Laurie Winslow Sargent

Laurie Winslow Sargent • 10th May 2024

In 1954, John Hayden Howard sold a story to Ellery Queen’s Mystery Magazine for $400

Although Hayden Howard was best known as a science fiction writer, he also had published at least 18 mystery and detective stories. The Dipping of the Candlemaker was one of them, published in Ellery Queen's Mystery Magazine the US, UK, and Australia.

Laurie Winslow Sargent • 31st July 2023

Hayden Howard: Short Stories with Creative Wordplay

In his fun short stories, John Hayden Howard used creative wordplay and unique characterization in 1940s to 1960s historical settings. Here's a great example from his short story Ten Rounds for the All-Time Champ (in REAWAKENED WORLDS, Vol One):

Laurie Winslow Sargent • 25th August 2020

Calculating Characters in Family History

In writing history – family history or a historical biography— using a little math humanizes characters so we can see them as former living, breathing human beings.

Writing Tips & History Tidbits • 28th July 2020

Journo Portfolio for Writers

Freelance writers: here's how to quickly and easily create a portfolio at Journo Portfolio, linking to posts from your own site, articles written by you at publisher websites, or PDFs of your clips (tearsheets).

Wordpress.Com • 27th July 2020

How Authors Lose Book Sales by Distracting Potential Buyers

Do you really want me to buy your book, or are you just teasing me? If someone asked you as an author, “Do you want book sales?” you would answer, “Of course!” Yet many authors these days lead potential book buyers down multiple rabbit trails . . . to the point that readers finally become annoyed or distracted from buying that book that originally caught their attention:

Laurie Winslow Sargent • 9th September 2019

Dilemma of the Multi-Genre Author

It’s great fun for a writer to wear many different hats: to write effectively on a variety of fun topics. It keeps life interesting. But how does the multi-genre author effectively manage their brand, website, and social media pages?

Sell Your Nonfiction • 18th November 2010

Laurie’s Lessons

Links on this page lead to articles by author/writing instructor Laurie Winslow Sargent on how to sell your nonfiction writing, with occasional tips on marketing both fiction and nonfiction to publishers and magazines.

Sell Your Nonfiction • 15th November 2010

“How do magazines pay writers for articles and stories?”

Freelance writers for magazines are usually paid per published word. (Newspapers usually pay per column inch or per column.) Here's how that translates to actual income:

Sell Your Nonfiction • 11th November 2010

Magazine Writing Basics

Have you always enjoyed writing, but now want to sell your nonfiction articles and stories to magazines? This post answers: “Can you help me understand how the industry works, in a nutshell?” and "How do I get paid for articles?”

Writing Tips & History Tidbits • 8th June 2020

A Story About a Love Story

How Adventures in the Attic led to an India news story, about a 1920s American romance & a jungle honeymoon.

Writing Tips & History Tidbits • 9th September 2019

Dilemma of the Multi-Genre Author

It’s great fun for a writer to wear many different hats: to write effectively on a variety of fun topics. It keeps life interesting. But how does the multi-genre author effectively manage their brand, website, and social media pages?

Writing Tips & History Tidbits • 10th June 2014

Answering: “What is Paperli?” for Authors

Pro authors ask me: “What IS Paperli (paper.li)? An online newspaper or magazine? If I see myself mentioned in a Twitter link to a Paperli, what should I do?”

Writing Tips & History Tidbits • 5th August 2014

How to Avoid Confusing Your Readers

Have you ever, while reading, pictured a character a certain way, then --oops-- realized later he or she was far younger or older? Or you were simply unsure, so kept flipping back to former pages for clues? Both fiction and nonfiction writers should avoid confusing readers from the start. Keep them engrossed in your story:

Writing Tips & History Tidbits • 17th March 2015

Freelance Awakening and Article Sale Dances : Writing for Magazines

Wonder how you can start writing for print magazines? And get paid for it?

Writing Tips & History Tidbits • 18th March 2015

Childcare Trades with a Work-at-Home Friend

Have you ever considered childcare trades with other moms who write or otherwise work from home? Here’s how it worked for me, with a few tips on how to make it work out well:

Writing Tips & History Tidbits • 21st March 2018

Starting Small: Writing Your First Magazine Article

Do you have an urge to write, but have not yet started — and can only imagine writing a whole book someday? Someday when you are less busy? Or when you know more about writing? Getting started may be easier than you think.

Writing Tips & History Tidbits • 25th June 2015

One SWEET Magazine Article Writing Assignment

How in the world did I, a freelance writer in the USA, get the amazing opportunity to interview a Norwegian Olympic athlete? In her own home, about a sport I’d never heard of, in a country I had never visited?

Writing Tips & History Tidbits • 9th July 2019

Finding Stories in Vintage Family Photos

Are you a writer? A reader? Or a history buff, curious about your ancestors? Regardless, stories intrigue you. Here’s the first post in my series, Researching Your Own Attic Mysteries. Learn how to dig into your vintage family memorabilia to uncover stories and the personalities behind them.

Writing Tips & History Tidbits • 1st May 2020

Writing for Chicken Soup for the Soul

Authors, one way to get your true personal stories published is through Chicken Soup for the Soul, LLC. Here’s a list of benefits in writing for that company, plus details about a few prolific Chicken Soup story writers.