Don’t Kill Your Novel Idea: Even John Grisham Was Rejected

The July 10, 2011 issue of Parade Magazine featured an interview with John Grisham. His first novel, A Time to Kill was turned down and rejected 30 times; he still has the files. According to John, “I saved all of that stuff.” It makes you wonder if those in the publishing world really know a […]

27 Words and Phrases That Have Worn Out Their Welcome

Sometimes freelance, fiction, ghost, travel, and non-fiction writers use certain words and phrases that have worn out their welcome. Writers, you are creative people and can certainly think of new words and phrases to use. Unless a client specifically says, “Use the following words and phrases,” grab the thesaurus and spice up your writing. It’s […]

7 Tips for Handling Freelance Writing Clients

Make no mistake about it — freelance writing is a small business. It’s fantastic to work from home, create your own hours, and essentially be “the boss,” but it’s a business that depends upon you for growth. If you’re not a big fan of sales and marketing, your freelance writing business may struggle to succeed. […]

Tone of Voice: Misinterpretation Happens

This post was updated on June 18, 2021. Do you pay attention to the tone of voice in your brand or small business’ content and messaging? I’m a writer and can’t help but read, proofread, and question everything that cross my path, including: Newspaper and magazine articles. Newsletters eBooks Flyers Blog posts Catalog product copy […]