Self-publishing doesn’t have to drain your wallet. Rick Noble breaks down the surprisingly simple tasks authors can tackle on their own, from filing copyrights to entering award contests, and how skipping the middleman could save you hundreds.
Writing a book is hard. Writing a book about losing a child is another level of hard entirely. That’s the challenge Lisette Rimer faced when she set out to tell the story of her son Patrick, who died by suicide nearly twenty years ago. In this month’s featured article, she shares the lessons learned across decades of wrong turns, difficult questions, and more than a few editors. Plus the one question that kept her going.
Jen Braaksma reflects on the unexpected partnership that formed when she helped complete the work of a writer who was no longer here to guide it. Through careful listening and deep respect for another voice, she discovered that collaboration can continue, even when one partner can’t speak for themselves.
Andrew deLeon shares why hand-drawn illustrations hold the magic in children’s books, bringing authenticity, humor, and heart to stories that kids remember, cherish, and keep for life.
Randy Overbeck reflects on the long road to getting it right, showing how persistence, revision, and a refusal to settle for “good enough” turned one chapter into fourteen drafts and ultimately shaped a bestselling, award-winning mystery series.
Michael Coffino shows how to keep your readers glued to the page by cranking up the tension. From cliffhangers to character conflict, he shares tips every writer can put to work right away.
Every book starts with an idea, but some ideas keep growing long after the first chapter is written. Cliff Beach thought he was just telling his story in Side Hustle & Flow, but that one book opened the door to a trilogy, a platform, and a movement. In this piece, he shares how listening to readers, experimenting with formats, and showing up with consistency turned a single passion project into something much bigger
Writers approach storytelling in different ways. Some carefully outline every twist, while others dive right in and see where the words take them. Author JL Askew explores the highs and hazards of writing “by the seat of your pants,” and the surprises it can bring — and why pacing is the heartbeat of every great thriller.
Writing partnerships require respect, trust, and vulnerability. Anna Schmidt shares the highs and lows of co-authoring with her brother, revealing how respect, trust, and a dash of humor turned turbulence into a memoir that soars on honesty and connection.
What keeps a writer coming back to the blank page, book after book? Randy Overbeck shares the real reason he writes—and it goes far beyond plot twists.