Being A Mentor
by Cat Rambo
I’m doing the SFWA Mentor program for my third round now, and in talking with some folks, I thought providing an overview of my process might be useful.
Building a Career, The Business of Writing, The SFWA Blog
Building a Career
Building a Career, Keeping At It, The Business of Writing, The Craft of Writing, The SFWA Blog
Effective Goal Setting for Writers
by Cat Rambo
Milestones are markers that show you’ve reached the end of one of these steps. Just as physical road markers tell you how far you’ve journeyed, these milestones help you mark progress.
Building a Career, Networking and Self-Promotion, The Business of Writing, The SFWA Blog
Book Releases on a Budget
by Catherine Lundoff
Got a new book coming out? If you need to do all or even some of your own publicity, a multi-pronged approach to getting the word out about it can very helpful. And, if you’re like most writers, your budget is somewhat limited. So let’s talk about what you can do that promotes your work, but keeps that promotion affordable.
Building a Career, Contracts and Copyrights, The Business of Writing, The SFWA Blog
Negotiation Tips for Writers
by Dan Brotzel
Many writers find it difficult to talk about money, especially if it means asking for more and potentially risking turning down an offer of publication. But writing is a business as well as a passion, and the more cash you can secure for it, the more time you’ll be able to devote to your craft. Here are a few pointers on how to approach the dark art of negotiation…
Building a Career, Information Center, The Business of Writing, The SFWA Blog, Tips for Beginners
Grant Applications 101: Finding, Troubleshooting, and Completing the Quest for Funding
by Setsu Uzumé
From Kickstarter to ko-fi to patreon, the search for funding can be a huge challenge. I recently attended a lecture provided by the St. Louis chapter of the Volunteer Lawyers and Accountants for the Arts on the subject of applying for grants. Some of the most basic hurdles include finding grants that might be a good fit for your work, and how to prepare your materials in a way to make it easy for the folks reading your submission.
Advice for New Writers, Agent Etiquette, Building a Career, How to Sell Your Novel, Information Center, The Business of Writing, The SFWA Blog
Defining Roles: Agents & Editors
by Alice Speilburg
At the pre-publication stage, as you’re drafting queries and sending off sample pages, an editor at a publishing house and a literary agent seem to serve the same purpose: to legitimize your claim as a professional author, and to set you on the path to publication.
Advice for New Writers, Building a Career, Information Center, The Business of Writing, The SFWA Blog, Tips for Beginners
What Makes You Think Your Idea’s Even Worth Stealing?
by Dan Brotzel
Genuine idea theft and plagiarism are complete no-nos, of course. But I’m amazed how protective writers of stories, articles and posts can be about ideas that aren’t really worth stealing. Here are a few thoughts on ideation and originality…
Advice for New Writers, Building a Career, Information Center, The Business of Writing, The Craft of Writing, The SFWA Blog, Tips for Beginners
Collaboration
by Daniel Brotzel
Finishing a book sounds like hard enough work when there’s just one of you. Can working with someone else really help? Yes! says Dan Brotzel, who’s recently launched a novel he wrote with two pals. Here’s the why and the how…
Building a Career, Contracts and Copyrights, Information Center, News, The Business of Writing, The SFWA Blog
SFWA Minimum Pro Rate Now in Effect
The SFWA minimum payment rate for professional short fiction markets is now eight cents per word. In accordance with our
Building a Career, Networking and Self-Promotion, The Business of Writing, The SFWA Blog
Promoting with Podcasts
by Alan Bailey
Podcasters generally have a mixed reputation. Why? I’m not totally sure. Perhaps it’s because the entry fee is low, and anyone with an opinion can put it out there. The sheer number of podcasts doesn’t help either. So, how do you know which are worthwhile?