Category: Career

The Down Low on My Hollywood Pitch Trip: My 5 Rs of Book-to-Screen Pitching

A year ago, I was invited to attend “Adapting to Hollywood,” a conference thrown by Sisters in Crime (primarily the fabulous LA Chapter) and for which I didn’t have to spend one red cent. I still don’t know how I got invited, but I’ll take it. What was obvious from the get-go was that indies like […]

15 Habits of Successful Writers

15 Habits of Successful Writers Write something EVERY day Read (a little) every day Watch a little TV or movies weekly Eliminate distractions, but write when and where it works best for you Observe and experience, actively Plan your writing (yep, I mean storyboard and outline) Make notes or a journal of observations, anecdotes, and experiences […]

Career Strategy: When to take and when to tank well-meaning advice.

Here’s a blast from the past from Pamela Fagan Hutchins, who has since published ten novels and a novella and one more nonfiction book, quit her day job, and is writing novel number twelve and novella two as we speak. Catch her brand new show, Wine Women & Writing Radio, debuting Friday May 4 at […]

Stealing Magic From the Sky: What Inspires Your Best Writing?

SkipJack congratulates Pamela Fagan Hutchins for winning the 2017 Silver Falchion for Best Adult Mystery with her heartfelt and suspenseful Fighting for Anna. We hope you enjoy this inspirational post from Pamela. Writers often get asked where they write and what inspires them. My answer has always been that I like to write outside. Pedantic, though true […]

August 2018 Novelists Retreat in the Bighorn Mountains with Bestselling Author

Hi Y’all: SkipJack followers (and your clients, friends, and family), y’all get early dibs on the August 2018 novelists retreat at our (Eric and Pamela’s) new Wyoming Snowheresville, a big ole former B&B! It’s a pretty awesome place and area! This retreat is going to focus on productivity and craft, but the nighttime conversations will be […]

Cha-Ching: Strategy to Maximize Rankings and Royalties

Recently I had the honor of attending my first Novelists, Inc. conference. It is a “must-attend” annually for me from here out. My head is spinning with ideas and information that will change strategy and tactics for me, in big and small ways. I blogged most recently on the series-promotion strategies I took away from […]