As an author, you may have many opportunities to speak to groups, present at conferences and instruct classes. Making your book available for purchase at these events can build your fan base and put cash in your pocket. Even giving a free talk to a small group can be profitable. I have given many talks at morning meetings where I walked out the door with hundreds of dollars … [Read more...]
What Fiction Writers Can Learn About Marketing from Non-Fiction Writers
Marketing fiction can be more challenging than non-fiction. You can make it easier by adopting techniques used by non-fiction writers. Yes, these marketing methods work for novels, too. Tie your book to a hot news story. One client’s novel about the oil industry came out right when gas prices were spiking. He used that as a hook to land lots of radio interviews and create … [Read more...]
Editing Resources for Writers
Making your manuscript the best it can be is a critical step in your book's success. We can not recognize all of the issues in our own work, so it is important to hire a professional to edit your book before you self-publish it or submit it to a publisher. (No, it is not the job of the publishing house to turn rough drafts into polished prose. Your work should be the best you … [Read more...]
Words are, like, important?
Anyone who appreciates the beauty and utility of language will enjoy this poem by Taylor Mali. There are people who will tell you that the meaning is what matters, not the way it is expressed. But when words are used carelessly and incorrectly, how do we know what the speaker or writer is trying to say? Words have meaning. The words you use, and the manner in which you … [Read more...]
Prepping for NaNoWriMo
NaNoWritMo is coming! Here is a fictional look at one writer's approach to this annual November event. I got a kick out of it, and I hope you do, too. Mike, the writer, shares a bit of his fractured take on life at bikeswine.com. More and more you hear the stories of preppers – men and women who are preparing for the end of existence as we know it. Some have built luxury … [Read more...]
How To Write a Book Without Writing
Here's what happens when most people sit down to write a book: First, they procrastinate because they don't know where to start. Next, they finally get going and they even manage to write a chapter or two, but then they get stuck. Finally, they shelve the book to “finish later” and it never gets done. Frustrating, right? But if you have a system, writing a book can be … [Read more...]
Who or Whom? Which is Correct?
This is possibly the trickiest confusion-causing grammar rule imaginable. So many of us see the two words “whom” and “who” and our eyes begin to cross because we can’t even start trying to figure out the difference between them. I see many people try to sound correct by using “whom” even when they should use “who”! Let’s explore their uses and how to properly put them in a … [Read more...]
How to Write Haiku
Haikus are famous around the world for many reasons, one being that they’re always short and sweet and seemingly easy to write. While haikus may be short, they’re definitely not easy. They’re a very structured form of writing that packs a huge punch in very few words. Originally, haikus focused on senses and had a lot to do with nature and one’s surroundings. In more … [Read more...]
Librarian Love: Helping You Get Published
Most people won’t believe you when you tell them that librarians can play a role that could prove vital to getting you published. The image of a cranky woman at a desk persists—but most don’t realize that behind that woman is a world of resources that could pave the way to success. It’s never too early to start working in the library, especially if you’re serious about becoming … [Read more...]
Researching For Your Novel: Librarians as Friends
Writing a novel can be very intimidating, and very difficult. One of the hardest tasks any author needs to undertake is research. Whether it’s looking at the historical context of a war being used as the background of a romance novel, or understanding how an engine works for your new steampunk series, research is essential. It’s also very difficult and extremely time consuming. … [Read more...]