RMFW’s Colorado Gold conference is in a few weeks, and, of course, I’m going. In fact, this year I am an “Honored Guiding Member” which means I’ve been in RMFW for a **mumbledy mumble** years. Okay, we’ll just leave it at decades. And, yes, RMFW has given me some awesome awards (I’ve been Writer of…
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Tips for Pitching Your Novel to an Agent or Editor
With Colorado Gold just around the corner (and other conferences happening around the country throughout the rest of the summer and the autumn), many authors are preparing to pitch a manuscript to a literary agent, an editor, or both. In hopes of reducing stress and helping you land a request for pages, here are some tips for…
In Love with Colorado Gold
This is the warmest, friendliest, most accessible conference I have ever been to. From the very first day of my very first time, I felt welcome, comfortable, and like I belonged. If you, like me, always feel a bit out of sync with the rest of the world, then you know how incredibly wonderful it is to find somebody you click with.
Sell the Premise – Foreshadowing … by Terry Odell
Johnny Carson said, “If they buy the premise, they’ll buy the bit.” Without foreshadowing, you’re left with deus ex machina and readers don’t like outside forces solving plot threads, or things conveniently appearing just when they’re needed. You have to be a bit of a magician. Think sleight-of-hand, although in this case, it’s more like…
My First The End
In July I sat on a panel at Regis University with two other authors and was asked the question, “What advice do you have for writers just starting out?” I thought for a second, leaned into the microphone, then whispered, “Finish a book.” Was my response flippant? Not in the least. I remember writing my…