Category Archives: the writing life

JUST SAY NO: A WRITERS’ MANIFESTO

Posted on September 6, 2016 by Barbara Rogan

Send to Kindle  Long ago in a galaxy far away, I was a literary agent. One day, a writer who was not yet a client came to me for advice. “I wrote a novel,” she said. “Mr. Blank, of Blankety … Continue reading →

Posted in Contracts, Mainstream publishing, Submitting, the writing life, Writers beware, Writing tips | Tagged , , | 16 Comments

Publishing as a Career for Writers

Posted on September 21, 2015 by Barbara Rogan

Send to KindleIn a recent blog post, Donna Shear, director of University of Nebraska Press, advised aspiring writers not to work in publishing, but rather to seek their day jobs in other fields. She offered a list of reasons to … Continue reading →

Posted in Mainstream publishing, the writing life, Writers | Tagged , , , | 5 Comments

Speak Up, I’m Eavesdropping!

Posted on August 2, 2015 by Barbara Rogan

Send to KindleI put it off as long as I could. Covered up, as people do; smiled and nodded. Finally I gave in and went to an audiologist. She sat me in a booth and covered my head with large … Continue reading →

Posted in ABOUT ME, the writing life | Tagged , | 10 Comments

MANNERS!

Posted on March 30, 2015 by Barbara Rogan

Send to KindleHuddle up, writers. This post’s for you. As social media has eroded the once formidable barrier between writers and readers, it is now commonplace, even expected, for readers to contact writers directly via the writer’s website, Facebook, Twitter … Continue reading →

Posted in Reviews, the writing life, Writers, Writing tips | Tagged , , , , | 9 Comments

WRITERS, LIES, AND FILTHY LUCRE

Posted on March 4, 2015 by Barbara Rogan

Send to Kindle Lately writers have been talking about a piece by Ann Bauer in Salon. Entitled “Sponsored by My Husband,” the essay reveals that Bauer’s writing career is subsidized by her husband’s comfortable salary. “All that disclosure is crass,” … Continue reading →

Posted in Promotion, the writing life, Writers | Tagged , | 7 Comments

The Dreaded Silence: How I Nearly Gave Up Writing

Posted on February 18, 2015 by Barbara Rogan

Send to KindleI’m delighted to welcome Jenny Elliott to In Cold Ink. Jenny is the author of SAVE ME, a delightful blend of paranormal and romance. She’s also a lovely person and, I’m proud to say, a former student of … Continue reading →

Posted in Barbara's workshops, Craft, Interviews, Submitting, the writing life, Writing tips | Tagged , , , , , , | 3 Comments

ON WRITING AND GARDENING

Posted on February 10, 2015 by Barbara Rogan

Send to Kindle  It’s been a cold, snowy winter in New York, good writing weather, but I’m ready for spring. Right now the view from my office window is nearly black and white: snow, bare branches against white sky, and … Continue reading →

Posted in ABOUT ME, Fiction, the writing life, Writing | Tagged , , , | 16 Comments

A Talk with J.A. Jance

Posted on August 22, 2014 by Barbara Rogan

Send to KindleWe met under the happiest of circumstance. The celebrated  J. A. Jance had read A DANGEROUS FICTION and enjoyed it enough to agree for the first time in many years to write a blurb. I wrote to thank … Continue reading →

Posted in Marketing, Promotion, Publicity, the writing life | Tagged , , , , | 10 Comments

Why I Signed the New York Times Letter

Posted on August 13, 2014 by Barbara Rogan

Send to Kindle  On Sunday, August 10, an open letter to readers signed by over 900 writers appeared as a full-page ad in the New York Times. The letter does not take sides in the merits of the business dispute … Continue reading →

Posted in Amazon, Hachette, Mainstream publishing, Self-publishing, the writing life, Writers | Tagged , , , , | 3 Comments

Diversity in Books

Posted on June 1, 2014 by Barbara Rogan

Send to Kindle  A group of authors concerned about the lack of diversity in children’s literature launched a campaign on social media recently to raise awareness and influence decision-makers in the publishing industry. On Twitter, their  hashtag,#WeNeedDiverseBooks, trended for several … Continue reading →

Posted in Diversity, How we read, Mainstream publishing, the writing life | Tagged , | 6 Comments