotionally difficult to read, especially to those who have experienced a trauma. How do we balance realistic depictions or discussions of challenging content with the needs of readers who could potentially be traumatized? Trigger warnings might—or might not—help. Here’s how.
How to Get Your Article Published in a Magazine
There are over 7,300 magazines published in the United States. Given these numbers, if you have an article you wish to submit to a magazine, it seems you have a good chance of getting it published. But the wide variety of publications, from news to general interest to niche to literary, also means that there is no one right way of submitting your work. Here are some ways you can get published in a magazine.
Dreyer’s English: A Book Review
Several years ago, I made a resolution: I would not buy any more books. That might seem an odd resolution for someone who has been editing books for fifty-five years. Practicality and kindness motivated me as I considered the task of our daughter, who after our deaths, would have to deal with all the possessions […]
What Are Hybrid Publishers?
You may feel that you know what a traditional publisher is, and what a self-publisher is, but what is a hybrid publisher? How do you know a good one from a rip-off vanity press? The publishing model makes the difference A “traditional” publishing model works like this: A publishing house derives all its income from […]
How to Write Fiction for Children in 10 Steps

I guess I’m an extreme version of what I’ve heard called a “pantser.” Not only do I plot by the seat of my pants, I do everything that way. I’ve read the usual books on writing (Writing Down the Bones by Natalie Goldberg, On Writing by Stephen King, Plotting and Writing Suspense by Patricia Highsmith) […]
How Can a Ghostwriter Help Me Write My Book?

Mystery tends to swirl around ghostwriters and what they do, but it needn’t. I’m pleased to lift the veil . . . First, there isn’t one singular job description for a ghostwriter. Nor is there one uniform way a ghostwriter can help you. There are many possibilities, and the relationship can be explored and developed […]
Your Book is Being Published–Yay! What to Do Now: Part 5

Selling on Amazon and Giving Your Book Away All authors clamor to receive the potential blessings of Amazon. But the ways of Amazon are mysterious and known to few (they even puzzle most publishers). Still, one widely spread belief is that you get more leverage and publicity via Amazon if you acquire a sufficient number […]
Your Book Is Being Published—Yay! What to Do Now: Part 4b

What My Publisher and Publicist Did, What I Did, and What We Did Together One of my pre-pub fantasies was seeing my book displayed at airports and watching rushed travelers grab a copy for the plane. Read on…. Airports My publisher’s distributor tried to get us airport bookstore placement to no avail. (You or your […]
Your Book Is Being Published—Yay! What to Do Now: Part 4a

What My Publisher and Publicist Did, What I Did, and What We Did Together The two most meaningful things my publisher gave me were their faith in my book and a beautiful, inviting cover. (Your title and cover are your two best tickets to success.) They also gave me a small advance, a small PR […]
Your Book Is Being Published—Yay! What to Do Now: Part 3

And Then You Do This . . . . Yes, it’s a full-time job—or more. Here are some things I did as soon as I could: Have cards made: This meant finding a good but affordable designer and printer and then doing the writing and proposing the design plan myself. Later, I had oversized postcards […]