Posts by Tracy Raymond

Ready, Set, Query! Finding an Agent Dos and Don’ts of Finding an Agent and Publishing Your Book
I asked friends and trusted publishing professionals what writers could do to improve their chances of getting published and how to find the perfect agent.
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I Bit the Bullet and Took an Online Writing Class Trying new things to improve my writing, Part 1
I was sitting on a 50,000 word “novel” that needed an editing overhaul. A friend told me about a deal for an online novel-writing class, and I jumped on it.
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This Moment is Yours; Eat It Up
I consider myself to be intelligent, informed—able to rise above the message that skinny is beautiful. But apparently I wasn’t.
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Banish Your Itty-Bitty Shitty Committee Tips for avoiding self-sabotage
The little voices in your head telling you that you can’t do it are slowly but surely crushing your dreams. They’re your itty-bitty shitty committee.
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The Terror of Reading Out Loud Surviving My First Bookstore Reading
After the reading, a few people even gave me feedback. I knew that they were both right, but I never would have noticed these things on my own.
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Feeling Blocked? Start at the End
When I was complaining about my writer’s block to two friends, one said, “Have you ever tried writing the last scene first?” I had not. Then I did it.
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Only in New York
It seemed like only in New York would I be able to go to a poetry reading on Thursday night, within walking distance of my apartment, and be blown away by the talent, and the people I met.
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Play to Your Strengths with a Side Job
How do I manage to scrape by in New York and still have free time to write my novel? A side job. But not just any side job. It pays to be selective.
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Refresh with a Writing Retreat
Remember the power of a writing retreat. I wrote over 10,000 words, breaking through the intimidating block that had been building between me and my book.
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The Power of Writing Groups
“What’s one thing you’d really like to accomplish?” she asked me as we passed through the subway turnstile.
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