Talkfest Blog

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Merrie Meyers

Mistakes to Avoid If You Self-Publish

Self-publishing has come a long way from the days when my mother shared her holiday poems with her students using the school’s mimeograph machine. Today, there are multiple resources designed to make your book look…

Tips & Tactics | February 4, 2025

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Karen Harbert

Adventures in Self-Publishing

We asked DWAA Board Member Karen Harbert, author of 23 self-published books, to share some insights about self-publishing…

Tips & Tactics | January 28, 2025

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Merrie Meyers

Are You Dashing?

I admit complete confusion over the proper use of the en dash, em dash, and hyphen. Back in the Stone Age, our journalism professors didn’t touch on this. After all, that was almost 50 years…

Tips & Tactics | July 25, 2024

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DWAA

Putting a Bow on It

At least two to three times a year, I get an email from a public relations group I belong to asking if I have the time or interest to judge a competition. I usually say…

Tips & Tactics | July 10, 2024

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Maggie Marton

10 Tips for Landing a Literary Agent

We are on the cusp of major changes in the publishing industry. Publishing power is becoming more consolidated at the top. Meanwhile, smaller presses and self-publishing options are flourishing in response. The reality, though, is…

Tips & Tactics | July 3, 2024

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Merrie Meyers

Storytelling

Whether you are a writer and reader of fiction, or a reporter of non-fictive happenings, you are telling a story. Researchers tell us that regardless of the content, authors have only three seconds to engage…

Tips & Tactics | June 26, 2024

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DWAA

The Plot Line

There are many types of writing. I was trained as a journalist, so my comfort level lies in reporting facts, providing analyses of data and recapping current events. But my ability to embellish or deviate…

Tips & Tactics | June 19, 2024

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DWAA

Self-Publishing Hat Trick

It seems pretty straightforward. Self-publishing is easy and accessible. Just create a document, find a platform, upload your story and wait for the clicks and payment to roll your way. Not! Anyone who has written…

Tips & Tactics | June 12, 2024

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Lisa Begin-Kruysman

Best in Know

Does the word “interview” evoke fear and apprehension in your heart and mind? Whether you are the questioner or the questioned, being asked or asking others about work and life experience, accomplishments, weaknesses, dreams and…

Tips & Tactics | June 6, 2024

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Merrie Meyers

How to Increase Media Coverage

Are you wondering how to increase media coverage for your newest publication, research or product? A survey conducted by Propel, a PR software platform, indicates extensive use of media pitches, despite limited success. The survey…

Tips & Tactics | May 30, 2024

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DWAA

Editing Tips

Here at the Ruff Drafts editorial desk, we spend our time reviewing and editing your submissions. We try to keep your story and voice intact while catching grammatical faux pas, misspellings and typos. It’s not…

Tips & Tactics | May 22, 2024

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Merrie Meyers

Book Promotion Planning

Over the years, I’ve marveled at how accomplished our members are. So many books are published by our prolific community in such a short time! Many of the books are self-published, or produced by small…

Tips & Tactics | May 15, 2024