Tag Archives: advice

Interview with Scott E. Tarbet

Posted on January 28, 2015 by Jodi

Welcome Scott E. Tarbet to My Literary Quest! I’m glad to have you here and looking forward to hearing the wit and wisdom you have to share with my readers.  I got to know Scott through the editorial process of … Continue reading →

Posted in Books and Reading, Guest Post | Tagged , , , , , , , , | Comments Off on Interview with Scott E. Tarbet

NaNo 2014 – Beating the Murky Middle

Posted on November 12, 2014 by Jodi

Saturday marks the halfway point for all you NaNo writers out there, that means you should be nearing or hopefully passing the 25,000 word mark in your new drafts.  It’s usually around now when the story starts falling apart and … Continue reading →

Posted in Inspiration, NaNoWriMo | Tagged , , , , , | 1 Comment

5 Things to Consider When Marketing Your Work

Posted on May 4, 2011 by Jodi

If you ever watch commercials then you have seen that companies will do anything to get a consumer’s attention.  They aim to make an emotional and often irrational connection between you and their product.  Laundry soap no longer just gets … Continue reading →

Posted in Marketing and Publication | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , | 4 Comments

Interview: J. Cafesin

Posted on March 25, 2011 by Jodi

For this week’s Feature Friday I’m excited to present a terrific interview with the very talented J. Cafesin.   When it comes to writing she has done it all, from novels to copywriting.  On with the interview! What led you towards … Continue reading →

Posted in Guest Post | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | 4 Comments

Blogging: Making First Impressions

Posted on February 2, 2011 by Jodi

In the blogosphere, it takes maybe five seconds to encourage readers to keep reading or to click away.  If your blog fails to capture the interest of your reader, chances are they won’t stick around.  Over the last few weeks … Continue reading →

Posted in Marketing and Publication | Tagged , , , , , , | 23 Comments

Three Great Reasons to Write a Query Letter Early

Posted on January 26, 2011 by Jodi

Query Letter… The mere thought of those two words is enough to send many a novelist into cold sweats.  While most writers wait until they are ready to start seeking representation before tackling the beast, might I suggest a different … Continue reading →

Posted in Editing and Revision, Marketing and Publication, Writing Exercise | Tagged , , , , , , | 22 Comments

Using Personal Space to Your Advantage

Posted on January 24, 2011 by Jodi

  Two weeks ago in the post “Using Stereotypes to your Advantage” we discussed how the careful use of widely accepted stereotypes can add flavor and personality to a scene without adding the bulk of excessive description.  Today we will … Continue reading →

Posted in Art of Writing, Editing and Revision, Language usage, Visual writing, Writer's Voice | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 5 Comments

5 Proven Ways to Waste Time Editing

Posted on January 14, 2011 by Jodi

Every free minute of these last two weeks have been filled with attempts to edit and flesh out my fantasy manuscript.  Needless to say I’ve paid much more attention to what is working and what has wasted my time.  And … Continue reading →

Posted in Editing and Revision | Tagged , , , , , , , | 12 Comments

The Terrible Price We Pay

Posted on December 15, 2010 by Jodi

Before I could drive, my mother would take me to the library to pick out a stack of books for the week.  During the short drive home it was almost impossible to keep from opening the first and diving in.  … Continue reading →

Posted in Personally Speaking | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , | 16 Comments

NaNoWriMo: False Starts

Posted on November 19, 2010 by Jodi

There are strong opinions out there about the right way to craft the beginning of a book.  Often what is written on the first few pages will make or break a book for a reader, agent, or publisher.  While I … Continue reading →

Posted in Art of Writing, Plotting | Tagged , , , , | 13 Comments