The Heart of the Holidays

I love this time of year.  Writing, social media, and all things internet are put on the back burner. Great food is served with a heaping side of memories and camaraderie. We are a diverse bunch from various social classes and political views, but there’s a tacit agreement among everyone to leave polarization and politics at the door. We simply … Read More

Through the Eyes of an Editor

Before manuscripts morph into books, they go through several stages of development, which involves three or four different edits, depending on the work. If you’re new to the publishing world or you’ve never understood the editing process, I highly recommend watching this introductory video by the incredible Joanna Penn. The first, and, for me, the most important, is developmental editing, which … Read More

A Writer’s Guide to Self-Care

It’s no secret that creatives are more at risk for depression, but for writers, it can be especially tough. Our craft is a solitary endeavor, spending hours in front of a keyboard. For those prone to feelings of loneliness, the isolation, the lack of sunlight and human interaction that writing often brings, can plunge them into the dark waters of … Read More

Life is Hope

Suicide. Most people shy away from the subject. It’s difficult, and uncomfortable, and leaves us facing our own mortality. We’d rather smile, nod our heads and switch the conversation to something safe and mundane–like redecorating our bathroom or go on and on about how we’re looking forward to spring. It’s a way to stick our head in the proverbial sand, … Read More

Understanding Narrative Distance

Recently, I’ve been doing a slew of content editing, which is difficult for me at best. There are two reasons for this. One, as a writer, it’s my natural tendency to interject my voice into anything. I struggle to assess a story, the characters, the pacing, the voicing, the plot and any holes there might be, without changing the style … Read More

Running a Lean Mean Marketing Machine

I did a post on Facebook’s latest changes regarding groups and pages last month, but even authors that had prepared for the switch were shell shocked at the results, both in sales and in reader interaction. Algorithms have destroyed any hope of reaching new readers without paying for an ad or running a sponsored post. My friend LK Griffie has been saying for … Read More

The Currency of Life

I was complaining about chasing rabbits (which is a euphemism for doing a little of everything and getting nothing done) to a friend when she suggested thinking in terms of income-producing activities. I wrote about it earlier this month, but the idea is to categorize daily activities into two columns, one for income-producing activities and the other for non-income-producing activities. … Read More

Defining Equality

I’m compiling answers and insights to add to the Scythian F.A.Q. page, which will be featured on the site in the coming months.  But one question keeps popping up, and so I thought I’d give it a post of its very own. 🙂 Why is the Scythian Credo Strength Through Equality? In order for me to explain, we need to … Read More

IPA–It’s Not Just for Beer

This past week, I was discussing with a marketing friend about not having enough time in the day to do everything that needs to be done and still find time to write. She suggested I start thinking in terms of IPA. Now, living in a state where there are more barrels of bourbon than people, I know a thing or … Read More

Finding Your Tribe

Most of my life has been spent feeling like the proverbial round peg in a square hole. Fortunately, the internet has made it easier to connect with intelligent, witty people who love discussing books and other writerly things. I wanted a place we could call our own, and so I started The Isaacs Society. This secret Facebook group is chalked full … Read More