Hiring An Editor | Should You Spend The Money?
You’ve slaved over your novel, and now you’re ready to send it out into the world. Should you consider hiring an editor, and if so, what kind? If your novel needs help with plot and characterization, hire a developmental editor. If you’re shaky on facts and need someone to check your dates, proper names, timeline, […]
Writing A Memoir Is Harder Than You Think
Writing a memoir is harder than you think. Even people who have lived interesting lives find it difficult to turn those lives into readable, compelling stories. That’s why many celebrities hire ghost writers or journalists to co-author their memoirs. This guest post is written by Ronald E. Yates, former Dean of the School of Journalism […]
Writing the Memoir (Part 1) | by Ronald E. Yates
I’m welcoming back Ronald E. Yates, author of Finding Billy Battles and The Improbable Journeys of Billy Battles, and The Lost Years of Billy Battles. November 1, 2016 by Ronald E. Yates This week I am focusing on memoirs–or more accurately, what they are and how to write them. I have written about this in […]
Copyright-Free Photos for Your Blog
Finding copyright-free photos proved to be one of my biggest challenges when I began this blog. Needless to say, I wanted photos that were properly lit, in focus, and the right size. In this post I’ll share information about where to find copyright-free photos and where to purchase photos if you’re in a pinch. If […]
Twitter Marketing for New Authors
Twitter marketing won’t suit everyone, but if you’d like to cast a net beyond your circle of family and friends, Twitter marketing can help. Please welcome Decima Blake, author of the crime mystery novel, Hingston’s Box. Decima and I met each other on Twitter, and she kindly agreed to write about how she’s using Twitter to […]
Copyright Law | Little Known Facts For New Authors
Copyright law changed forever when Samuel Clemens, also known as Mark Twain, broke with convention by wearing a white suit to the 1906 Congressional hearings on American copyright law. In Twain’s day, copyright law didn’t protect authors from piracy. However, Twain, sympathetic to the financial needs of his fellow authors and aware of the need […]
Writing Dialogue | A Writer’s Cheat Sheet
Writing dialogue comes naturally to many writers. Others avoid it entirely. If you are going to use dialogue, make sure you work hard to capture readers’ interest. Here’s a cheat sheet with pointers I’ve picked up over the years. Must-Dos When Writing Dialogue Dialogue must do three things. It must: sound realistic advance the plot […]
Dialogue Exercises : 40 Writing Prompts To Get You Going
Dialogue exercises are a great way to strengthen your ability to listen to your characters. When you’re working on dialogue exercises, you’re not worrying about plot or where the scene’s headed. You’re not distracted by furniture or waiters or sunsets. In essence, you’re closing your eyes and giving your complete attention to the subtext of […]
Dialogue and Tension | Bringing Scenes To Life
Dialogue and tension go hand-in-hand. If the dialogue sounds fake or flat, you will not grab readers and compel them to read your book. In this post I’m going to give you four ways to revise dialogue and increase tension. I want to shine a spotlight on dramatic scenes. Scenes are where the reader forms […]
Why You Should Look Beyond Your First Book
Think beyond your first book. What does this mean and why am I suggesting it? I mean think about where you want your writing to take you. How many books do you want to publish? Or, if stories, how many published stories would bring you the satisfaction you’re looking for? I’m suggesting that you think […]
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