"I wish to be cremated. One tenth of my ashes shall be given to my agent, as written in our contract." Groucho Marx When you're in the trenches sending out queries and waiting (and waiting, and waiting, and waiting) it's natural to wonder what the heck do literary agents DO all day other than...

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"I've found that luck is quite predictable. If you want more luck, take more chances. Be more active. Show up more often." Brian Tracy St. Patrick's Day is right around the corner, and we're wishing all of you lots of good luck in the coming year. May you be buried (just up to your chin) in...

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"One you learn to read, you will be forever free." ~Frederick Douglas We've got a pretty good hunch that you're already a fan of reading. Most of us to come our passion for writing by starting with reading others. And at the risk of admitting that the likeliest cause of my death will be being...

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"Negativity is the enemy of creativity." ~David Lynch Imagine the moment (or remember, if you've already been there)—after months, perhaps years (decades?) of blood, sweat and tears and finally you've done it. You've got your book out into the world. You might still be reeling from the champagne...

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"If you want to be a writer, write a little bit every day. Pay attention to the world around you. Stories are hiding, waiting everywhere. You just have to open your eyes and your heart." ~Kate DiCamillo Here at Chez Cook I have two dogs that are on CONSTANT alert. If you're considering trying to...

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"You're always with yourself, so you might as well enjoy the company." ~ Diane Von Furstenberg Valentines Day is over and you know what that means? Get out to the store—all the Valentine's candy is half-price today! (Personally I'm addicted to those tiny cinnamon hearts. I could eat those by...

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"Criticism, like rain, should be gentle enough to nourish a man's growth without destroying his roots." ~ Frank A Clark At some point, most writers will give feedback to other writers on their manuscript or story. It might be in a class, in a workshop, or swapping pages in a critique group. You...

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"You gotta stop watering dead plants." ~Pinterest wisdom One of the things that gives us the most joy about The Creative Academy is the spirit of the people in it. We wanted a community that supports each other and remembers that writing shouldn't be a combat sport. Surrounding yourself with...

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"Keep your face to the sunshine and you cannot see a shadow." ~Helen Keller The holidays are over, the days are still long and dark, and spring feels a long way in the future. During those times it can be a challenge to keep yourself in a positive frame of mind. It's easier to go full Oreo binge...

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“The shortest distance between truth and a human being is a story.” ~Anthony de Mello Last week we talked about indie publishing, so this week let's look at the traditional route. Traditional publishing is a team sport. In addition to you as the writer, there will be a literary agent/lawyer,...

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