The Children’s Writer’s Guide examines how you can get started as a writer, create time and space to pursue your craft and deal with lack of motivation and writers block. Topics covered include where ideas come from and how writers turn them into stories, choosing names for characters that are appropriate to the story, the importance of historical research if your novel is set in a different era, writing science fiction and fantasy, and the use of magic in stories for children. The guide … [Read more...] about The Children’s Writer’s Guide by Simon Rose
Why Bother? The Two Deadliest Words to a Self-Published Author – Guest Post by Kyoko M.
Y’know what sucks? Being unemployed and your books not selling at the same time. It’s not just the lack of money, either. I’ve been unemployed before back when my second retail job went under thanks to rent issues in 2012. The funny thing is, the first month is kind of a like a honeymoon period. You wake up when you want to, do what you want to, don’t do what you don’t want to, and feel this general sense of relaxation since you don’t have a set schedule as you don’t have to go to work … [Read more...] about Why Bother? The Two Deadliest Words to a Self-Published Author – Guest Post by Kyoko M.
Publish Your Book without Losing Your Shirt by Chris Allen
Writers Agree: This Book is Essential You've written a great book. Do you know how to get readers to buy it? Chris Allen uses years of book retail experience to give down-to-earth advice on choosing the best publisher, producing a book that bookstores will accept, and successfully selling your book to the public. Filled with step-by-step advice and real-life examples, this practical book will give you the guidance you need to make your self-publishing career a success, whether this is … [Read more...] about Publish Your Book without Losing Your Shirt by Chris Allen
Interview with Author – Roselyn Jewell @jewellromance
Author Bio: I'm an author, a wife, a mother, a friend, a sister, a daughter, and so much more! I've always loved reading and found myself wanting to continue the stories I loved so much, which is how I started writing. Now I've finally reached my dream of being published. My novels are mainly romance, though there are a lot of other elements as well. My books prove that you can have the romance and the passion without having to sacrifice great plot lines or strong character … [Read more...] about Interview with Author – Roselyn Jewell @jewellromance
10 Things I Wish I Knew About Being an Author – Guest Post by P.S. Bartlett @PSBartlett
1. Unless you’re already famous for something else; rock star, movie actor, professional athlete—you most likely will not sell a million copies of your book—your first book let’s say. For Joe Shmo and P.S. Bartlett and many other authors, being successful takes a good deal of time, good marketing and a great support base. If you’re hoping to get rich quick by being a writer, you may want to get that record deal or Lakers contract first. 2. You have to have either a very good memory or be … [Read more...] about 10 Things I Wish I Knew About Being an Author – Guest Post by P.S. Bartlett @PSBartlett
Interview with Author – K.C Baylor@ 26Kessa
Author Bio: K.C Baylor is the owner of the award winning Urban Fiction News magazine where she has put her love of sharing information with other writers on their literary journey combined with her degree in Psychology. She loves connecting with her reading audience through well developed characters and a rich story line. What inspires you to write? My inspiration comes when I am in the throws of life. My life is usually so busy that an idea comes to me and slows me down. The idea may come … [Read more...] about Interview with Author – K.C Baylor@ 26Kessa
Surviving an anthology – Guest Post by Vanessa
We are a bunch of eclectic authors and have had loads of fun as part of the Pretoria's Writing Group. We have recently decided to write several short stories for an anthology: Storm. Our leader Linze Brandon designs weapons for a living and we are all in awe of her as she has written over a million words to date. Secretly we are afraid that she might launch several bombs at us, which is why we are always on the lookout for a decent bunker or, failing that, a solid tree to hide behind. You will … [Read more...] about Surviving an anthology – Guest Post by Vanessa
advice to aspiring authors – Guest Post by Zach Abrams @Authorway
I have a few suggestions for aspiring authors. The first and most important thing I'd say is persevere. It takes a lot of time, effort and commitment to complete a book and a lot of resilience to see it through to publication, not to mention the knock backs along the way and afterwards. Two more things, (i) try and write something every day, it doesn't matter how much, just so long as you're making progress. (ii) Don't keep going back to 'perfect' your first chapter(s) without continuing your … [Read more...] about advice to aspiring authors – Guest Post by Zach Abrams @Authorway
Telling People at Work You Are a Writer – Guest Post by Donald J. Bingle @donaldjbingle
If you are a full-time writer without a day-job, this post is not for you. But if, like most writers, you have a day-job to pay the bills and provide affordable health insurance (at least until those Nook and Kindle sales begin to whir), whether to tell people at your day-job that you write on the side is something we all have to face. Sure, when you are first starting out and haven't published yet, it is an easy secret to keep, but when you start getting published on a regular basis (books, … [Read more...] about Telling People at Work You Are a Writer – Guest Post by Donald J. Bingle @donaldjbingle
Write the Darn Book by Mike Reuther
Many people dream of writing a book, but few ever getting around to doing it. Why? Mike Reuther, author of "Write the Darn Book", believes too many aspiring writers set themselves up for failure by believing it's difficult. It doesn't have to be. The key is writing from one's heart to allow for the free flow of words to come pouring out. In no time at all - a matter of weeks - a writer can have a manuscript ready to be edited and eventually published. The book also covers literary agents and the … [Read more...] about Write the Darn Book by Mike Reuther
Supporting Fellow Authors – Guest Post by Jeanette Raleigh
There are thousands of us. Authors, struggling to write, hoping to have that magic combination of persistence and luck that pushes our series to the top. There are two ways to struggle on this road. We can choose to help our fellow author and make friends or take jealous side shots at the successful books competing against our own. I'm going to assume that I'm talking to folks who want to help others. So we all are trying to 'make it'. What can we do? 1) As a way of saying thank you, … [Read more...] about Supporting Fellow Authors – Guest Post by Jeanette Raleigh
An Explosive Idea – Guest Post by Jen Barton
My book, Fiona Thorn and the Carapacem Spell, was published last September, almost six months ago. I remember the first time I saw it on Amazon, its beautiful cover gleaming on the left side of the page with the cool “Look Inside” arrow skimming the top. I was overjoyed. I thought it couldn’t get any better. Little did I know that my life was about to become one giant marketing campaign, my thoughts turning on a nonstop hamster wheel of how to get noticed, how to get noticed, how to get … [Read more...] about An Explosive Idea – Guest Post by Jen Barton
