Andy Awards Finalists Announced
Books by a superyacht captain, country music star Miranda Lambert, an abuse survivor turned Hollywood…
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ASJA Confidential
Welcome to the ASJA blog, where you’ll get current information about ASJA’s programs, as well as special features on the business and art of nonfiction freelance writing.
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Setting Up an ASJA Chapter the PNW Way
Jola Café was, in 2018, a locally owned coffee shop with healthy eats located in…
Gathering of the Ghosts Panels Explore Publishing, Pricing, Visibility, and AI Collaboration
The inaugural Gathering of the Ghosts convention will gather top publishing company executives, distinguished literary…
How Volunteering for ASJA Led to Bankable Skills
What began as a volunteer opportunity developed into a crash course in social media management,…
President’s Letter: The Power of ASJA
Our economy has been dancing on the edges of recession for a while now. One…
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Take a Break!
The main reason some of us became freelancers – which I’ve been full-time, again, since…
Freelance Writing Meets Online Education: How to Get Involved
The incredible growth of online education represents the largest financial opportunity for freelance writers in…
Pitfalls of Negotiating Your Own Book Contract
After hearing multiple friends talk about the benefits of having a literary agent when negotiating…
How the most successful writers (and others) schedule their days
I’ve spent the past several years writing about time management. I’ve studied the schedules of…
Getting Started in Science Writing
Science. It’s a word that strikes fear in some people’s hearts—and delight in others’. I’m…
Giving the Purity Test to Nonprofit News
“Non-profit news” has a special ring to it, an Ivory Soap patina of “99 and…
Another's Voice
When it comes to ghostwriting, one of the most challenging aspects of writing the manuscript…
The Help: How I Work with a Virtual Assistant
I started using a virtual assistant for one reason: sleep. After the last session of…
3 Reasons Why Making an App Could Boost Your Writing Career
About three years ago, my tech-savvy buddy Kurt Collins and I asked ourselves a question:…
Financial Writing Niche: Potentially Lucrative
When I started freelancing 14 years ago, I fell into a niche – financial writing…
Put These 'Take-Home' Lessons to Work
There’s something about “take-home message” that rubs me the wrong way. With a few exceptions,…
What Writers Need to Know about Information Products
We writers hear almost daily about magazine markets drying up, publisher advances plummeting, and online…
How to Use Social Media to Support Your Writing Career
Far too many freelancers say things like, “I don’t have time for Facebook; I don’t…
Sell Books with Your New Public Speaking Skills
The new brain research says we should all do something new and challenging to grow…
Let’s Write Some History
I’m a history geek. Favorite historical figure: Teddy Roosevelt. Favorite historical event: the Defenestration of…
Frommer's Refuses to Call It Quits
I was still reeling from the news that Google was closing down Google Reader, and…
Getting to Know You: Four Ways that Biographers Approach Their Subjects
Yes, I’m a biographer. I’ve proudly claimed that title ever since my first book—an independent…
My Own Slow Writing Movement
About eight years ago (!), sitting in my literary agent’s kitchen sipping on a glass…
Writing the War: A Military Spouse's Perspective
When I decided to wade into freelance writing a couple of years ago, I wasn’t…
Being a Writer Doesn’t Mean I’m No Longer a Nurse
I was 17 when I entered college and the world of nursing. I wasn’t sure…
Should I Look for a Traditional Publisher Or Self Publish?
I have been contemplating writing a second non-fiction book, a follow-up to Mastering the Mommy…
A Circuitous Road to Memoir
When I started writing Replacement Child, I had a vague idea that I wanted to…
Writers Do Need Math (Don't Panic)
Raise your hand if you’ve ever said anything like this: “I am no good at…
Tips for Getting Work in a Down Economy
Economy getting your business down? It is mine. I don’t know about you but work…
My Crowdfunding Teachable Moment
I tend to jump into situations feet first – which can be a good and…
Turning your Hobby into Work; Work into your Hobby
It started out as a normal assignment. As much as anything can be “normal” for…
Legal Danger for Bloggers: Two Misconceptions, Three Resources, One Suggestion
No blogger wants to get in trouble with the law, become liable for financial damages,…
Moving from Employment to Self-Employment
“Patchen, either you’re 85 years old, or you can’t keep a job.” Neither is true,…
Care and Feeding of a Bestseller
Reporting is one step. Writing is another. It seems like that should be enough. But…
Embracing the Need for a Publicist
Question: What is the difference between a squirrel and a rat? Answer: PR. For fifteen…