Intellectual Property: The Big Picture for Authors
Ensure that your work continues to generate earnings for you and your heirs by staying on top of contracts, royalties, licensing, and available formats.
Loss: The Exact Reason to Read and Write
Loss can make fiction feel like an obnoxious waste of time. And maybe it is. But what if all of this loss is the exact reason to read? To write?
Manuscript Evaluations: What They Are and What to Expect
When you’ve taken your work as far as you can, a manuscript evaluation can address problems before you begin querying and submitting.
The Seductive Power (and Danger) of Metaphors and Similes
Used judiciously, metaphors and similes can help readers see more clearly. Overuse, or ones that seem forced, can draw attention away from the story and onto your writing.
How to Improve Your Amazon Book Descriptions
Most people don’t read websites; they scan. The same is true for your book description. In this guest post, Penny Sansevieri offers tips to make your promotional copy appealing enough for readers to linger.
How to Effectively Use Live Video (Even If You Fear the Camera) to Reach Readers
With low barrier to entry, livestreaming can be a great way to give your audience a chance to fall in love with you and your message. Here are some essential tips from the team at Best Seller Builders.
Sure, Write for Yourself—But Know Your Reader When It Comes Time to Sell
Knowing your audience is key to book marketing and sales success.
How to Convert Book Readers into Email Subscribers
Obtaining readers for your book is hard enough. Once you have their attention, how do you make the most of it? Dave Chesson suggests “reader magnets”—incentives that turn strangers into subscribers.
Beware of Blending One Too Many Literary Devices
In a story that straddles multiple genres or narrators, they can’t all have equal weight. Avoid confusion by making one dominant and others subordinate.
Point of View: Moving From Plural Perspective to Individual Perspective
To write in plural perspective—articulating the inner thoughts of a group—ensure you’re also giving enough personal expression to your narrator.
Vivid Storytelling Requires Delivery of Experience, Not Just Information
Mastering POV—a particular sensibility operating from a specific vantage point—can make the difference between bland and vivid storytelling.
7 Common Mistakes in First-Time Memoir
Readers come to a memoir in hopes it will shed light on their own life experiences. Stay on the right track by focusing on what makes your story unique and engaging.
3 Critical Things You Won’t Learn in an MFA Program
Writing takes grit and so does publishing, but your odds are better if you understand what you’re up against. In this guest post, author and educator Susan DeFreitas shares some “secrets” everyone should know.
The People in Publishing I Learn From
The funny thing about being any good as a publishing commentator: it requires talking to many others, learning varied perspectives, and writing about ideas you didn’t come up with.
What Happened After I Lost My Agent—Twice
A series of setbacks can easily lead to feelings of failure. In this guest post, author Rachel Pieh Jones offers lessons on overcoming discouragement, refocusing, and getting back on track.
How to Evoke a Unique, Human Character—Not a Generic One
Even a trivial detail can justify its place in your first sentence, so long as it achieves every sentence’s ideal goal: rendering a distinct character.
The Challenge of Sensational Story Openings
Who, what, when, where, why and how: An effective opening doesn’t necessarily address them all, but presents the best ones to serve the reader on a particular journey.
How to Build a Compelling Narrative Arc for Your Memoir
There’s a big difference between writing a book for ourselves and writing one for the reader. In this guest post, nonfiction coach and memoirist Tanja Pajevic offers five steps to keep in mind when crafting your story.
How to Get Out of the Writing Doldrums
When stuck in the doldrums, writing coach Mathina Calliope recommends “writer candy”—literary distractions that nourish the muse.
Copyediting Jobs: How to Estimate Hours and Pricing
Copy editors are known for perfectionism. But while there’s no end to the fussing you can do, there’s a limit to what someone will pay you to do it. In this guest post, CMOS contributing editor Carol Saller explains how to determine what your time is worth.
The Big Memoir Pitfall to Avoid
Perspective—gained from time and distance—can make the difference between an airing of grievances and a memoir that expresses deeper, universal truths.
How to Establish a Long-Term Writing Career: Insight From Two Literary Agents
For some authors, a single book deal is validation enough. For others, it’s the beginning of a lifelong journey through en ever-changing landscape. In this Q&A, literary agents Sarah LaPolla and Kim Lionetti discuss what it takes to sustain a career beyond the first big break.
Before You Market Your Book, Set Your Objectives
In this guest post, author and nonfiction writing coach Boni Wagner-Stafford explains why defining your objectives up front leads to a more focused and effective book marketing strategy.
Masterful Wordsmithing with Metaphor and Imagery
Taking the time to add the skills of creative imagery to your writer’s toolbox will help you become a master of the emotional craft.
Why Self-Publishing Authors Should Consider Establishing Their Own Imprint
Imprints aren’t just for big publishers; any self-publishing author can invent an imprint under which to operate. In this guest post, consultant and author David Wogahn explains the many ways that an imprint can help your branding and marketing.
