author – Over Forty Witticisms'

Spotlight Interview

Hello all! Here is the link to my interview from last Sunday about my debut novel, “Secret Agent of God”. Authors contact Shah for your opportunity to be featured. Check it out: Spotlight Interview

Query Letters: Quantity or Quality?

I met a writer at a conference who said he sent 300 query letters before self-publishing. I read some of his work, he is a good writer; but is writing 300 query letters a good strategy? Based on my research over the past several years, I would say that quality is always better than quantity.Continue reading “Query Letters: Quantity or Quality?”

#Putting Some Win in Your Sales

Question for the week: Can you sell your words without selling your soul? If you directly show the desire to sell something or worse, call yourself a Salesperson, can you escape negative connotations? The word Salesman calls to mind images of polyester leisure suits, used cars and telemarketers hawking something you don’t want, refusing to take no for anContinue reading “#Putting Some Win in Your Sales”

Getting to know your ABC’s: Author Websites, Blogging and Contests

Thought for the week: If you do everything you’re told, will you win a prize in the end? Reading the writers magazines and listening to industry guru’s the word is you need to build a platform to succeed as a writer in today’s marketplace. This is a terrifying prospect to those of us who are technologicallyContinue reading “Getting to know your ABC’s: Author Websites, Blogging and Contests”

Echoes of the Silent Response

Thought for the week: When seeking support, accept surprises, avoid obstacles and don’t always discount strangers. Aside from other writers, I seek support and opinions on my writing from family, friends and acquaintances. Interestingly, some of the most reliable feedback comes from acquaintances, not from my nearest and dearest. Why? I suspect the people whoContinue reading “Echoes of the Silent Response”

Maintaining Momentum

Thought for the week: We all spend time in the writing ditch; how you get out of it is up to you. In the midst of writing and re-writing my first novel, “Seeing Scarlet”, a second novel materialized. Initially, I denied it time and energy due to WOCD, writer’s obsessive compulsion disorder, refusing to writeContinue reading “Maintaining Momentum”

Writers Group Therapy

Thought for the week: If you can’t take the heat, stay away from the fire pit. As an aspiring writer, I subscribe to various trade publications, my favorite being Writers Digest Magazine. The magazine offers solid advice, contest opportunities, author interviews and inspiration among other things. One piece of valuable advice I garnered from WDContinue reading “Writers Group Therapy”

Becoming a Real Writer

Thought for the week: Dream bigger, what do you have to lose? Like many of you, I have been thinking about writing a blog for a long time. Thinking about writing anything and not doing it is pointless because your ideas only become something when you put them down on paper or onto a computerContinue reading “Becoming a Real Writer”