Archive - Monalisa's Musings

The D*cks are Lit! Gondor Calls for Aid!

Surviving the con scene, author ego traps, and the unexpected kindness of friends.

Jun 25 •

Monalisa Foster

Writing to Market vs. Writing From the Gut

Some observations

Jun 22 •

Monalisa Foster

Schedule and recommendations

Jun 18 •

Monalisa Foster

Why Tense Isn’t Enough

Unlocking Temporality & Narrative Distance in Fiction

Jun 15 •

Monalisa Foster

This One Word Got My Book Ad Rejected. You Won’t Believe Why.

The chilling reality of being an author in the age of algorithmic overlords.

Jun 11 •

Monalisa Foster

Promo Smarter: Master UBLs, Landing Pages, and Reader Magnets

Tips for building your book marketing arsenal with custom UBLs, landing pages, and con-ready strategies.

Jun 8 •

Monalisa Foster

Big Con or Small Con?

What New Writers Should Know Before Attending

Jun 4 •

Monalisa Foster

Books2Read vs. BookFunnel: Who Wins the UBL War?

A cautionary tale of lost time and learning the hard way.

Jun 1 •

Monalisa Foster

May 2025

Breathing Life Into a Lump of Clay

What writing for Analog taught me about idea versus Story

May 28 •

Monalisa Foster

Sequel opening scene

Threading the Needle 2

May 25 •

Monalisa Foster

Plotting a Series Like Harry Potter Isn’t Magic. It’s Hard Work.

I got slapped down for answering a question about plotting a series like Harry Potter.

May 21 •

Monalisa Foster

Critiques, Ego, and the Muse

A look at emotional resilience, critique navigation, and the perils of crowdsourced advice.

May 18 •

Monalisa Foster

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