In many ways, a writer’s journey has much in common with Arthur C. Clarke’s novel-turned-classic-film 2001: A Space Odyssey. The hapless author boards his-or-her craft (a manuscript instead of a rocket), launches into a hostile space, and spends many months (or, sometimes, years) in what seems like suspended animation. Time passes, the author alternately waiting for something to happen and struggling…
Author: Susan Spann
Finding Your Writing Pace
Authors often forget that professional writing is a two-pronged calling. First and foremost, writers write. It’s what defines us, and we do it whether or not we write for publication or for pleasure (or, as happens in many cases, both). There’s nothing wrong with writing as an avocation instead of a career – and some writers make a business…
Colorado Gold 2015: Another Wonderful Weekend With the Herd
Another Colorado Gold Conference (my sixth) has come and gone. No matter how I try to freeze the clock, somehow the moments pass–far faster than normal–and it seems things have no sooner started than I’m home once more and waiting for the next one. This was an unusually wonderful Colorado Gold for me, this year,…
Do YOU Know How to Find Your Agent Match?
Finding an agent isn’t just about finding “someone” to represent your work. The author-agent relationship works best when author and his or her agent match well on a personal and professional level. Some people prefer to work via email; others like to talk by phone. Some authors want to know about every submission and every editor’s…
Debunking Copyright Registration Myths
Authors are often confused about the benefits and timing of copyright registration for creative works. It’s a universal issue authors must understand, regardless of the publishing path they choose, so today we’re taking a quick and dirty look at some popular myths–and truths–about copyright registration. Myth #1: You Have to Register Copyright, or You Lose It. The truth: Registration with…