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Maggie Shayne
- Oct 30, 2017
- 2 min
Samhain
The Celts The ancient Celts divided their year according to astronomical cycles. They recognized, (we think): The Winter Solstice, Spring Equinox, Summer Solstice, and Autumn Equinox as the 4 quarters of the year, and the dates halfway in between each of those dates as the “Cross-Quarters.” The Cross-Quarters, (Imbolc, around February 2, Beltane around May 1, Lughnasadh around August 2, and Samhain, around November 7) were and are the major turning points of the year, and th
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Maggie Shayne
- Oct 30, 2017
- 2 min
Samhain
The Celts The ancient Celts divided their year according to astronomical cycles. They recognized, (we think): The Winter Solstice, Spring Equinox, Summer Solstice, and Autumn Equinox as the 4 quarters of the year, and the dates halfway in between each of those dates as the “Cross-Quarters.” The Cross-Quarters, (Imbolc, around February 2, Beltane around May 1, Lughnasadh around August 2, and Samhain, around November 7) were and are the major turning points of the year, and th
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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
- 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,
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
- 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
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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 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
Maggie Shayne
- May 1, 2016
- 3 min
When Biz is Bad, Turn it Around
You know, sales are slumping, the writing isn’t going well, the technology is wonky, and Amazon is doing all the things the “Sky is falling” gang are always accusing it of. That kind of bad. As soon as you start fighting against trends like this, scrambling to fix them, to make corrections, you’re shifting all of your focus to what’s going wrong. And if you’ve been reading me for more than a couple of weeks, you know what that means; you’re creating more of the same. Your foc
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Maggie Shayne
- May 1, 2016
- 3 min
When Biz is Bad, Turn it Around
You know, sales are slumping, the writing isn’t going well, the technology is wonky, and Amazon is doing all the things the “Sky is falling” gang are always accusing it of. That kind of bad. As soon as you start fighting against trends like this, scrambling to fix them, to make corrections, you’re shifting all of your focus to what’s going wrong. And if you’ve been reading me for more than a couple of weeks, you know what that means; you’re creating more of the same. Your foc
0 views0 comments
Maggie Shayne
- May 1, 2016
- 3 min
When Biz is Bad, Turn it Around
You know, sales are slumping, the writing isn’t going well, the technology is wonky, and Amazon is doing all the things the “Sky is falling” gang are always accusing it of. That kind of bad. As soon as you start fighting against trends like this, scrambling to fix them, to make corrections, you’re shifting all of your focus to what’s going wrong. And if you’ve been reading me for more than a couple of weeks, you know what that means; you’re creating more of the same. Your foc
0 views0 comments
Maggie Shayne
- Apr 16, 2016
- 5 min
I Put Meditation to the Test
For years I wanted to be a meditator, but I could never get myself into the habit enough to make it stick. I’ve always had the issue of myriad thoughts racing through my mind when I’ve tried to make it be quiet, so that I never really feel I’m getting any benefit from it. One day a couple of weeks ago I was inspired to try again. I was having a lot of trouble sitting at my desk and sinking into the story I was writing. I’d write a few words, and then think of something I forg
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Maggie Shayne
- Apr 16, 2016
- 5 min
I Put Meditation to the Test
For years I wanted to be a meditator, but I could never get myself into the habit enough to make it stick. I’ve always had the issue of myriad thoughts racing through my mind when I’ve tried to make it be quiet, so that I never really feel I’m getting any benefit from it. One day a couple of weeks ago I was inspired to try again. I was having a lot of trouble sitting at my desk and sinking into the story I was writing. I’d write a few words, and then think of something I forg
1 view0 comments
Maggie Shayne
- Apr 16, 2016
- 5 min
I Put Meditation to the Test
For years I wanted to be a meditator, but I could never get myself into the habit enough to make it stick. I’ve always had the issue of myriad thoughts racing through my mind when I’ve tried to make it be quiet, so that I never really feel I’m getting any benefit from it. One day a couple of weeks ago I was inspired to try again. I was having a lot of trouble sitting at my desk and sinking into the story I was writing. I’d write a few words, and then think of something I forg
0 views0 comments
Maggie Shayne
- Jun 11, 2012
- 3 min
The Book That Writes Itself
I’m having the rare, delicious experience every writer dreams about; the book that is writing itself. It’s like magic. And as I’m blissfully relishing it, I’m also trying to figure out what might have instigated it. Because it seems to me that all my books used to come this easily, and now, or lately at least, it almost never happens. I hadn’t realized it until it started happening again. The last book I wrote seemed to be the turning point. I was in the middle of a trilog
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