A Writer’s Guide to Fair Use and Permissions + Sample Permissions Letter
If you need to request permissions from an author or publisher, here are general guidelines, plus a sample letter you can customize.
A Short and Sweet Beginner’s Guide to Securing Amazon Reviews
It’s been proven by research: reviews help drive book sales. And reviews on Amazon can help your book turn up more often in customer searches. So you want reviews—great reviews—but they need to be authentic. Here’s how to get them.
The Key Book Publishing Paths: 2019-2020
Should you self-publish or traditionally publish? This infographic will help you determine the best choice for you and your project.
From Romance Novelist to Literary Novelist: Anna Schmidt
In this Q&A, Anna Schmidt discusses how she became a romance novelist, the nearly accidental way she acquired her current literary agent, her journey from successful romance novelist to self-published literary novelist, and more.
When Teen YA Authors Hire Ghostwriters
A ghostwriter discusses the novels she’s written for teens from wealthy families who pay up to six figures to bring their kids’ dreams to life.
Context: When a Story Demands More Than Plot
Sometimes a story demands more than just a plot. You may want to create a context, a descriptive background that sheds light on a story’s meaning.
Trying to Make Your Story “Unique”? Beware of These Common Pitfalls
Writers always seek to produce a unique story—but this can lead to creating a character or story that is “different” sheerly for the sake of, well, being different.
Public Libraries: How Authors Can Increase Both Discoverability and Earnings
Libraries represent a valuable opportunity for a book discoverability and sales, but librarians may not know your book exists without marketing outreach.
Better Your Writing By Being a Beginner—Every Day
You’ve probably heard writing advice such as “Ass in chair” and “Write every day.” While the advice has its limitations, there’s a good reason it’s mentioned so often.
5 Ways to Ensure Readers Don’t Abandon Your Book
You need readers to love your novel—and finish it. Author H.R. D’Costa explains how story stakes can help you grow readership and sales.
Writer’s Block Is a Gift. Here’s Why.
You’re intimately familiar with the nature of your writer’s block, right? In this guest post, creativity coach and author Julia Roberts pinpoints specific tools, and how they helped her, to clarify and solve the real issue.
Indiana in July: Beginner and Advanced Workshops for Writers
In late July, I’ll be returning to my home state of Indiana to offer two workshops: one for beginning writers and another for published authors.
The Challenge of Book Cover Design
Sharing your in-progress book cover on social media to solicit meaningful direction is like throwing a bomb into the creative process.
How I Caught a Publisher Unexpectedly
Writer Nancy Jorgenson tells her story of surprise success in landing just the right publisher for her book—one she had never heard of.
9 Ways (and 2 Rewards) of Marketing Your Own Book
Authors who want to sell their work must often do the marketing themselves, and some methods are easier than others. In this guest post, essayist, memoirist and short story writer Beth Alvarado discusses the ways and reasons why you should take an active role in marketing your own book.
4 Elements of Narrative That Anyone Can Learn
Narrative is a form that can be learned, like a dance move or a golf swing. Alan Gelb breaks down narrative into four elements: The Once, The Ordinary vs. the Extraordinary, Conflict and Tension, and The Point.
Identifying the Best Self-Published Books by State: The Indie Author Project
The Indie Author Project identifies the best self-published fiction by state; thirteen states participate so far. This year’s national winner is Ran Walker.
The Two Basic Rules of Editing (and the Rookie Mistake)
Big-picture editing is a series of judgment calls. But how should those judgment calls be conveyed to the writer? Two rules stand the test of time: (1) Praise. (2) Ask questions.
Choosing a Publicist: Ruling Out and Ruling In
There are a lot of publicists out there. How can you pick the right one? This is a crucial decision, so it needs to be approached with care.
Why Read Women Writers? An Interview with Bill Wolfe
Is it still necessary today to encourage men to read women, or to shine a targeted light on female writers? Bill Wolfe says yes.
How to Plan a Book Reading That Delights Your Audience
Reading your writing in public can be daunting, but the audience is your ally. Keep them engaged with these planning tips from public speaking coach James Nave and workshop leader Allegra Huston, co-authors of How to Read for an Audience: The Stuff Nobody Teaches You.
Considering Your Reader Is Not Coddling Them
Which approach is right? Write only for yourself and in service of your vision OR write with an intended readership in mind.
How to Bring Value to Your Readers
Value is subjective, but readers like all consumers seek it. In this guest post, author Paulette Perhach explains how writers whose work earns income match their own sense of value to what their readers value.
5 On: Jonathan Westbrook
Writer and graphic designer Jonathan Westbrook discusses what it’s like to win an extraordinary screenwriting contest, then have that win fall through.
Getting a Memoir Published in a Difficult Market: Q&A with Margaret McMullan
Even a well-published and successful author can have a difficult time finding a home for a memoir. Margaret McMullan discusses her path to publication.