
Writing Contests - Part 2 - How I Got My Agent
If you're an aspiring writer, I highly recommend entering writing contests. It's how I found my agent for my second manuscript, LOVE AND OTHER PUNCHLINES. First, in February of 2016, I tentatively tweeted out my pitch on Twitter during #PitMad...just for fun, ya know, just to see. (DO NOT DO THIS. If your manuscript is not 100% ready, wait until it is! I was shocked when I received 16 requests to see more...and then decided my full manuscript was not ready. I lost of a ton o

Writing Contests - Part 1 - How I Got My Book Deal
I love writing contests, and I have them to thank for landing my agent and my editor. The first writing contest I ever entered was the Pikes Peak Writers Conference Fiction Writing Contest. In 2009 I won first place in the YA category, and it gave me the confidence and faith that maybe I had what it took to stick with this writing thing. I've read and reread Paulo Coelho's THE ALCHEMIST over the years, usually when I need to be reminded that what seems impossible can be possi