Jane’s Writing Advice Archive
If you’re overwhelmed by this list, you can purchase a compilation of my best advice for first-time authors, Publishing 101: A First-Time Author’s Guide to Getting Published, Marketing and Promoting Your Book, and Building a Successful Career. It is a full-length book (more than 80,000 words) that includes edited and updated versions of the most important blog posts listed below.
Getting Started
The Only Way to Know If You’ll Be a Successful Writer
Everyone Wants to “Help” Writers. But Whose Help Do You Really Need?
The Golden Rule of Professionals: Be Specific & Ask Good Questions
5 Things Every Writer Should Know About Rights
Why Writers Should Attend Conferences + 5 Ways to Benefit From Them
The Secret to Writing & Publishing That Should Be Taped to Your Wall
Your Friends and Family Are Wrong
Persistence Doesn’t Matter If You Make This Common Mistake
Leading Indicator of Success: How You Deal With Loss, Failure, Rejection
You Hate Your Writing? That’s a Good Sign!
How to Avoid Being Fooled by Bad Writing Advice
Distinguishing Between Straight-Up Advice & Paradigm Shift
Should You Hire a Professional Editor?
How Long Should You Keep Trying to Get Published?
Best Advice: Have More Fun (Stop Worrying and Obeying)
The Dirty Secret Behind Writing Advice
3 Questions Every Creative Person Must Ask
5 Attitudes Toward Publishing You Should Avoid
Back to Basics + 101 Guides
Start Here: How to Get Your Book Published
Start Here: How to Write a Book Proposal
Start Here: How to Self-Publish Your Book
The Complete Guide to Query Letters That Get Manuscript Requests
How Long Should You Keep Trying to Get Published?
Infographic: 5 Key Book Publishing Paths
Where to Find Free Market Listings
Is Your Work Commercially Viable?
Back to Basics: Writing & Publishing Memoir
How Do You Know If Your Agent Is Any Good?
Back to Basics: Why Am I Getting Rejected?
Get Started Guide: Blogging for Writers
The Best 101 on Self-Publishing + Resources
Back to Basics: Writing a Novel Synopsis
Writing & Publishing Terminology 101
Craft + Technique (Write Better)
Why Take the Time to Read Your Work Out Loud?
4 Steps to Useful Critiques: The Lerman Method
5 Ways to Find the Right Freelance Editor
Worksheets for Writing a Novel in 30 Days
Why I Don’t Care ABout Grammar (And Why You Should Stop Worrying)
It’s OK to Leave Out Stuff—In Fact, It’s Better
Perfecting Your First Page: 3 Tasks or Exercises
Story Openings: What Constitutes Significant/Meaningful Action?
The Biggest Bad Advice About Story Openings
A Big Mistake to Avoid in Story Openings
Getting Published
Start Here: How to Get Your Book Published
Start Here: How to Write a Book Proposal
The Complete Guide to Query Letters That Get Manuscript Requests
How Long Should You Keep Trying to Get Published?
Infographic: 4 Key Book Publishing Paths and/or Infographic: 5 Key Book Publishing Paths
Where to Find Free Market Listings
Is Your Work Commercially Viable?
The Basic Pitch Formula for Novelists
Back to Basics: Writing a Novel Synopsis
5 Attitudes Toward Publishing You Should Avoid
How Do You Know If Your Agent Is Any Good?
Back to Basics: Why Am I Getting Rejected?
Rejection: It’s What You Do Next That Counts
3 Critical Steps After Rejection
How to Ensure 75% of Agents Will Request Your Material
What Writers Wish They’d Known Before Pitching
5 Reasons Pitches Can Be Detrimental Rather Than Helpful
The Art of Live Pitching (3 Rules)
5 Questions to Ask Yourself After Hearing: We Can’t Sell Enough to Justify Publishing It
Stop Being Afraid of Posting Your Work Online
How to Get a Book Deal While Avoiding the Slush Pile
Nonfiction Books + Publishing
Start Here: How to Write a Book Proposal
Book Proposals in the Digital Age
Your Self-Help Book Should Not Be a Thinly Disguised Memoir
Memoir
When Is Lying in Memoir Acceptable? 3 Key Issues
Back to Basics: Writing & Publishing Memoir
Creating Memoir That’s Bigger Than Me, Me, Me
Your No. 1 Challenge If You’re Writing Memoir
5 Common Flaws in Memoir Projects
Don’t Write a Memoir to Get Revenge
Inspiration + Encouragement (The Writing Life)
The Secret to Finding Time to Write, Market, Promote, and Still Have a Life
5 Things More Important Than Talent
5 Remarkable Prompt & Exercise Books
How Do You Make the Time to Write?
Why Do We Think Talent Ought to Be Rewarded?
3 Ways to Add Meaningful Structure to Your Writing Life
My Secret to Battling Procrastination
Placing Too Much Importance on Passion
Publishing Industry
Reasons to Be Optimistic During the Disruption of Publishing