MFRW Magazine

  During the Victorian period, people carefully preserved memories in what were known as correspondence albums. Friends and family filled these books with inscriptions, sketches, poems, and pressed flowers. More than a scrapbook, the correspondence album provided a record of relationships and moments that mattered. Each page reflected the care and intention of those who contributed to it, turning the album into a lasting record of friendship, affection, and shared experience. Today, people collect memories constantly through photos, messages, and social media posts, capturing everyday moments with remarkable ease. The speed and sheer volume of digital sharing can make such memories feel fleeting, quickly forgotten as new ones take their place. Adopting the Victorian spirit of intention and care can transform modern digital collections into meaningful keepsakes rather than passing records.   Memory as a Curated Practice   For Victorians, the correspondence album ...

  In my smalI northern Minnesota town. the local writers group focuses on poetry and memoires. Members look down on romance, so I was overjoyed when I found an online romance critique group. Critiquing has helped me to become better at plot arcs and character development. Also grammar, pacing, setting descriptions, and sentence structure. Understanding POV and head hopping. (Nora Roberts is allowed to head hop. Us mere mortals should not.) I’ve been in my critique group for fourteen years, its moderator for twelve. Membership in the group has evolved over time. However, the rules have remained pretty much the same. We take on short stories, novelettes, novels, synopses, agent -publisher cover letters, back cover blurbs, and tag lines. Members sub one chapter at a time. Critiques (aka line and developmental edits) are returned generally within a week. We ask that every member critiques every sub, whether they are currently subbing or not, but we know that life intervenes. We a...

  Before we dive into this month's topic, let me introduce myself. I’m not a marketing theorist—I’ve spent years actually working with authors, managing newsletters, organizing promotions, arranging swaps, building ARC teams, and creating content. I’ve seen what works, what doesn’t, and the mistakes authors make along the way. These articles won’t be filled with generic marketing advice; I’ll share practical strategies based on real experience. And sometimes, I’m going to be blunt.  .   Your Newsletter Is More Than an Announcement Board   Let's start with something every author should have: a newsletter. Now, I know what some of you are thinking. I already have one. Great. But what are you actually doing with it? There are plenty of authors whose newsletters consist of: · Here's my new book! · Here's my upcoming release! · I'm attending this event! · Here's another book I've written! · And then... six weeks later, another email. ...