Published on June 15, 2011
When I first began my writing career, I was so excited by the mere thought of being published that I never gave a thought to making money at it. Being published was reward enough for all my hard work.
But then I decided I liked the idea of checks popping up in my mailbox now and then…
Published on June 8, 2011
Frank graduated with honor from high school last weekend. We are soooooo proud of him! He’ll be starting his college career in the Fall. Since he now plans to become a doctor, it’ll be a long college career…
Published on June 8, 2011
worst book proposals and query letters
Today, I’m going to share another installment of our popular column, World’s Worst Book Proposals. Yes, we can learn from others’ mistakes! Featured below are real quotes from book proposals submitted to me over the past few months…
Published on June 8, 2011
Letters will return next week.
Published on June 8, 2011
Nobody sets out to fail but, for the freelancer, there are some key elements that will deliver the best possible service and happy customers…
Published on June 8, 2011

In the first years since I left my desk job to pursue writing freelance, my personal and inspirational essays found homes in several anthologies and in some magazines, too. Yet suddenly I found myself feeling tapped out in that arena, as though my supply of heartening stories was running dangerously low. At that moment, I examined not only what I was writing but why I was writing. I wanted my words to have a positive impact on the reader’s life…
Published on June 1, 2011
Only a month after our last snow, it got into the 80s here on Memorial Day so Frank ran to the store for a kiddie pool for the little ones. Boy oh boy, were they happy!!
Published on June 1, 2011
Over the years, several authors have written to me, sharing a “unique” idea they had about getting bookstores to stock their books. They walk into a store, pull a couple of their books out of their purse or jacket, place them on a shelf, and walk away. It’s like backwards shoplifting. We call it shopdropping….and it’s a very, very bad idea…
Published on June 1, 2011
I’m looking for archived markets on your site but I can’t seem to find them.
– Janine
PUBLISHERS’ NOTE:
All WritersWeekly material is archived by subject here.
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Be sure to click “Search Markets and Jobs” in the dropdown menu.
Published on June 1, 2011
I’ve written quite a few business and company profiles in my seven years of experience as a freelance writer and journalist. This means I’ve had to interview many CEOs, executives and owners of small- and medium-sized businesses. Although the question list varies according to the specific style of the magazine and the unique qualities of the business and business owner, there is definitely a core set of questions that I tend to slip in during each interview…