I was a writer-in-residence at Good Contrivance Farm this year, and it's one of the most generous and quality organizations I've worked with.

"I used to think memoir was navel gazing, the writing equivalent of pouting and blaming others. I may have decided this because of how I was raised, thinking that I was supposed to be strong at all times." —@ronitplank.bsky.social Even writers themselves have misconceptions about memoir.

"I had heard of book awards, but I wasn’t confident in two things: the contest fees and the idea of competing against other books. I felt I didn’t stand a chance." @chitalmehta.bsky.social did, in fact, stand a chance.

Emotion isn’t just about characters laughing or crying. What truly defines a character’s emotional depth is not just what they feel, but how they express it. Much to consider here from Jordan Rosenfeld.

Learn how to find anthology opportunities, plus red flags to watch for before you sign a contract, from @markleslie.bsky.social and @mattydalrymple.bsky.social.

An author with no significant platform lands a book deal for a nonfiction book, then fears that it will be taken away when publishing professionals realize they've made a huge mistake. But there's much more to the story than that, from Dr. Kerry Makin-Byrd.

"In knitting’s rhythmic nature, fluffy yarns, and a pair of smooth nickel-plated needles, I found comfort, something all writers need at one time or another because the profession is hard and makes no promises, not even the reward of effort." —@rlmaizes.bsky.social

Been warned against using a prologue? I often issue that warning. But prologues do have a place in some stories, if they're done well. Several different types of prologues are reviewed here, along with examples of effective ones, from @marykabiaggio.bsky.social.

What's the difference between vanity publishing and hybrid publishing? How can you find a "good" hybrid publisher? These questions are not straightforward to answer. If you're considering any kind of paid publishing arrangement, hybrid or otherwise, I encourage you to read this Q&A with David Wilk

People seek out life coaches for many reasons, but one theme is ever-present: people strive to achieve a goal but are trapped in a cage of their own patterns, until they gain an insight that sets them free. Learn how to use the toolkit of a life coach for fiction character building.

Recently I taught a class that discussed hybrid publishing, and it made me realize that some writers believe paying a hybrid will relieve them of marketing and promoting their book. Unhappy wake-up call: it doesn't matter how you publish. You still have to market and promote if you want sales.

One of my favorite things is when a piece I write takes on a new life in someone else’s hands. Tiffany Graham Charkosky read my 2022 article describing the types of memoirists who land book deals & found a new way to look at her journey. Her memoir releases today: janefriedman.com/all-others-t...

Your book is about more than your book. It’s about transformation—the shift you want your readers to experience after engaging with your work. Insight from @chadrallen.bsky.social.

A practical look at how authors and illustrators can avoid burnout and bad contracts in publishing, by @mandacomisari.bsky.social.

This author found a publisher for his memoir, but ultimately realized it was the wrong publisher after the book released. So he took the book off the market and re-published it himself. Learn about that, plus the Netflix adaptation releasing this week, courtesy of @sarahchauncey.com.

When I graduated with my writing degree in the late 1990s, it was still feasible to earn a living freelancing for newspapers, magazines, and other publications. That path has all but dried up, but every once in a while, you'll find someone who is still muscling through—like @nberlat.bsky.social.

Authors, you can now search an official database to see if your books are part of the Anthropic settlement. My book is in there, and I just filed my claim. 💸 Search here: secure.anthropiccopyrightsettlement.com/lookup

What if your life experiences do not necessarily translate into “good” writing? Christina Larocco describes how her writing is circular, referential, fragmented—all qualities typically identified as weaknesses.

Any writers out there who also knit? How do you handle messing things up? You'll enjoy this from @nitacollinswriter.bsky.social.

Absolutely delighted to be in conversation with @grammargirl.bsky.social on the topic of AI this week, for her show AI Sidequest. With AI, there is always *so* much to talk about. We cover AI scams, AI note taking, AI website builders, and more.

For writers, voice matters—enormously—for a story's success. But it's an elusive thing to teach someone. What makes it powerful or intriguing or distinct? And if it’s too strong or distinctive, might it not draw attention to itself? @tiffanyyatesmartin.bsky.social advises.

Many 19th-century novels have fallen by the wayside, while Jane Austen continues to draw new readers and admirers every year. Much of her appeal may be understood in the way she built her plots. Dissect the plot of PRIDE AND PREJUDICE with Robin Henry.

“I’m just bad at marketing.” But why? It bears examination, says Colleen M. Story.

"Publishers have some great in-house teams, but I tell every author I work with: you are not the only author your publisher is doing publicity for." Publicist Shanetta McDonald discusses what she wishes authors knew about book launches.

