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MUST-HAVE PUBLISHING RESOURCES FOR AUTHORS
The saying “you don’t know what you don’t know” is so true when it comes to publishing, whether it’s self-publishing or traditional publishing. Authors are writers first and foremost. They know the craft of writing but it’s all the other steps—revising and editing, publishing, and marketing—that can be daunting, even to the most seasoned among them. This blog post compiles more than fifty links to vetted publishing industry resources. And it's still growing! (updated May 2024)
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Elements of style: the art of mood in fiction
A novel's atmosphere—or emotional landscape—which colors every scene is also known as mood, and it’s one of the most effective tools a...
Feb 213 min read
Elements of style: the art of tone in fiction
When readers dive into a novel, they’re not just seeking plot twists or compelling characters (though those are important!). They’re also...
Jan 244 min read
Understanding the Custom Manuscript Masterplan: A Manuscript Review Service
For writers navigating the often tricky terrain of revisions, a manuscript review can provide clear direction and feedback on how to...
Sep 13, 20244 min read
Top 3 book opening mistakes (and how to fix them)
Every write knows that a strong opening to their book is crucial for engaging readers. It's the first impression, the hook, that either...
Jun 14, 20243 min read
Unraveling your narrative with a reverse outline
Have you ever found yourself lost in the labyrinth of your own writing? Do your characters often run away with the plot? Are you staring...
May 24, 20244 min read
Crafting success: a guide to creating author goals
Goal-setting is an important part of any new undertaking and can have a profound effect on productivity. If you’ve ever found yourself...
May 10, 20244 min read
A guide to using the Pomodoro Technique for writers
Have you ever had the experience of sitting down to complete a task only to find yourself overwhelmed by what needs to be done, unsure of...
Jan 19, 20244 min read
Writing in third person
Limited vs. omniscient narration Third person narration is a literary style where the narrative is told from the perspective of a...
Dec 8, 20235 min read
Dialogue tags & action beats
Formatting attributes of speech alongside action in fiction I've written about the basics of formatting dialogue here. This blog is a...
Nov 17, 20234 min read
NaNoWriMo 2023
National Novel Writing Month, or NaNoWriMo, is a great opportunity for writers to challenge themselves to write a 50,000-word novel in...
Oct 20, 20234 min read
Query Letter 101
A query letter is a formal letter that a writer sends to literary agents or publishers to introduce themselves and their work with the...
Sep 8, 20233 min read
Elements of a successful book: metadata
Metadata feels like a nebulous term, and for many writers, it’s components seem hard to pin down. However, it’s vital that your book has...
Jul 20, 20232 min read
Elements of a successful book: the back cover blurb
You’ve written your book and edited the heck out of it, and you don’t want to deal with it anymore. Sounds about right? But then you...
Jul 6, 20235 min read
Elements of a successful book: cover design
If you think no one is judging books by their covers, then you’d be wrong about this oft-underutilized aspect of book marketing. The book...
Jun 9, 20236 min read
Elements of a successful book: content
Dive in with me as I explore the commonalities between successful books no matter how they were published, what genre they are, or...
May 25, 20235 min read
Dealing with the grammar police
(And why they have nothing to do with editing.) Whether you’re a writer or an editor, putting yourself and your writing in front of...
May 11, 20235 min read
Formatting dialogue in fiction
A grammar miniblog Most writers are familiar with the basics of formatting dialogue in fiction such as in the following examples: “I...
Apr 27, 20233 min read
US copyright and permissions
What every writer should know Confusion about intellectual property, copyright, and permissions abound in the self-publishing world. It...
Apr 15, 20235 min read
Keeping readers engaged: the first ten pages of your novel
Ask anyone and they’ll likely say that writing a book is a hard job. Ask a writer and they’ll likely say that starting to write a book is...
Mar 17, 20235 min read
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