Anne R. Allen's Blog... with Ruth Harris
Writing about writing. Mostly.
Winning writing contests can build your self-esteem and raise your profile. By C. Hope Clark, Founder of Funds for Writers. Writing contests sound simple enough. You enter and hope you win. Winners, however, take contests more earnestly, using them as a serious tool in their career. Contests represent opportunity, measure, and hope. FundsforWriters.com treats writing […]
by Anne R. Allen These days, an author’s online presence is of vital importance to a career, whether we’re published or planning to publish. Whether we’re indie, hybrid, or trad-pubbed, it’s not only essential to be easy to find online, but we need to keep a professional presence and guard our author brand and reputation. […]
Stephen King’s 10% Rule–does your 2nd draft follow it? by Ruth Harris Because: what you leave out is as important as what you put in. I’m not saying the delete key is magic, but sometimes it can feel that way. Skillful use of the delete button will help you show instead of tell. Will add […]
Guest Blogging: learn to target the right blogs and write a good query by Anne R. Allen Most author marketing gurus will tell you that guest blogging is one of the best ways to promote your book. Beth Hayden wrote on Jane Friedman’s blog about the many ways guest blogging builds platform and sells books. […]
Procrastinating? Here’s how to break the pattern of putting off your writing. by Katie Davis When the year begins, all fresh and shiny, we tend to make promises to ourselves. When we first took over the Institute for Writers, I wanted to help our community of writers––our students––so I polled them. I asked, “What do […]
Predators are on the lookout for scammable new or discouraged writers. by Anne R. Allen As long as there are writers, there will be writing scams. Hungry predators will always be lying in wait, ready to pounce on any tender young scribe who strays from the safety of the mainstream herd. And now there are […]
Publishing predictions: Laurie McLean’s annual look into her crystal ball. By Laurie McLean, Founding Partner of Fuse Literary Agency The last year has seen a maturation of many of the trends that were sparked by the revolution in publishing that began a decade ago. Indie publishing. Social media marketing. The birth of Author-preneurs. Smart phones […]
Muse time: shut out the noise and let your subconscious get into “the zone.” Ruth and Anne Want to Wish You All a Very Happy Holiday Season! One of the most common themes we hear from new writers is fears that they’re not “real writers,” especially when friends and family ask when their “scribbling” is […]
Hollywood loves High Concept. by Anne R. Allen Here it is! My first “High Concept” novel. At least it’s a close to High Concept as I’m likely to write. I have to admit I’ve been a little terrified somebody might come out with a book with the same title or plot before my slow-writer self […]
What a writer wants for Christmas. Please, Santa? by Tara Sparling Dear Santa, This year I have been a very good writer. I did all my homework, cheered on my fellow authors, and accepted rejections with grace and good humour. Smashed through writer’s block and only lost faith in myself every other Tuesday. Rewrote Chapter […]
Win #NaNoWriMo? Time to celebrate! Especially if it’s your first novel. by Anne R. Allen. Did you win #NaNo? Is it a first novel? Congratulations!!! Only about 3% of people who start novels actually finish, so you’re a major winner right there. You’ve done something spectacular. So break out the bubbly and savor the moment! […]
This Thanksgiving, we’re offering some inspiring writing quotes from some of our favorite authors. (Plus some anonymous funnies.) by Ruth Harris Editing, revising and rewriting— “I was working on the proof of one of my poems all the morning, and took out a comma. In the afternoon I put it back again.” — Oscar Wilde […]
by Anne R. Allen Ruth Harris and I have both written about how there are no rigid rules for writing good fiction, only guidelines. Even guidelines don’t apply to everybody. Every genre has its own conventions. What is de rigeur for a romance can be deadly in a thriller. And what readers expect in a […]
