Kathy Ide's Blog, page 11

6th Annual “Promising Beginnings” Christian Writers’ Contest

Because I believe in the power, impact, and influence of Christian writers’ conferences, I am holding a contest again this year in which the prize is a full scholarship to a conference. This year, the winner will be given a choice between two options: Full scholarship to the 2018 Mount Hermon Christian Writers Conference, including […]

BLOG SERIES: NEW IN CMOS-17 “Unspoken Discourse”

I hope you’re enjoying my series of blog posts about changes in the new 17th edition of The Chicago Manual of Style. If you have just discovered this, click here to see the first, second and third posts. I started with some punctuation additions. But I wanted to blog about this one separately since this […]

BLOG SERIES: NEW IN CMOS-17 “Singular Pronouns”

I’m pleased to know that the new 17th edition of The Chicago Manual of Style has not, to my knowledge, affected the accuracy of the PUGS section of my Proofreading Secrets of Best-Selling Authors. However, there are some things I want to pass on to my followers. I blogged about some punctuation additions and changes […]

BLOG SERIES: NEW IN CMOS-17 “Commas”

Although the new 17th edition of The Chicago Manual of Style has not, to my knowledge, affected the viability of my Proofreading Secrets of Best-Selling Authors, there have been a few changes I want to pass on to you. I blogged about some punctuation additions last week. Here are some guidelines changes about commas that […]

BLOG SERIES: NEW IN CMOS-17 “Punctuation Additions”

I have been eagerly anticipating the release of the new 17th edition of The Chicago Manual of Style … and anxious to find out if any changes were made that affect the viability of my Proofreading Secrets of Best-Selling Authors! Since the new edition officially came out this month, I haven’t had a chance to […]

Common Mistakes of New Writers

While new writers are filled with the best intentions, there are some common mistakes they typically make: 1. Unrealistic expectations. Writing seems to be the only art form in which beginners expect immediate success. Just because you can read and write, that does not mean your words are ready for publication. I love to sing, […]

Small Commercial Publishers

Discouraged by the daunting task of seeking publication with a major publishing house, but not ready to resort to self-publishing? Many small traditional publishers are open to new writers, accept unagented submissions, create attractive book covers, market the books they publish, and pay real royalties … without charging authors anything. You can find these publishers […]

Escaping the Snake

My husband and I love going on hikes to see sequoias. (Did you know these trees are the largest living things on earth? And they only grow in California!) We started with the usual tourist attractions in Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks. Then we branched out to lesser-known groves with well-maintained trails but smaller […]

Guest Post—Q & A with Cynthia Ruchti

It’s my pleasure to have my dear friend Cynthia Ruchti as a guest on my blog today! Cynthia is the author or over 20 fiction and nonfiction works, drawing from 33 years as the writer/producer of a scripted 15-minute radio broadcast. Her books have been recognized by many industry awards and she’s a frequent speaker […]

Guest Post—Steve Laube “Should You Hire A Freelance Editor?”

A warm welcome to my guest blogger, Steve Laube! Steve is the president and founder of The Steve Laube Agency and also serves as the Publisher for the Enclave Publishing imprint of Gilead Publishing. — Katie Dale asked, “I am wondering at what stage should I have my memoir edited? After I have an agent? […]