Hello readers! You’re probably wondering who I am. My name is Jess Witkins, and I convinced Marcy to hand over her blog for the price of an I-Tunes gift card. Yep, she’s that easy. And now you’re stuck with me. What’s that frightened look in your eyes?! I haven’t done anything yet! Ok, I promise [...]
Read moreHappy Saturday! I haven’t done a grab bag for a few weeks, so this one is bursting at the seams because I couldn’t throw away any of these treats. At least they’re all calorie free. For Fantasy and Science Fiction Lovers CPR for the Undead by Emmie Mears – Can vampires be saved or has [...]
Read moreThe dental hygienist peered into my mouth at the gap where my front tooth used to be. “How did it happen?” she asked. “Did you fall?” “I bit a piece of soft caraway-rye bread.” “Oh.” It started when a previous dentist botched a simple filling. I returned to him four times to have it fixed, [...]
Read moreMake these mistakes in a query letter, and your work might never see publication. Make these mistakes in a blog often enough, and your readers will find another similar blog that doesn’t make them cringe. Mistake #1: Your/You’re This mistake is why I can only take Facebook in small doses some days. Add to the [...]
Read moreI feel very honored to receive another award so soon after the talented Jessica O’Neal gave me the Versatile Blogger Award. This time I’ve been given the Liebster Award from prolific historical fiction author Colin Falconer. Colin has written over 20 historical novels, many of which are on my to-be-read list. His blog posts are [...]
Read moreWhen two nerds fight, especially two married nerds, it can take a very strange turn. She tells him that the problem is she’s a Vulcan and he’s a Klingon, and he counters that she’s not a Vulcan, she’s a Borg. And he’s not like a Klingon, he’s more like a Hirogen. And pretty soon they [...]
Read moreWhether you’re pitching an agent at a conference or through a query letter, you need to create the perfect pitch, one that would take 60 to 90 seconds to say and would take up about half a written page to type (leaving you room for your credentials and some personalization for each agent). (Self-published authors [...]
Read moreWriting can be one of the most confusing professions around. We’re told that agents and editors are looking for something fresh and unique–but not too fresh and unique. We go to our critique group or send out our manuscript to beta readers and what one person loves, another hates. And everyone wants to tell us [...]
Read moreWhen most people think of their honeymoon, they envision sipping drinks on a beach, touring the museums and art galleries of Paris, or eating their way around Italy. My husband and I dreamed about scuba diving with sharks. So when my grandpa gave us a very generous gift and made us promise we’d spend it [...]
Read moreSince I was out of town this past weekend attending the Writer’s Digest Conference in New York, I asked my husband (a.k.a. one of the world’s biggest Star Wars fans) back to fill in today while I’m “recovering” ********************************************* I’m a huge science fiction fan, and Star Wars is nerd-indulgence of choice. Ever since I [...]
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