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Maggie Shayne
- Aug 4, 2017
- 3 min
25 Years: What I’ve Learned
This month, August 24th, marks 25 years since the day I got the phone call telling me that a real publisher wanted to give me real money to publish one of my novels. So I thought I’d write a post sharing the most important things I’ve learned during this long haul. Friends matter Nourish your relationships. Find your tribe of creative colleagues. Let them become your friends. Try to offer as much to your tribe as you get back from it. Share the things you learn. Listen to the
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Maggie Shayne
- Aug 4, 2017
- 3 min
25 Years: What I’ve Learned
This month, August 24th, marks 25 years since the day I got the phone call telling me that a real publisher wanted to give me real money to publish one of my novels. So I thought I’d write a post sharing the most important things I’ve learned during this long haul. Friends matter Nourish your relationships. Find your tribe of creative colleagues. Let them become your friends. Try to offer as much to your tribe as you get back from it. Share the things you learn. Listen to the
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Maggie Shayne
- Jun 13, 2017
- 6 min
A Hitchhiker’s Guide Through Writer’s Block
Briefly, the 'problem' I’ve been oddly unable to get going on the next novel on my To-Be-Written (TBW) list. Even before the beautiful weather arrived to compete for my attention, I was having trouble getting started. I have written the first few scenes of 5 different plots for the same book. Two were suspensy, one a romantic comedy, one a marriage of convenience, and one a tragedy to be overcome. None of them feel right. I don't believe in writer's block I have publicly repe
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Maggie Shayne
- Jun 13, 2017
- 6 min
A Hitchhiker’s Guide Through Writer’s Block
Briefly, the 'problem' I’ve been oddly unable to get going on the next novel on my To-Be-Written (TBW) list. Even before the beautiful weather arrived to compete for my attention, I was having trouble getting started. I have written the first few scenes of 5 different plots for the same book. Two were suspensy, one a romantic comedy, one a marriage of convenience, and one a tragedy to be overcome. None of them feel right. I don't believe in writer's block I have publicly repe
0 views0 comments
Maggie Shayne
- Jul 31, 2016
- 6 min
The Value of Writing Workshops
No one can write your story like you can This is the first thing. It’s your unique voice, your one-of-a-kind way of telling a story, that makes you a writer. No one can tell your story better than you can, and if you have to break a few rules to tell it the way only you can tell it, then more power to you. Never let anyone’s voice or wisdom have more authority in your mind, than your own. That’s what it’s there for. To break rules, you should first know what they are So yes,
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Maggie Shayne
- Jul 31, 2016
- 6 min
The Value of Writing Workshops
No one can write your story like you can This is the first thing. It’s your unique voice, your one-of-a-kind way of telling a story, that makes you a writer. No one can tell your story better than you can, and if you have to break a few rules to tell it the way only you can tell it, then more power to you. Never let anyone’s voice or wisdom have more authority in your mind, than your own. That’s what it’s there for. To break rules, you should first know what they are So yes,
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Maggie Shayne
- Jul 31, 2016
- 6 min
The Value of Writing Workshops
No one can write your story like you can This is the first thing. It’s your unique voice, your one-of-a-kind way of telling a story, that makes you a writer. No one can tell your story better than you can, and if you have to break a few rules to tell it the way only you can tell it, then more power to you. Never let anyone’s voice or wisdom have more authority in your mind, than your own. That’s what it’s there for. To break rules, you should first know what they are So yes,
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Maggie Shayne
- Jul 17, 2016
- 4 min
The Storyteller’s Role in a Changing World
But first, let’s talk about what’s really happening in our world. Humans Fear Change Where we are and where we’ve been are comfortable places. Maybe not perfect. Maybe vastly imperfect. But we know them. They’re familiar and safe. Change, on the other hand, is new. We can’t know what something new will feel like. So we cling to the familiar. And when I say “we” I mean humankind. But Change is Inevitable So here’s a microcosm of the big picture, illustrated in a little story.
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Maggie Shayne
- Jul 17, 2016
- 4 min
The Storyteller’s Role in a Changing World
But first, let’s talk about what’s really happening in our world. Humans Fear Change Where we are and where we’ve been are comfortable places. Maybe not perfect. Maybe vastly imperfect. But we know them. They’re familiar and safe. Change, on the other hand, is new. We can’t know what something new will feel like. So we cling to the familiar. And when I say “we” I mean humankind. But Change is Inevitable So here’s a microcosm of the big picture, illustrated in a little story.
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Maggie Shayne
- Jul 17, 2016
- 4 min
The Storyteller’s Role in a Changing World
But first, let’s talk about what’s really happening in our world. Humans Fear Change Where we are and where we’ve been are comfortable places. Maybe not perfect. Maybe vastly imperfect. But we know them. They’re familiar and safe. Change, on the other hand, is new. We can’t know what something new will feel like. So we cling to the familiar. And when I say “we” I mean humankind. But Change is Inevitable So here’s a microcosm of the big picture, illustrated in a little story.
