When it’s time to pivot

By San Francisco Writers Conference | May 18, 2022 |

By Amanda J. Clay I’m writing this as movers are packing up my house for the 8th time in seven years. We are about to move across the country tomorrow–yet again, for the fifth time in sixth years. (This time with a toddler!) And per usual, I had about three weeks notice that we were…

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When to outsource

By San Francisco Writers Conference | March 16, 2022 |

By Amanda J. Clay When you first start out on your publishing journey, you’re going to do all the things. And I mean ALL. THE. THINGS. Like any entrepreneur or small business owner, the start-up phase is hectic. You are creator, CEO, CFO and office manager. All day, every day.  But as your writing business…

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Writing Characters that are smarter than you

By San Francisco Writers Conference | January 21, 2022 |

By Kevin Tumlinson Since I started publishing novels in 2008, I’ve become known for writing “character-driven fiction.” I write characters who essentially reach out from the page, grab me by the beard, and tell me where to go. It’s a curse and a blessing. One dominant trait for nearly all my protagonists is that they…

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