Chicago Writers Association Blog
Chicago Writers Association Blog

February 15, 2022

Interview Tips From the Other Side of the Mic

by Dan Klefstad

“What did you have for breakfast today?”

This is the first question I asked people who came to be interviewed at WNIJ, the NPR station where I had an author interview program. This always-unexpected query immediately prompted a Proustian reverie starring a bagel, cup of coffee, or bacon and eggs. No madeleines appeared, but even the most nervous guest looked and sounded relaxed after declaiming the morning menu. The result…

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February 8, 2022

Rejections, I’ve Had a Few

by Greg Renz

After retiring from the Milwaukee Fire Department I thought I might like to write a novel based on my twenty-eight-year career. I was a voracious reader. How hard could it be? I see you smiling. At least I was smart enough to know I needed help with the craft…

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February 1, 2022

Step-by-Step Guide to Launching a Book

By Maggie Smith

A Step-by-Step Guide to Launching a Book Without Losing Your Mind

This is the first of a 2-part blog outlining the step-by-step approach I used for my debut book launch. This month I’ll examine what to do 3-6 months out from pub date and then in March I’ll look…

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January 25, 2022

The Deception of Starred Ratings

by Samantha Hoffman

Do you buy your books based on Amazon's ratings? How accurate do you think those ratings are? Dan Klefstad touched on this subject in his article The Tyranny of Starred Ratings, and I touched on it in my post Books We Did Not Finish in 2021.…

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January 18, 2022

Fear and Publishing

by Dan Klefstad

Remember how it felt when your last manuscript was ready? I mean ready to submit, after yet another revision based on input from your most serious writer friends, plus a professional edit. I remember feeling exhausted but exhilarated too. So when a friend announced she was finished writing her book,…

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January 11, 2022

What if Your Book Doesn’t Sell?

by Samantha Hoffman

When you hold your book in your hands for the first time and see your name on the cover, see a publisher’s imprint on the copyright page, have your very own isbn, people reviewing it on Amazon...you’ve arrived. Your writing career is launched. It will sell hundreds of thousands…

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January 4, 2022

Books We Did Not Finish in 2021

by Samantha Hoffman

I was all set to do a “Best Books We Read in 2021” post. Then I saw a Facebook post from CWA board member Maggie Smith that made me think. She said, “All these lists of ‘best books I read in 2021’ are adding to my TBR pile. Which…

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December 28, 2021

Storytelling Rules

by Samantha Hoffman

Sorry for the misleading subject line since I'm of the opinion that there are NO REAL RULES for how to tell a story. You'll see thousands of articles, however, with those words in the title, because those words sell. I bet it made you open this email.

Everyone wants to…

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December 21, 2021

The Tyranny of Starred Ratings

by Dan Klefstad

Two shoppers stood in an indie bookstore before a row of new releases, each spine announcing the latest effort by an author who poured their sweat and soul into this book. When one shopper picked up a volume, the other held their phone near the cover.

“4.8 stars with fifty…

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December 14, 2021

Is Your Writing on the Back Burner?

by Samantha Hoffman

When the holidays add another layer of busyness to our already busy lives it can be difficult to prioritize your writing.

Give yourself the gift of writing time each day. Not so much that you pile guilt on top of stress. Make it doable and easy, say...30 minutes every day.…

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