What kind of food do your story's characters reach for when in distress? Do they have a culinary weakness or a food allergy that someone might take advantage of? There are different ways storytellers can use food to bring their characters to life, says Karmen H. Špiljak.

Earlier today I got into a Bluesky convo about how publishers & authors will split proceeds in the Anthropic settlement. Thanks to @publisherslunch.bsky.social, I offer this reminder: the Anthropic settlement is for piracy/copyright infringement and not AI training.

If every publisher doesn't do this, I would not be surprised to see come kind of collective action, depending on how many authors are affected.

Ever pop open your manuscript file and feel … nothing? Not dread, not excitement—just a dull emptiness. Author and book coach Anne F. Haag suggests what you might do next.

In honor of the 10-year anniversary of my newsletter, I wrote about what I think has most meaningfully changed in book publishing since 2015. Spoiler alert: I don't think the last 10 years were as transformational as the 10 years before that.

How do anthologies come together? What do you need to know if you're thinking of editing one? Here's advice from folks in the trenches, collected by @lisatimpf.bsky.social.

How do we write family history when memory collides with fact? In this essay, Cecile Popp revisits her grandmother’s life and considers how memoirists navigate the slippery boundary between truth and invention. When does memory become fiction and when does fiction better serve the truth?

When deciding on the setting for your novel, is it better to choose a real place or create a fictional town, city, or even country? Novelist Kirsten Oliphant advises.

It can be useful to envision antagonism as a hierarchy, starting at the top with the main source of story-level antagonism and then stepping down the ladder to scene-level antagonism. Your story may even have a "mastermind" antagonist. Insight from @erinhalden.bsky.social

"Let’s call books with a broader social or political argument activist memoirs. I don’t necessarily mean that these are memoirs about lives in activism—rather that the books [have] a message for the reader that might impact society." —Stephanie Mitchell

"My note about my husband’s surgery went viral. Immediately obvious was the fact it had nothing to do with anything I usually write. As the numbers ticked up—10,000, 11,000—I watched as droves of new followers signed up as well. And wondered what to do." —@lesleykrueger.bsky.social

Here we go again...

** Attention all authors whose books may have been trained on by AI ** Attorneys are collecting contact information from all authors and publishers who may be part of the class action lawsuit.

"What I realized over the course of my debut author journey was that the best marketing hack lay not in my own knowledge of how to write a press release ... but collaborating with others in the writing and publishing world." —@Julie Liddell Whitehead

Recently I asked agent @katemckean.bsky.social a few questions that have been on my mind about agents and the current state of the industry.

For weeks I've been doing research for an article on independent bookstores and coop, but it's been tough to get folks on the record to speak about this. If you're an independent bookstore or traditional publisher willing to talk about coop, I'd love to hear from you: [email protected].

"The more I delved into the geopolitical history surrounding my grandparents’ story, I realized I had enough material to shape plot points, characters, and worlds." —Lindsay Marie Morris

Every time a memoirist is outed for not being honest, people wonder, "Why didn't the publisher fact check?" There are reasons, and I'll discuss them this afternoon with publisher @dougseibold.bsky.social and book critic Ann Kjellberg at @bookpostusa.bsky.social.

Writers are often told (by people like me) that a newsletter is an important tool to build their audience. But what do you put in a newsletter if you don’t have a book out yet? @writerfagan.bsky.social discusses how she surprised herself with ideas & enjoying the task of writing her newsletter.

"I discovered that a genre convention is my audience on steroids, readers who are spending time and treasure, crossing the country ... actively looking for their next binge read, who are looking, in fact, for me." —Nichelle Seely

Learn how one author transformed her misprinted copies into a literary experience in her hometown of Meadville, Pennsylvania—which ultimately landed her on the newspaper's front page, by Jen Craven.

“Who, among your characters, are real? Did you have to disguise them?” “Have people recognized themselves in your book? If so, how did they react?” Books might be marketed as fiction, but it’s the truth and possibility thereof that intrigues people. Insight from novelist @pennyhaw.bsky.social

One of the hazards of writing children's books is the temptation to craft stories that have a message or to impose a “moral” as the core of the story. Susan Fletcher advises on how to consider your story's theme, not just the message.

Book promotion is what most writers think of when their book is ready to launch. Author promotion is about building an audience that’s interested in your perspective, not just your latest release. Insight from Orlando Ortega-Medina.

Since villains usually consider themselves heroes, they can also go through the same stages heroes do, with some important variations. @debbieburke.bsky.social explains.

"It drives me crazy to see authors work their butts off to make great books, then get skittish about pricing those books as if they were actually valuable." Indie author Johnny B. Truant, who's spent 15+ years writing and publishing books, says it's possible to succeed without KU and rapid releases.