Like many of people writing fiction, I have a background writing non-fiction for my day job. Over the years I’ve written lots of business reports, market overviews and policy outlines for public bodies, some published, some very definitely for internal use only. I’ve always wanted to write fiction, but afterContinue Reading
As an author, it helps to know what your target audience wants from you. This may apply somewhat to the books you write, but even more so to the content you post on your author platform. What kind of material is likely to get your readers to pay attention? AreContinue Reading
The biggest physical challenge for me of being a writer is stopping long enough to do the things I know will improve my health. I get on tangents with stories and don’t want to take a break until I see how the scenes will unfold. If I’m not careful, theContinue Reading
Are you in need of a course correction in your writing career? It’s not always easy to tell, but here’s a thought for you: You may need it more often than you think. Why You Need a Course Correction More Often Than You Think I read one of the lastContinue Reading
Do you struggle when marketing your book? If so, you’re not alone. Book marketing remains one of the biggest challenges—if not the biggest challenge—for writers wanting to expand their careers. It’s easy to see why writers are struggling. More books are published every year, with self-publishing flooding the market. BowkerContinue Reading
by Idara Hampton Are you a busy writer who struggles to stay in shape or make healthy lifestyle choices because you spend so much time sitting? Sacrificing health for writing might not feel like a big deal. But it takes a toll. In a 2010 study, researchers found that peopleContinue Reading
Are you a happy writer? You probably are part of the time, but we can all go through periods when we feel discouraged, unproductive, or uninspired. If this happens to be one of those unhappy periods in your writing life, the following tips may help boost your writing mood. 1.Continue Reading
For me self-doubt has been a major hurdle. It took me six years from the time I started writing my mystery Kat Out of the Bag to when I signed a publishing contract. For the first few years I kept it a dark secret that I was writing a book.Continue Reading
When you started out as a writer, you had a strong love of writing. You loved putting words together, stringing together plotlines, visiting exotic settings, and spending time with your characters. But then somewhere along the way, something happened. Your love of writing started to subside. The stars disappeared fromContinue Reading
by Laurie Buchanan With non-fiction, the author is writing about tangible, verifiable facts. If they need to research the topic further, they can search online. However, with fiction, the characters and storyline aren’t preexisting; every aspect of what the author’s writing is coming out of their head, their imagination—the storyContinue Reading
Overcoming self-doubt is your most important job as a writer. Don’t think so? Answer one question: Do you believe that with hard work, determination, and persistence, you can succeed in achieving your writing goals? Your answer determines your fate. You may not believe that. Success depends on other factors likeContinue Reading
When authors ask me how to pick a book title, I tell them to brainstorm a few options first and then get feedback. Unfortunately, many authors skip the second part of that recommendation. I get it, because I’ve been tempted to skip feedback too. But I’ve published several books now,Continue Reading