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Queries that Worked: The Novel Pitch

January 18, 2010 by Christopher Gronlund 6 Comments

Each day this week, I’m sharing a query letter that resulted in a request for more material, or a sale. In some cases — like today — I’ll share multiple queries. Today’s queries are for my first novel, Hell Comes with Wood Paneled Doors (HCWWPD). While HCWWPD didn’t sell, the queries I’m sharing did work, […]

Filed Under: Inspiration, Miscellaneous, Publishing, Queries, The Juggling Writer, Writing Tips Tagged With: Publishing, Writing Tips

Dealing in Change

January 13, 2010 by Christopher Gronlund 5 Comments

Are you a nurse?  If you are, I have a great job lead for you—it pays $2,500 a year! Project manager?  Great gig at a place I know for $3,000 a year! I don’t know a nurse or a project manager who would work 6 or 7 days a week for that kind of money. […]

Filed Under: Articles, Inspiration, The Juggling Writer, Writing Tips Tagged With: Articles, Writing Tips

Make Them Laugh

January 11, 2010 by Christopher Gronlund 1 Comment

People love to laugh. It doesn’t matter if what you write is serious or humorous, making people laugh is giving them what they want. Here are 5 tips for writing funny, even if you aren’t: 1. Be Universal If you don’t think you have it in you to be funny, you’re not paying enough attention […]

Filed Under: authors, The Juggling Writer, Writing Tips Tagged With: authors, Writing Tips

Mimic Me

January 8, 2010 by Christopher Gronlund 2 Comments

In my writing group, I’m known for writing odd little stories with heart. My friend, Mark, is known for writing gritty stories straddling several genres. My friend, Deacon, is known for writing hip little stories with heart. This isn’t to say that Mark has never written touching stories, or that I’ve never written something gritty. […]

Filed Under: The Juggling Writer, Writing Prompt, Writing Tips Tagged With: Writing Prompt, Writing Tips

Jackhammers and the Pizza Friday Distraction

January 7, 2010 by Christopher Gronlund 4 Comments

Earlier this week, I had been writing for 45 minutes before I realized that the landscapers at the apartment where I live were working right below the window where I sat. When I stopped to get some water, I heard the construction crew across the street with the jackhammer. I knew they were there, but […]

Filed Under: The Juggling Writer, Writing Prompt, Writing Tips Tagged With: Writing Prompt, Writing Tips

Knocking on Windows

January 6, 2010 by Christopher Gronlund Leave a Comment

When writing, I like making things up. While you’d be hard pressed to find any lengthy autobiographic passages in my fiction, I do love taking a small, real thing and running with it until it’s nothing like what it was based on. Here’s an example: I had a friend who never knocked on my front […]

Filed Under: The Juggling Writer, Writing Prompt, Writing Tips Tagged With: Writing Prompt, Writing Tips

Deliberately Bad Writing

January 5, 2010 by Christopher Gronlund 1 Comment

One evening at the writing group I belong to, my friend, Deacon, shared a story with me and the other member of the group. It was made very clear to us that he meant the story to be deliberately bad, full of cliches, purple prose, and stock plotting. The story was called, “Butterfly, My Queen,” […]

Filed Under: The Juggling Writer, Writing Prompt, Writing Tips Tagged With: Writing Prompt, Writing Tips

Person, Place, Thing Challenge

January 4, 2010 by Christopher Gronlund 1 Comment

2010 has arrived, and many have begun working on their resolutions for the new year. If one of your resolutions this year is to write more, but you have a hard time kick starting the creative flow, I hope this week’s writing prompts help you. Each day this week, I’ll post a new writing challenge. […]

Filed Under: The Juggling Writer, Writing Prompt, Writing Tips Tagged With: Writing Prompt, Writing Tips

Top 10 Writing Posts of 2009

December 31, 2009 by Christopher Gronlund 2 Comments

I started The Juggling Writer in September, so I only have a few months of blog posts to pull from. Here are my 10 favorite posts of 2009: 10. The Gift of Reading: One of the best gifts an adult can give a child is a love of reading. Here are 10 reasons why. 9. […]

Filed Under: Miscellaneous, The Juggling Writer, Writing Tips Tagged With: goals

Backing it Up

December 29, 2009 by Christopher Gronlund 2 Comments

Yesterday, I wrote about how a layoff can be good for a part time writer. I said I would show readers that I follow my own advice. Here it is… Seven years ago I was laid off. I didn’t mope or panic about my situation; instead, I pitched a local travel article to the Dallas […]

Filed Under: Inspiration, Miscellaneous, Writing Tips Tagged With: goals, Writing Tips

Layoffs, a Blessing in Disguise

December 28, 2009 by Christopher Gronlund 8 Comments

We let out a sigh of relief when “the other guys” are shown the door instead of us. We hope the proverbial pink slip never comes our way, especially in a time when the unemployment rate is over 10% and when many of the 90% working are underemployed. It’s not a good time for a […]

Filed Under: Articles, The Juggling Writer, Writing Tips Tagged With: Writing Tips

5 Writing Lessons in Last Night in Twisted River

December 9, 2009 by Christopher Gronlund 2 Comments

I recently finished John Irving’s Last Night in Twisted River. Irving has been one of my favorite writers since I was a kid. I will never write like him; I have no desire to write like him. But I love reading his books. Even if you’re not an Irving fan, here are five lessons from […]

Filed Under: authors, Books, Writing Tips Tagged With: authors, Books, Writing Tips

Speak Up! (4 Ways to Improve Your Public Speaking)

November 17, 2009 by Christopher Gronlund 3 Comments

Novelists have a reputation of being reclusive.  Non-fiction writers have a reputation of being salesmen. There’s nothing wrong with being reclusive (although it may take longer to make it—if you make it), and there’s nothing wrong with working hard to sell books. The average book (fiction or non-fiction) doesn’t receive the publicity most authors would […]

Filed Under: The Juggling Writer, Writing Tips Tagged With: Writing Tips

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