Want to write better? Be a “bowerbird.”
Struggling to organize your book or find your creative spark? Borrow this trick from the bowerbird. Bowerbirds gather shiny, colorful...
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Sally Collings
Nov 13
The Rise of Expert Practitioners in Publishing
As 2024 wraps up, there's a trend popping up in the nonfiction book market. Publishers are on the lookout for what I like to call "expert...
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Oct 7
What’s the easiest way to write a bestseller? (It’s a trick question.)
Recently, a rising academic reached out to me about collaborating on her book proposal. She is well credentialed, articulate, and driven,...
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Sep 27
Every Business Tells a Story. What's Yours?
Every business is in the storytelling business. What do you think of when you see this image? Naturally, it’s an ad for Lavazza coffee....
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Sep 20
Does Your Book Need Global Eyes?
This morning, I had a realization that smacked me upside the head. I have lived half of my adult life in countries other than the one I...
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Sep 16
How to Write a Book With Many Voices.
In ghostwriting, we often think about capturing a single voice—whether it’s a high-profile executive or a passionate entrepreneur. But...
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Sep 6
What Ghostwriting Looks Like. Sometimes.
Let me tell you about a doctor (I’ll call him Scott, because that’s his name) who suffered at the hands of the medical system, leading to...
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Aug 28
The Rise of Deluxe Editions: Why Your Business Story Deserves One
Sprayed edges, gilt embossing, luxury slipcases … deluxe editions have caught fire with fans expressing their passion for favorite...
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Jul 19
Redefining Success: Beyond the Bestseller Lists.
Success in the world of writing and publishing can be a slippery concept. For many, hitting a bestseller list is the pinnacle of...
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Jul 5
Ghostwriters Are Like the Moon…
Last week, one of my author-clients paid me a most unusual but rather lovely compliment. “I love that you take the light that is my...
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Jun 28
Investing in Your Book: Time, Money, and Collaboration.
Writing a book isn't just about putting words on paper—it's a significant investment in time and money. As you start the journey,...
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Jun 21
How to Plan the Structure of Your Book.
Although non-fiction books don't follow the classic narrative arc of novels, they still need to take the reader on a journey of...
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Jun 14
6 tools for nonfiction authors.
The water dispenser in our fridge has been leaking for over a week now. Drip, drip, drip. You can imagine that one drip per second adds...
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Jun 6
What It Takes for a Publisher to Want Your Book: The Real Deal
I see you, aspiring authors. You’ve got an incredible story—maybe it’s about riding on the back of a shark from Alaska to Hawaii. Sounds...
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May 30
Leadership Memoirs and Why You Should Write One (Yes, You!)
Calling out to business leaders, social activists, change-makers, and sports champions – this one’s for you. Ever thought about writing a...
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Mar 21, 2023
Adding voice, vision, and value for ADHD authors.
I’m so excited to tell you about a new service I’m launching, offering writing and editing services specifically for nonfiction authors...
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Dec 2, 2022
Terrible publishing advice for memoir writers.
This week, I’m offering the 5 worst pieces of advice a memoir writer can follow if they want to land a publishing deal. #1. Think of your...
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Nov 28, 2022
Publish me! (I’m begging you.) Writing a query letter for your memoir.
You’ve written your memoir, you’ve produced your book proposal. Now it’s time to reach out to your chosen literary agents and/or editors....
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Nov 18, 2022
Do I need a million social media followers to impress a literary agent?
Let's be brave and tackle what some writers consider to be one of the hardest parts of a book proposal: the Platform & Marketing section....
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Nov 11, 2022
Who are you? And who’s going to read your memoir?
In my recent blog posts, we’ve looked at what a book proposal is and what agents look for. We’ve discussed the overview and how to gain a...
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