Writing about writing. Mostly.
Critique groups have their pros and cons. by Anne R. Allen I often advise new writers to join critique groups. Groups are usually free and they’re a great way to learn the basics of the writing craft. They can get writers out of their “writing garrets” and help newbies navigate the treacherous waters of the […]
Create memorable characters using carefully chosen details by Ruth Harris The 20th Century architect, Mies van der Rohe, designer of iconic contemporary buildings like Crown Hall in Chicago and the Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial Library in Washington, DC, and classic chairs like the Barcelona and Brno, said: “God is in the details.” His […]
First novel finished? Celebrate! by Anne R. Allen You finished your first novel! Break out the bubbly. Order a cake. Buy some really good chocolate. Time for a major celebration. Only about 3% of people who start novels actually finish, so you’re a major winner right there. You’ve done something spectacular. Savor the moment! Finishing […]
Golden-Globe winner Gerald DiPego has a system to create believable characters. By Gerald DiPego We are honored to host a Golden Globe winning screenwriter on the blog this week! Jerry DiPego has written over 40 feature and television films including Words and Pictures, the Forgotten, Angel Eyes, Message in a Bottle, Instinct, Phenomenon, and […]
Blog traffic problems? by Anne R. Allen Attracting traffic to your author blog is probably the biggest challenge for new author-bloggers. (After actually getting around to starting the thing in the first place and writing some posts.) The problem is that most of the stuff you read about blogs isn’t terribly useful to authors. Blogging […]
Is your book the right size? by Ruth Harris Despite what you may have heard to the contrary, size does matter. At least, when it comes to books. 😉 Too long or too short? Wordy and flabby? Curt and brusque? Novel or novella? Short story or novelette? From urban fantasy to space opera, thriller to […]
Facebook ads work to reach the elusive niche reader by Barbara Morgenroth Eight years ago when I began a second career as an indie author after many years in traditional publishing as well as television, my middle grade book, Impossible Charlie, was the only new book in its category. Total book visibility! By the […]
Is your author blog getting crickets? by Anne R. Allen You finally did it! You started your author blog. And put up your first post..and the second and third and fourth… Now…you’ve got crickets. Nobody’s reading your deathless prose. Sigh. Don’t give in to despair. It takes a while to build a readership. Usually a […]
Book review bloggers are friends, not foes–get to know them! by Barb Drozdowich So…who are book bloggers anyways? I know that Anne periodically talks about book bloggers on this blog – but many authors that I talk to seem a bit fuzzy on the subject. I’m going to see if I can help you understand […]
Blogging authors can break the”blog rules”! by Anne R. Allen Authors get lots of conflicting advice about blogging. Most of it isn’t terribly useful—and some can hurt or even destroy your career. It nearly happened to me. That’s because most of the blogging advice out there is: Out of date. Aimed at bloggers who want […]
The First Chapter is the toughest! by Ruth Harris Someone waves a gun in the first sentence. In the second sentence, Jim (or is it Jill?) is walking his (or is it her?) dog in the rain. In the third paragraph, the dog gets loose, runs into the middle of a movie set where the […]
Social Media Scams Part 1 is here. by Anne R. Allen Social media is big business these days. And wherever there’s money, you’ll find crooks, trolls, and scammers. Social media scams are lucrative cottage industries in some developing countries, where whole villages may be employed by click farms, con artists, and identity theft scams. So […]
Anthologies are an excellent way for a writer to break into publishing. They can also do a lot to expand the audience for your existing titles. Blog ninja and Master and Commander of the Insecure Writer’s Support Group, Alex J. Cavanaugh, has edited several anthologies, and gives us the skinny on how they can help your […]
