Writing about writing. Mostly.
Book length memoir is a hard sell, but short essays can be a goldmine. Memoir is the most popular genre at any writers’ conference, and the most common genre in any agent’s slush pile. Unfortunately, it’s the hardest to write well—and the least likely to be successful if you’re an unknown newbie writer. That’s because […]
Anthologies like “Equality” can also be a great way for established authors to expand their readership. by Anne R. Allen Anthologies have long been one of the best ways for new writers to get publishing credits and start building an audience. They’re also an excellent way for authors at any stage of their careers to […]
Looking into my Crystal Ball by Fuse Literary Agency Co-Founder Laurie McLean Wow. 2016 sucked. In so many ways. I was never happier to kick a year to the curb than 2016. From David Bowie in January to Carrie Fisher in December, it seemed that each week brought a fresh tragedy to our lives. […]
First chapters are the hardest. So write them last. by Anne R. Allen Happy New Year! And many thanks to Frances Caballo, who this week named this one of the Best 15 Blogs for Indie Authors to Follow. I hope you had lots of fun over the holidays. Now it’s resolution time. Time to get […]
Writing rules, rejection & why to forget them and have some holiday fun! Ruth Harris joined this blog five and a half years ago with a wildly popular blogpost on rejection. Because she worked as editor at a couple of Big Five Houses as well as being a New York Times bestselling author, she knows […]
Want to land a guest blogging gig? Don’t clown around. by Anne R. Allen Marketing gurus will tell you guest blogging is one of the best ways to get your name out there to sell books and/or writing services. And they’re right. Here are some reasons why. But the gurus don’t often tell you how […]
Book title generators because “A Christmas Carol” is taken Titles. The easiest part of the book to write. Right? All you have to do is pick, say, one to twelve words. Just make them clever, catchy, evocative, and a one-way ticket to making your book a block-busting bestseller. Easy! I don’t know about you, but […]
Groucho Marxists are definitely on the writer’s enemy list by Anne R. Allen It can be tough to be a writer at holiday time. Uncle Bob wants to know why you aren’t rich yet. Aunt Susie calls you antisocial because you insist on doing those rewrites for your editor instead of helping with her booth […]
Stupid writing rules–Beware the Dunning-Kruger Effect. by Anne R. Allen Fake news isn’t our only problem in the era of social media. Fake writing rules are everywhere. Even I get taken in. I shared a meme on Facebook yesterday that gave a spelling rule that was 100% wrong. Thank goodness an English teacher friend […]
Novel genre isn’t always obvious, even to the author. While we’re writing, (especially during NaNoWriMo) we just let the inspiration pull us along. But there comes a point where we have to decide where our work fits in the great bookish ecosystem – its genre and the age of its audience. Writing coach and novelist […]
Writing career dreams? How to prepare while you’re writing that novel. by Anne R. Allen Recently fellow mystery author Carmen Amato said she’d been asked by several new writers where they should be focusing their energies as they start a writing career. Carmen passed the question on to me and I wrote a short answer […]
Slang, jargon, insider lingo and the perfect word make dialogue authentic and put your dancers en pointe. by Ruth Harris 1. A few words about words: Big words and little words. Everyday words and words for special occasions. Polite words and the other kind. The right words, well considered and well chosen, can take a […]
Book titles are tough. Even the greats don’t always get them right. by Anne R. Allen Book titles are so important. Would the novels Trimalchio in West Egg, First Impressions, or Private Flemming, His Various Battles have succeeded if their publishers hadn’t changed the titles to The Great Gatsby, Pride and Prejudice, and The Red Badge […]
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