The short answer is “sure,” but the longer one would be, “Start if your characters and…
Elaine Orr & Elaine L. Orr
Mobi is Mosey’n On
I often encourage readers do download MOBI files from Smashwords and email them (via Amazon’s Kindle…
You Can’t Write Well if You Don’t Read
“If you don’t have time to read, you don’t have the time (or the tools) to…
Subscription Services and Libraries Can Save Money for Readers
Everyone is trying to squeeze an extra quarter from a dollar these days. For me that…
Getting to the Point
I’ve been told that at times my writing is too sparse. A reader won’t want to…
Start a Book — Even if You Don’t Know How
Authors can be asked what got them to take the idea of being an author to…
From Resolving Childhood Conflict to Peace
My parents made many smart decisions about how their kids should behave. They were the opposite…
What Does a Publisher Do With and For You?
If your knowledge of the publishing process comes from television shows or reading about book publicity…
Varied Types of Publishers
When an author says “my publisher” it’s a great feeling. If you’re considering whether to seek…
The Many Hats of a Self-Published Author
You can choose to try to find a traditional publisher or put your work out there…
Thinking Through Self-Publishing
Over the next few weeks, I’m going to write posts on the benefits of self-publishing and…
Shortening Web Addresses
Web address are long and who wants to look at a 50-character (or longer) link in…
A Picture Can Lead to 1,000 Words
I often take pictures of scenery similar to that in my fiction. Grain elevators feature in…
Musing About Advice
Every now and then, readers will ask the common question about where I get ideas, or…
Mildred Mistletoe Adjusts to a COVID Christmas
Several years ago, I wrote about liking to have pets in my books but never writing…
Can Income-Earning Authors Take a Break?
Can income earning authors take a break? The short answer is “no.” The longer answer is…
A Look Into the ‘Real’ World
When revising my website this year, I spent time considering how to describe my writing. Not…
What to Learn from Reviews of Your Books
Most authors I know read at least some of the reviews of their books. I’ve learned…
Halloween and Books
Remember when Halloween became a holiday for adults? I do — roughly the mid-1980s. I lived…
Positive Delay Tactics — Maybe
I believe that the best way to write enough to publish is just to keep writing.…
Balancing Murder and Family
Balancing murder and family is a true skill — as long as you aren’t thinking about…
Talk Like a Pirate Day is Here Again
I’m not sure why this eclectic annual event tickles my fancy. Perhaps because it’s…
When You Can’t Get a Book Out of Your Mind
Most of us have at least a few books that stick with us. When we know…
Rethinking a Character’s Past
I read a blog post today on Writers Helping Writers that contained this sentence. “Before randomly choosing…