Welcome to the Shortcuts for Writers Blog
Behind the Rewrite With Stacy Juba: Rewriting An Old Manuscript
As a freelance developmental editor, I often send long editorial letters and suggest major rewrites. When clients are discouraged, I remind them that I'm an author, too, and can relate to difficult rewrites. However, I'm not entirely sure they believe me! So, I'm...
3 Free Tools For Authorpreneurs: Build Your Indie Author Empire
Many authors think of themselves as artists or creatives, and that's definitely true, however, they are also entrepreneurs. In the literary world, we call them authorpreneurs. Your book is a product. If you want it to to sell, you need a solid business plan and an...
Improve Your Skills With These Free Grammar Resources
 I've found some wonderful free grammar resources to share from my friend Ellen at Grammar Lion, which you'll find listed below. As a freelance developmental editor and line editor, I work with a lot of writers. Many of them have problems with grammar and...
Self-Editing Tips For The Indie Author Podcast Interview @lkhillbooks
Do you know you need editing, but are worried about how you're going to afford it? Would you love to do a lot of it yourself, but know you have blinders on when it comes to your own work and that self-editing may not be your strong suit? Never fear! Recently, my...
Free Time Management For #Writers 5-Day Challenge #Writing
Could you use some time management tips? Then you're invited to check out my free 5-day Time Management for Writers challenge. Every day from Thursday, June 17 through Monday, June 21, I'll be giving my followers a small challenge on Facebook and Instagram. It will be...
New Time Management For Writers Course – Includes Bonuses
I’m so excited! My brand new course, called Time Management Blueprint for Writers: Transform Your Life and Finish Your Book, is now available. This self-paced, comprehensive course will guide you through the process of organizing your life one step at a time so that...
Free Facebook Ads For Authors Introduction With @MDCooperAuthor
Have you been wondering whether it's worth your time and money to run Facebook ads for your books? My friend Malorie Cooper of The Writing Wives has volunteered to visit my Shortcuts for Writers Facebook group to lead a short introductory workshop. This free...
How Can Authors Use Military Tropes? Join The Blog Hop @AuthorEncounter)
I'm participating in a blog hop and scavenger hunt hosted by my friends at The Author Encounter. I love how it's devoted to military tropes. Crafting military fiction, whether it’s romance, fantasy, mystery, or any other genre mix, isn’t easy. Each story has unique...
Free Workshop: How To Promote Your Book With Podcasts With @irenegabelnick
Are you an author who could use some publicity for your book? Irene Gabelnick will lead the live workshop, How to Promote Your Book with Podcasts: the Fastest Way to Get Radio and Podcast Interviews, on April 29 at 11 a.m. EST. This special event will be held in my...
Free Crime Writers Week For Mystery, Suspense, And Thriller Authors – April 19-23
Please note that this post contains affiliate links. If you write mystery, suspense, or thrillers (or just love to read them!), then you'll want to check out ProWritingAid's free Crime Writer’s Week scheduled for April 19-23. Whether you're crafting a police...
My Latest Interviews: 3 Podcasts To Listen To While Driving
I love guesting on podcasts. It's always so much fun chatting with the host about topics I love. Below are three recent interviews where I discussed everything from online course creation to writing and editing books to turning my hobby into a business. Check out...
What To Expect From Literary Agents And Editors @AuthorEncounter
Have you ever wondered what to expect from literary agents and editors? You'll get an in-depth look during the panel discussion, The E & A Experience, organized by The Author Encounter. (You can watch it at the bottom of this post!) It was part of their event,...
Free Time Management For Writers Mini-Boot Camp #10MinuteNovelists #Writelife
Since I'm launching a time management for writers course later this spring, productivity is a topic I'm very interested in. Everyone has different strategies to share and different methods that have worked for them, which is why I'm so excited to have Katharine Grubb...
Behind The Rewrite With @DGDriverAuthor: Turning A Script Into A Book
I'm always fascinated by how authors approach the rewrite process, but there's one type of project I've never considered before: turning a script into a book. When I was researching SEO tags for this post, I discovered that lots of people search for phrases like "how...
Sign Up For Free Fantasy Writer’s Tips – Feb. 22-26
Do you love writing fantasy books or short stories? Our friends at ProWritingAid have you covered! ProWritingAid’s first ever Fantasy Writer's Week will be jam-packed with free events for fantasy authors. You'll get plenty of fantasy writer's tips and tricks. With...
