alisonkilian
What I'm Reading Now: Agatha Christie's 'Death on the Nile'
The classic by the Queen of Mystery is still one of my favorite puzzles. Agatha Christie is widely known as the Queen of Mystery. She...
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alisonkilian
Feb 18, 20232 min read
3 Books You Probably Didn't Know Were Ghostwritten
Your favorite authors are lying to you. When I tell people what I do for a living, I'm often met with a giant question mark. Once I've...
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alisonkilian
Feb 12, 20232 min read
Self-Editing as a Writer: A Lesson in Humility
Editing your own writing can be humbling but also offers plenty of humor. Self-editing is part of any writing job. Sure, an editor...
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alisonkilian
Feb 6, 20232 min read
When Authors Mix Fact and Fiction: A Look at John Grisham
John Grisham proves yet again that he's the master of the legal thriller—but that's not why I love to read his books. My go-to beach read...
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alisonkilian
Jan 26, 20232 min read
If You Wait for the Perfect Conditions to Write, You May Never Write At All
My mission: Prioritize creativity over perfectionism and write more consistently, even if the situation isn't ideal. (Possible spelling...
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alisonkilian
Jan 19, 20232 min read
Writers and Their Processes: How Do They Focus?
Writing requires concentration and persistence. How do the pros maintain consistent output? When I was younger, I assumed I'd always be...
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alisonkilian
Jan 12, 20232 min read
Ghostwriting Case Study: Prince Harry's "Spare" with ghostwriter J.R. Moehringer
Everyone is talking about the Duke of Sussex's memoir. I want to talk about the ghostwriter behind it. It's pretty much impossible to...
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alisonkilian
Jan 5, 20234 min read
I’m a Writer in a Creative Rut. Can TikTok Save Me?
I’ve wasted plenty of hours scrolling the clock app. Now, I’m betting on it to reinvigorate my creative spark. I used to write for fun....
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alisonkilian
May 6, 20222 min read
The Embarrassing Reason I Took a Side Gig Writing Book Reviews
"If you don't have time to read, you don't have the time (or the tools) to write" - Stephen King This quote from Stephen King is one I...
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alisonkilian
Apr 22, 20222 min read
Why We Need Stories
As long as humans have existed, they have strived to tell stories. These days, we read our stories on e-readers and tablets. We used to...
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alisonkilian
Apr 16, 20223 min read
Getting Interviews As a Writer: What I Learned From My Ex Job as a Journalist
People are busy, and their time is valuable. Getting a slice of it requires persistence—and some flexibility. I started my career as a...
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alisonkilian
Apr 8, 20222 min read
Death, taxes, and revision requests: the certainties of being a writer
Revision requests waste time for writers and their clients. Here's how I try to avoid them. "Writers are notoriously sensitive beings."...
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alisonkilian
Apr 3, 20222 min read
The Beauty of "Tapetenwechsel": Life as a Globetrotting Writer
The Germans have a word for "change of scenery" ("Tapetenwechsel"). As a full-time freelance writer, I make the most of it. I have been...
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alisonkilian
Mar 25, 20222 min read
Beyond Books: What Will the Future of Storytelling Look Like?
Multimedia storytelling has a bright future. But is the "boring" old book in danger? The world increasingly has us inhabiting a digital...
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alisonkilian
Mar 18, 20222 min read
How Writing Romantic Fiction Helped My "Serious" Writing Career
Ghostwriting romance novels was my dirty professional secret. Then it became something to be proud of. As a full-time professional writer...
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alisonkilian
Mar 11, 20222 min read
Books I Use as a Professional Writer
Turns out the job of a writer involves a lot of reading. I'm a full-time writer. I don't write "as a hobby" or "on the side." It's what a...
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alisonkilian
Mar 4, 20223 min read
Ghostwriting 101: Do You Still Want to Be a Writer When Nobody Knows Your Name?
I thought I wanted to write because I'd get to see my name in print. It turns out I wanted to write because I simply love to tell a...
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alisonkilian
Feb 26, 20222 min read
The Value of the Creative Arts on Dark Days
When the world seems to be burning, creative works like art, books, and music can give us hope, catharsis, or simple escapism. "Medicine,...
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alisonkilian
Feb 19, 20223 min read
My Career as a Writer Isn't Quite Like I Pictured It...
When people ask what I do for a living and I say "I'm a writer," they immediately envision me sitting in a desolate cabin, hammering out...
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alisonkilian
Feb 10, 20222 min read
The Joy of Being "Seen"
When someone recommends a creative work with the words "I think you'd like this" and I *DO* I feel so magically seen and understood. Why...
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