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Tips and Tactics

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Ideas for writing, editing and promoting your work are covered in this section. Columns are reprinted after they run in Ruff Drafts. This section is curated by Merrie Meyers, editor of Ruff Drafts.
Featured image for “Mistakes to Avoid If You Self-Publish”
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 and Tactics | February 4, 2025

Featured image for “Adventures in Self-Publishing”
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 and Tactics | January 28, 2025

Featured image for “Are You Dashing?”
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 and Tactics | July 25, 2024

Featured image for “Putting a Bow on It”
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 and Tactics | July 10, 2024

Featured image for “10 Tips for Landing a Literary Agent”
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 and Tactics | July 3, 2024

Featured image for “Storytelling”
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 and Tactics | June 26, 2024

Featured image for “The Plot Line”
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 and Tactics | June 19, 2024

Featured image for “Self-Publishing Hat Trick”
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 and Tactics | June 12, 2024

Featured image for “Best in Know”
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 and Tactics | June 6, 2024

Featured image for “How to Increase Media Coverage”
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 and 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 and Tactics | May 22, 2024

Featured image for “Book Promotion Planning”
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 and Tactics | May 15, 2024