Best of the blogs: the best posts I’ve read this week on writing, editing and marketing. Writing James Scott Bell on Plot James Scott Bell visited Writers Helping Writers® to discuss the chicken-and-egg of fiction writing: Does character drive plot? Or does plot drive character? He’s the author of Plot and Structure and Write …
Should I use a Pen Name? Why or why not?
One dilemma many authors face is the decision over what name to use as their author name. Do they use their own name, a variation of their name, or should they use a pen name? Most authors use some version of their own name. This could be: First name-last name First name-maiden name First …
Best of the Blogs: 4 March 2017
Best of the blogs – the best posts of the week on writing, editing, publishing and marketing your books. And a little inspiration to encourage you. Writing Jami Gold talks about the importance of writing that immerses us in the story—or, more often, what takes us out of the story. She’s right. As usual. (I’m …
Six Factors to Consider in Planning an Online Giveaway
Have you ever wondered what’s involved in planning an online giveaway? Or how to run a giveaway? Over the last three weeks, I’ve published a series of blog posts at Australasian Christian Writers. The subject has been email lists and author cross-promotions: Five Ways to Build Your Email List Five Tools for Managing Online Giveaways Five …
Best of the Blogs: 25 February 2017
Best of the blogs – the best posts of the week on writing, publishing and marketing your books. Writing Larry Brooks (the Story Engineering guy) has a great post this week. He’s examining the fiction trifecta: three qualities to evaluate about your story intention, and execution. Read The Triad of Storytelling. And Kristen Lamb shares about …
A Step-By-Step Plan to Give Your Book the Best Launch Possible
I’ve read and enjoyed all Keely Brooke Keith’s Uncharted novels, which I guess I’d describe as futuristic historical fiction–they’re set our future, but in a society which has had no external contact for about 200 years, so still has only 1860’s levels of knowledge and technology. Keely impressed me with her debut novel, not only …
Best of the Blogs: 18 February 2017
My roundup of the best of the blogs for the week ending 18 February. It’s got more of a marketing flavour this week, as I’ve been researching and putting together the March Marketing Challenge: one month to kick-start your author platform. If you’re interested, sign up here: March Marketing Challenge. Writing Free eBooks for Writers …
Best of the Blogs: 11 February 2017
My roundup of the best blog posts in the week ending 10 February, on writing, reading, publishing and marketing. Writing Free Writing Books In case you hadn’t heard yet, I’m one of 18 writers involved in this Instafreebie promotion. Click here to find free non-fiction books on writing, publishing and marketing. But get in quick, …
#Instafreebie Non-fiction Books for Authors and Writers
Do you use Instafreebie? Have you used it as a reader looking for books, or as an author looking to promote your work? I’m currently in the middle of my first ever Instafreebie promotion, #Instafreebie Non-fiction Books for Authors and Writers. It’s going well. Really well. In the first 24 hours, I received 60 new newsletter subscribers. …
Best of the Blogs: 4 February 2017
The best blog posts on writing, publishing, and marketing I’ve read in the week to 4 February 2017 (and can you believe January is already over?): What is Christian Fiction? Can we define it? It’s a question with as many answers as authors. Or perhaps as many answers as readers. E Stephen …