The first thing I ask my clients is, “What is your reason for publishing?” TIME usually becomes the biggest factor in the decision. How much time and effort do you want to spend on your writing career? Vanity A vanity press is an organization that will take whatever you give them, make copies or prints […]
There is so much more to being an author than writing. It never ceases to amaze me how much more time I spend on my writing career that doesn’t involve getting my story on paper. There is setting up book signings, then doing the signs for it, then the pre-advertising, and, and , and… Oh, […]
If you ever see an author sitting behind a table with stacks of books in front of them, take pity. Stop and say hello, even if you don’t need another book. Give them human interaction so their time goes by more quickly. It’s really hard to put yourself out there on display. It’s even worse […]
Short answer is…no. At least I don’t. Getting away from my desk is a relief and something I look forward to, but my laptop is never left behind. What if the urge hits me to knock out a few thousand words? I can’t pass up that opportunity. Although many authors recommend having a set schedule […]
This is a fun bit of trivia I wish I could go back and show my high school English teacher: according to the Chicago Manual of Style 5.206, it’s okay to begin a sentence with a conjunction. A conjunction is a joiner, typically of two sentences or thoughts—and, but, however, therefore, etc. The CMoS authors […]
Creating cover art is a specialization in the book world. It is NOT my specialty. There are trends to track, colors to express emotion, and fonts that convey meaning. Some authors start with a distinct idea of what they want on their cover. It’s their book, after all. In the traditional publishing world, the author […]
A book is always a great gift. One with special meaning resonates with the receiver because thought was put into it. My daughter gave me a wonderful gift. I love dragons (hence Blue Dragon Publishing). But because I love reading about them, I felt any story I came up with has already been done. I […]
Picture books are tougher to write than you think. Things to Consider The words have to be simple enough to fit the age group, but interesting enough to catch the parents’ eye. Rhyming is good for children because of the sing-song tone which is comforting to them. But it can’t be annoying because the parents […]
After your book has gone through the editing process but before final printing, you should receive a printed copy of your book. The proof copy may or may not be bound. This is a great time to read your book yet another time and look for any typos or words that aren’t quite right. Hopefully […]
I know it’s frustrating to hear that you need an editor. Then, to add insult to injury, not even your schoolteacher father or mother should edit your work. Why? You are too close to the story. You may try to argue that your parents are particularly hard on you when giving feedback. It’s great that […]
8 Ways to Promote Your Book Marketing is hard, especially if it isn’t your specialty or passion. But here are eight things you can do to promote your book that you don’t need a marketing expert to pull off. Social Media Reviews If you are on Instagram or Facebook, try to find reviewers who enjoy […]
Ready to exercise your creative muscle? Are you looking for ways to give more depth to your writing? Get involved. Meeting new people enhances your ability to build interesting characters. Merged traits from multiple people into one character. Have fun with it. What is their quirk? What does their voice sound like? Sit alone at […]
Many authors are excited to get into the nuts and bolts of the story and often skip this very important step. I would argue it’s more important sometimes than others. If you are writing a nonfiction, backstory doesn’t really come into play. If you are writing a series, keeping track of your characters’ traits from […]
April is volunteer appreciation month. As authors, we often take ideas from real life and our community. It’s important to remember to give back to that community. There are so many ways to get involved and explore your many interests. Just think, it may turn into a giving circle where you give, and the ideas […]
I was at a book signing with Blue Dragon author Amy Voltaire where she was signing her book, My Name is Erin, and My Mom’s an Addict. A parent stopped by the booth and made a face upon seeing the title. “Do you really think you need to bring that subject into the schools?” she […]
Take a moment to celebrate the win. It feels good to get it all on paper. Treat yourself and perhaps your family or partner for putting up with you through the process. It’s NOT time to PUBLISH! The work has only just begun. You probably just finished your first draft. Maybe you’re reading it over […]
Is your writing feeling dull and sluggish, following the weather trends outside? Maybe it’s time for spring cleaning. Perhaps your writing space has gotten cluttered over the winter; papers piled up, scribbled notes on scrap paper, unopened mail. Or is that just me? Take a few hours and go through those things. Touch it once! […]
You may have heard me tell my story before. I was in the Air Force for 28 years. During my first duty station, I had a stalker. At the time, it was scary and difficult to live through. After a number of years, it became the basis for my first book, The Obsession. Many people […]
Writing Goals When my daughters were Girl Scouts going door-to-door selling cookies, it was hard to get them to see the long-term rewards of knocking on doors today. I had to break it down for them. They would determine what they were going to spend their cookie profits on, and we would work backward to […]
Short answer, no. Eventually you’ll need your manuscript to be in a common form like Microsoft Word (not Google docs) for the editor to work on it. But until that time, work with what you’re comfortable with. Many writing programs exist that have multiple bells and whistles, but none of them are required, especially if […]
I’ve always wanted to write a book. Where do I start? That’s one of the most common questions I get from folks. Without intending to be flippant, the answer is . . . write it down. You don’t have to start at the beginning. You don’t even have to have the whole idea flushed out. […]