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Maggie Shayne
- May 22, 2016
- 5 min
Why Do Bad Things Keep Happening to Me?
Or, How to Poop Rainbows The answer is in the question. Bad things keep happening to you if you are the type of person who believes bad things keep happening to them. I’m going to give you some easy steps to change your beliefs, and when you follow them, you’ll become the type of person who poops rainbows, just like me. First though, let’s define “Bad.” Thanks to Melissa Storm for the 'poops rainbows' metaphor Defining 'Bad' I’m going to try to make this very simple, but it’s
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Maggie Shayne
- May 22, 2016
- 5 min
Why Do Bad Things Keep Happening to Me?
Or, How to Poop Rainbows The answer is in the question. Bad things keep happening to you if you are the type of person who believes bad things keep happening to them. I’m going to give you some easy steps to change your beliefs, and when you follow them, you’ll become the type of person who poops rainbows, just like me. First though, let’s define “Bad.” Thanks to Melissa Storm for the 'poops rainbows' metaphor Defining 'Bad' I’m going to try to make this very simple, but it’s
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Maggie Shayne
- May 22, 2016
- 5 min
Why Do Bad Things Keep Happening to Me?
Or, How to Poop Rainbows The answer is in the question. Bad things keep happening to you if you are the type of person who believes bad things keep happening to them. I’m going to give you some easy steps to change your beliefs, and when you follow them, you’ll become the type of person who poops rainbows, just like me. First though, let’s define “Bad.” Thanks to Melissa Storm for the 'poops rainbows' metaphor Defining 'Bad' I’m going to try to make this very simple, but it’s
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Maggie Shayne
- May 15, 2016
- 5 min
How To Sell More Books
Seven Tips Make the first book in your connected series free for at least a month at a time. Make sure there are links to at least 2 sequels in the back matter. Make sure there is a hefty sized excerpt of Book 2 or a link to one in the back matter. Masterfully and subtly set up the core conflict of Book 2 in the storyline of Book 1. Feature this series on all your social media and websites. Advertise the free book in every conceivable place. Spend money on this. Make Sure Boo
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Maggie Shayne
- May 15, 2016
- 5 min
How To Sell More Books
Seven Tips Make the first book in your connected series free for at least a month at a time. Make sure there are links to at least 2 sequels in the back matter. Make sure there is a hefty sized excerpt of Book 2 or a link to one in the back matter. Masterfully and subtly set up the core conflict of Book 2 in the storyline of Book 1. Feature this series on all your social media and websites. Advertise the free book in every conceivable place. Spend money on this. Make Sure Boo
0 views0 comments
Maggie Shayne
- May 15, 2016
- 5 min
How To Sell More Books
Seven Tips Make the first book in your connected series free for at least a month at a time. Make sure there are links to at least 2 sequels in the back matter. Make sure there is a hefty sized excerpt of Book 2 or a link to one in the back matter. Masterfully and subtly set up the core conflict of Book 2 in the storyline of Book 1. Feature this series on all your social media and websites. Advertise the free book in every conceivable place. Spend money on this. Make Sure Boo
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Maggie Shayne
- May 8, 2016
- 5 min
The Care and Feeding of the Muse
The best way to cure writer’s block is to prevent it from ever happening. Inspiration is the well from which writers and artists drink. And the muse is the personification of our inspiration. Keeping her well full and clear is something that will benefit all artists, and here are some thoughts on how we can do that. Feed Your Muse with Down Time I know this is the opposite of the normal writerly advice, to “write every day.” But it’s vital to not spend all our time chained t
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Maggie Shayne
- May 8, 2016
- 5 min
The Care and Feeding of the Muse
The best way to cure writer’s block is to prevent it from ever happening. Inspiration is the well from which writers and artists drink. And the muse is the personification of our inspiration. Keeping her well full and clear is something that will benefit all artists, and here are some thoughts on how we can do that. Feed Your Muse with Down Time I know this is the opposite of the normal writerly advice, to “write every day.” But it’s vital to not spend all our time chained t
1 view0 comments
Maggie Shayne
- May 8, 2016
- 5 min
The Care and Feeding of the Muse
The best way to cure writer’s block is to prevent it from ever happening. Inspiration is the well from which writers and artists drink. And the muse is the personification of our inspiration. Keeping her well full and clear is something that will benefit all artists, and here are some thoughts on how we can do that. Feed Your Muse with Down Time I know this is the opposite of the normal writerly advice, to “write every day.” But it’s vital to not spend all our time chained t
1 view0 comments