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The Writer & The Web Site
by Keith D. Holler

After spending twenty years as a Network Engineer and freelance Web Designer, I decided to make a life change and pursue my first love... writing. No matter how hard I try though, I just can't seem to leave the geek behind.

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REVIEW: Good Life Author's Book Fair
by Keith D. Holler

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Web Design For The Novice
by Keith D. Holler

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Understanding Contracts
by Moira Allen

In a recent survey of magazines, I asked a relatively simple question: "Do you offer a formal contract?" A surprising number said "no." Even more surprising, however, was the number who then added something like, "we write a letter detailing our terms" or "we negotiate a separate agreement with each author."

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Selling International Rights
by Moira Allen

One of the primary benefits of exploring international markets is the ability to resell the same article to more than one publication. To do this effectively, however, you need to know what rights to offer -- and what rights to retain at all costs.

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Selling All Rights: Right or Wrong?
by Moira Allen

In the August 30 issue of Inklings, I asked: "Should writers sell all rights?" More than 175 readers responded, with answers that demonstrated just how complex this issue is. The majority were opposed to selling all rights, but many had mixed reactions, offering interesting and compelling arguments in favor of the practice.

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Questions to Ask Before Collaborating
by Moira Allen

Book collaborations begin with the best intentions. Someone you know has an idea or area of expertise that, paired with your writing skills, should lead to a surefire success. You're the best of friends, so surely you can work well together. What could possibly go wrong?

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Protecting Your Electronic Rights
by Moira Allen

Electronic rights are becoming one of the most hotly debated (and contested) issues in the writing industry. How are these rights defined, and how are they used? Most of all, how are writers affected by this controversy?

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Can I Sell a Previously Published Article?
by Moira Allen

I want to resell an article that has already been published by one magazine. I don't want to change the article. It's my understanding that the original manuscript belongs to me, and that only the magazine version belongs to the original publication. So I should be able to resell my original article to other publications, right?

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Four Ways to Bring Settings to Life
by Moira Allen

The devil, it's said, is in the details. So, too, is much of the work of a writer. Too little detail leaves your characters wandering through the narrative equivalent of an empty stage. Too much, and you end up with great blocks of description that tempt the reader to skip and skim, looking for the action.

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Five Fiction Mistakes that Spell Rejection
by Moira Allen

Ask most fiction editors how to avoid rejection, and you'll hear the same thing: Read the guidelines. Review the publication. Don't send a science fiction story to a literary magazine, and vice versa. Don't send a 10,000-word manuscript to a magazine that never publishes anything longer than 5,000 words. Spell check. Proofread. Check your grammar. Format your manuscript correctly. Be professional. Failure to observe these basics, many editors say, accounts for more than 80% of all short fiction rejections.

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Teaching Writing Online
by Moira Allen

One way for writers to turn their experience into cash is by teaching online classes. A number of sites sponsor electronic writing courses, and these sites are always in search of instructors. Since such classes are typically handled through e-mail, no real-world "classroom" experience is required; instead, your best credential is your ability to communicate effectively in writing.

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Selling Your Photos
by Moira Allen

It has been said that a picture is worth a thousand words. In the world of publishing, this is not simply a parable, but the absolute truth. Magazines aren't simply a verbal medium; they are also a visual medium. That means that for every 1000 great words an editor receives, s/he will need at least one great picture.

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Selling Reprints
by Moira Allen

You've probably read other articles on the wonders of selling reprints. A lot of them sound something like this: "I've sold the same article 462 times, and netted thousands of dollars!" Such pieces tend to make one feel like a total slouch for having sold a piece only once.

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How to Write for Pet Magazines
by Moira Allen

You've just gotten a new dog. Or perhaps it's a cat, a hamster, a ferret, an African grey parrot. Whatever the nature of your pet, as a writer you can't help but see a whole new range of article possibilities. And with good reason: The pet magazine market is wide open to freelancers, including those with little previous experience. All you need is an understanding of pets, a way with words-and an understanding of the markets themselves.

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How to Turn "First Experiences" into "First Sales"
by Moira Allen

Remember the first time you ___________ (fill in the blank)? Remember the novelty of the experience? The emotions it evoked? The insights revealed to you? Surely there's a special interest magazine somewhere that would love an account of your first experience.

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Fifty Tips on Taking the Plunge
by Moira Allen

When writing another article on "taking the plunge" and becoming a full-time freelance writer (To Plunge or Not to Plunge?) , I asked a number of writers to share their tips on how to "take the plunge" and go from a regular, paying "day job" to full-time freelancing. Nearly 50 writers responded. Here are their suggestions on how to quit your day-job and pursue the writing career of your dreams:

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To Plunge or Not to Plunge?
by Moira Allen

Wouldn't it be great to quit the rat race? To leave bosses and timeclocks behind, skip the commute, ditch the heels or tie, and work in the same clothes you wear to weed the garden?

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Creating a Writer's Resume
by Moira Allen

Do you know what a writer's resume looks like? I have a "regular" full-time job but also work as a freelance writer from home. Recently I saw two ads for writing jobs, requiring a resume along with clips and a query leter. Should I include only my writing credits and education? Or should I include my whole employment history even though many of those jobs had nothing to do with writing? -- A Reader

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