The Renegade Writer

Becoming a Ghostwriter: Q&A with Kelly James-Enger

I’ve co-authored and ghostwritten several books, including two Idiot’s Guides, one Dummies book, and two Chicken Soup for the Soul books, so I was excited to see that my friend Kelly James-Enger just published Goodbye Byline, Hello Big Bucks: The Writer’s Guide to Making Money Ghostwriting and Coauthoring Books. Kelly also teaches an e-course on …

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Oct 18, 2010 Advice, Book authoring, Writer Q&A

Rejections: They could be worse.

Maybe it’s because I worked in advertising and marketing for ten years that I’ve developed the hide of a crocodile around rejections. An editor doesn’t want to buy my article? Her loss, I think, then I figure out a new market for my brilliant idea. A magazine isn’t crazy about my lede? So I’ll rework …

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Feb 23, 2010 Advice, Book authoring, Magazines, Writing

You Ask, We Answer: Should I Write for Free Now for Possible Pay Later?

I got this question in the Comments section but thought it would be good to answer it on the blog.

Sarah wrote:

Hi Linda, I have a question and didn’t know who else to ask. I am an accomplished magazine freelancer who has been approached by a semi-public figure to co write a book. However, he doesn’t …

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Sep 24, 2009 Advice, Book authoring, You Ask, We Answer

The Project from Hell (And What I Learned from It)

Last week, I quit a writing project that was worth more than $10,000.

When I got the project, I was coming off of a four-month famine, and I needed the dough. So I ignored the red flags. First, the expert co-author took so long playing hardball with the publisher that the deadlines were crunched. Then, she …

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Aug 1, 2009 Book authoring, Observations, Personal yammerings, Rants

Asking for help

I’ve been struggling with a book proposal for going on two years. Every couple of weeks, my husband asks, “How’s the X book coming?” and I feel the pool of despair inch out a little farther in my gut. This weekend he asked again and I snapped, “It’s not, okay? Lay off!” I rarely snap, …

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Oct 15, 2008 Book authoring, Help us!, Observations, Personal yammerings, Self improvement

free packet: 10 query letters that rocked
e-books that will make you an unstoppable freelancer

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