Deborah Cooke: Author

Category: Writing Life

  • Ten Things I Learned From Copy Editors

    The other evening, I was reading a book, and a sentence stopped me cold. “No!” she hissed. I put the book down, wondering what had happened to all the copy editors. When I was traditionally published, one of the most dreaded phases of the editorial process for me was the copy edit. Copy editors are…

  • Avoiding Writers’ Block

    Today, we’re going to discuss some tips and tricks for ensuring that you always know what comes next when you sit down to write. I don’t love the term “writers’ block”, partly because it sounds insurmountable. Like so many things, being “stuck” can be overcome with a little preparation and several little steps. You could…

  • What Do You DO All Day?

    On Thursdays, we’re talking about publishing and writing here on the blog. Two weeks ago, we talked about Tracking Your Word Count as part of an ongoing discussion about tracking your progress and speed in creating new content. Knowing how quickly you write helps you to plan your publication schedule, because you know when books…

  • NaNoWriMo 2018

    It’s that time again. National Novel Writing Month (NaNoWriMo) launches tomorrow. Participants aim to write 50,000 words in the month of November. Participation is free. As usual, I’m participating, and (as usual!) I have more than one project to get done this month. If you want a writing buddy, you can friend me at NaNo…

  • Tracking Word Count

    I’ll be doing my Thursday posts about writing and publishing again, although they’ll be less about changes at the portals now and more about resources and strategies for indie authors. They’ll now be tagged Author Resources instead of Wild West Thursday. We’re in the midst of a fabulous time for writers, filled with both opportunity…