Anne R. Allen's Blog... with Ruth Harris
Writing about writing. Mostly.
Even new writers need to keep an author bio on hand. By Anne R. Allen The author bio on your social media, blog or website is one of the most important things you’ll ever write, so you want to put some thought into it. It’s what’s going to define you for agents, readers, editors, journalists, […]
by Anne R. Allen Okay, I’ll confess: I have never been tempted to join in NaNoWriMo. That doesn’t mean I don’t admire the heck out of people who can do it. Charles Dickens wrote A Christmas Carol in a little over month. You can’t argue with that kind of success. But some writers prefer to […]
Social Media can feel like a monster. Here’s how to slay it. by Chris Syme When it comes to book marketing, there is no bigger potential time waster than social media. There are approximately 210 social media sites listed on Wikipedia (global numbers). Of those 210, there are about ten that you can probably name […]
Beyond Nostalgia: authentic historical detail from fads, trends, and headlines can help you write books readers will relate to. by Ruth Harris Writers of historical fiction, whether Regency, Middle Ages, Victorian use the markers of the era—clothes, furniture, manners, leaders, resisters, war, peace, prosperity, recession—to create character, conflict, and plot. Writers of fiction set in […]
Where will Amazon review trolls lurk now the Amazon fora are gone? by Anne R. Allen Amazon periodically cracks down on users who have been abusing their customer review and ranking systems. Most of us are happy when the giant retailer takes steps to combat the abuse. Cheaters take money out of our pockets and […]
Brainstorm your novel hook now for your NaNoWriMo novel! By Janice Hardy A great idea helps every novel get off to a great start, but not every idea starts out great. Some need a little work to find their true potential. The key is to find the novel hook within the idea that will […]
If you write and you’re not a wooden puppet carved by an old Italian guy named Gepetto, you’re a real writer. by Anne R. Allen I’ve read a lot of articles recently about what it means to be a “real writer.” Each one is based on a different definition of what a “real writer” is. […]
Ben Franklin used many pen names. Should you? by Anne R. Allen Should you use different pen names if you write in different genres? Do you need to write under a pseudonym because people at work might find out you write steamy romances? Is it easier to write freely if you hide your real identity […]
Process goals make that road seem less daunting by Ruth Harris Psychologists differentiate between outcome goals (write a book) and process goals (the steps it will take to write a book). The outcome goal focuses on the big picture and the end result—a diamond-studded World Series ring, an Emmy, the winner’s circle at the Kentucky Derby. An outcome goal […]
Popups proliferate like Tribbles, but they’re not as cute. by Anne R. Allen Studies tell us the popup is the most hated form of marketing on the Web. A popup is the contemporary version of those phone calls that used to interrupt your life just as you were sitting down to a family dinner. The […]
Everybody listens to podcasts, but do they sell books? by Allison Tait Podcasts. It seems as though everyone is talking about them, listening to them and starting one. But should you? Australian author Allison Tait is the co-host of the popular So You Want To Be A Writer podcast. She’s a multi-genre writer with 25+ years […]
Predators are looking for newbies who make these mistakes. by Anne R. Allen We all make mistakes. It’s how people learn. But some new writer mistakes can end a writing career before it starts. They play into the hands of the predators who make money off the delusions of newbie writers. Ruth and I are […]
How to open an account at the idea bank. by Ruth Harris As Anne said in her recent post, being “blocked” is the #1 issue for new writers and she offered 14 suggestions for ways to “fill the well.” In today’s post, I am going to take a deep dive into a few specific ways […]
