Posts by Tracy Raymond

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.

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.

I consider myself to be intelligent, informed—able to rise above the message that skinny is beautiful. But apparently I wasn’t.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

“What’s one thing you’d really like to accomplish?” she asked me as we passed through the subway turnstile.