When is it okay not to revise or edit? When you are the only audience. If you are writing a diary or journal, and have no plans to share...

There are different levels of edit. Before you hire an editor, make sure you know which kind of editing they are going to do - and...

I am most definitely thankful today. I'm linking a short story about Nina's Thanksgiving and a couple other posts about family.

How to choose the right editor and ways you can make editing easier and reduce costs.

How does your publisher make money? Traditional publishers make their money selling books - that's why they're so picky about what they...

What happens to a rough draft? If the editor is working for a prospective publisher, it's going to go back to you with little of it read...

In Community Board, Tara Conklin takes us inside the major depression of a woman whose husband has left her for another woman - yet she...

All the Light We Cannot See by Anthony Doerr is an excellent novel looking at World War II from multiple perspectives - different people...

Once upon a time I was a teacher working with "tough" kids - teens who had behaviors that got them into trouble in most classrooms. My...

If you’re considering writing historical fiction or just enjoy good writing, I strongly suggest Lisa Wingal’s Before We Were Yours.

Secondary characters help add texture and depth to a book. They can be used for comic relief in an otherwise tense story. They’re fun to...

How many books should you order? You don’t want to end up with boxes of books you’ll never sell. Aside from the cost, it’s depressing to...

Good plot construction; good getting inside an anti-hero. Nice linking the character's situation to overall women's issues.

When you are deciding how to publish your book, it's important to do your homework. Traditional publishing is still an option, but you’ll...

If you like any of the following authors, you might like my books, or if you like my books, you may like theirs too.

Publishing with KDP and IngramSpark is possible, as long as you don't sign up for Kindle Select. My last three books, I published through...

Kindle vs. Kindle Select - I’ve had people tell me if you publish with KDP, your books can’t be purchased on Nook or you’ll be violating...

Tough Times is one of five YA books to make the finalist list for Kindle Book Awards 2023. A very happy day :). Click on the cover to...

For the second year, I’ve been a judge for an independent book association’s award. They’ve asked their name not be mentioned until the...

What a learning curve! Straight uphill. Sheri McGuinn's new Facebook page is S McGuinn - Author. I made this for professional use, but...

Does your city have abandoned schools or similar public buildings? The one pictured above is on sale. I was a kid when I first thought of...

I spent the first three months of this year searching urgently for my own place - my son decided to sell while the market's hot, which...

The end of 2018, I sold my home and moved in with my son in Needles, CA. The plan was to help him with his fixer for a year or so while I...

I started blogging when I was an exchange student in Peru (2012 - I was the same age as my "mama" but everyone got used to me and it was...