I've been thinking a lot about non-fiction books lately. For those of you working on a non-fiction book, or maybe a fiction book that requires a lot of research, here are some resources I've recently found (in no particular order): Journalist's Toolbox: "The site is updated twice a week, typically on Thursday nights and Sunday afternoons, or as news dictates. The site … [Read more...] about Researching Your Next Book
Writing
Writing and Editing Your Work
We all know writing takes a lot of practice, and a lot of patience while you build up your skills (not to mention building up a thick skin). With that in mind, and while more and more people are working on their novels, I've rounded up some resources that help writers hone their writing skills. First up, Live Write Thrive has a great post about how writers can say more with … [Read more...] about Writing and Editing Your Work
Guest Post: 10 Tips and Tricks to Get Writing Inspiration Anywhere and Anytime
By Lucia Tang Writers aren’t prophets. No matter how hard we wish, we can’t just take dictation from some divine voice in our ears — we’re supposed to find our own inspiration. But when you’re on the run from a deadline, in a fight with a chapter, or just sick of wishing the book in your head would magically appear on your laptop, finding inspiration can feel like a DIY root … [Read more...] about Guest Post: 10 Tips and Tricks to Get Writing Inspiration Anywhere and Anytime
April Fools and Creating Content
Last year, Content Marketing Institute had an interesting post, "Is April Fools’ Day Worth the Risk for Brands?" It's something interesting to consider. The main points were if you're going to do it, it must be well thought out, and the humor should integrate with your brand. You should also immediately reveal it's a joke, and don't let the content interfere with your product … [Read more...] about April Fools and Creating Content
Guest Post: Sources of Inspiration to Overcome Writer’s Block
By Katie Brenneman Writer’s block affects us all. It comes out of nowhere, and can completely scupper your plans to create productive creative writing. Even the late, great Joan Didion suffered from writer's block — she overcame it by putting her work in the freezer. But most of us won’t relish the idea of cramming our laptops between the frozen peas and ice … [Read more...] about Guest Post: Sources of Inspiration to Overcome Writer’s Block
Guest Post: How Journaling Can Stimulate Your Creativity and Enhance Your Other Writing
By Lisa Tener a. Don’t you love it when you sit down to write and the words flow with ease? b. Don’t you hate it when you sit down and feel stuck? As writers we want more "a" and less "b". Journaling can be the perfect catalyst for writing that flows. The Creative Effects of Journaling Where do I start? Journaling can be a writer’s superpower. Journaling can: … [Read more...] about Guest Post: How Journaling Can Stimulate Your Creativity and Enhance Your Other Writing
Guest Post: A Guide to Hiring a Ghostwriter for Large Writing Projects
By Jori Hamilton The main author of a novel is usually the one that gets the most credit and attention. But, what most people don’t realize is that that one author on the front cover of the book may not be the only one involved. It can take authors an average of 4-8 months to complete a book, and they require a lot of help during that time to get it ready for publication. … [Read more...] about Guest Post: A Guide to Hiring a Ghostwriter for Large Writing Projects
Guest Post: How to Establish Yourself as a Freelance Writer
By Jori Hamilton So you’re considering the possibility of becoming a freelance writer, but you’re not really sure what steps you need to take to make it all happen. Sound about right? Becoming a successful freelance writer is a bit of a whirlwind; nobody seems to fall cleanly into the career path. Instead, those who ultimately become successful will almost always tell you … [Read more...] about Guest Post: How to Establish Yourself as a Freelance Writer
Guest Post: Blogging Trends for Authors and Writers
By Stacy Walden Blogging is one of the best ways to build a platform, both as a book author and as a freelance writer. With over 3.5 billion searches on Google every day, it’s estimated that 77% of internet users read and interact with blogs. This is a good sign for writers as creating blog content can be inexpensive and provide you with more visibility and … [Read more...] about Guest Post: Blogging Trends for Authors and Writers
Writing Considerations
When it comes to writing, there are a lot of things to consider. Do you want to use a pen name? According to BookBaby Blog, you may want to consider using a pen name to stand out (if say you have a very common/popular name), or for privacy reasons. It can also help for branding purposes. You could also choose the ghostwriting path. According to Publisher's Weekly, … [Read more...] about Writing Considerations
Guest Post: 11 Powerful Tips to Write Your First Nonfiction Ebook Quickly (Beginner Guide)
By Lawal Rehman Are you willing to write your own ebook? Good decision! It can be life-changing if you want to start your career as a writer or an author. Ebook writing can indeed seem like a problem or an obstacle to come over but it is not as hard as it looks. Think about it! If you only write a thousand words every day, it will become 30,000 in a … [Read more...] about Guest Post: 11 Powerful Tips to Write Your First Nonfiction Ebook Quickly (Beginner Guide)
Guest Post: 5 Tips for Writing Guest Posts that Get Published
By Nicholas Rubright Every year, a big-name in the content marketing game declares that writing guest posts is a thing of the past. These claims can go as far as to say they are a futile way to invest your time. One such article is Matt Cutts’ piece from 2014 when he ‘declared’ that guest blogging was dead. This article has been cited several times by those looking to … [Read more...] about Guest Post: 5 Tips for Writing Guest Posts that Get Published
Guest Post: Dialogue Tips – 476 Alternatives to “Said”
By Luke Palder A great story packs meaning into every word, painting the scene as vividly as possible for the reader. Every word should earn its place in the manuscript. English is jam-packed with vocabulary—in fact, it has a larger lexicon than any other language, likely because of its history of mixed Germanic and Romance roots. But what’s the point of having such a … [Read more...] about Guest Post: Dialogue Tips – 476 Alternatives to “Said”
Guest Post: 4 Easy SEO Tips for Writers and Authors [+Successful Examples]
By Ivelisse Rodriguez Search engine optimization (SEO) is an ever-important part of an author marketing strategy. The issue? Having a strong social media presence is emphasized over having an SEO strategy. Not only are social media platforms easy and familiar to use, they can expose a large audience to your work in a relatively short period of time. There’s no doubt … [Read more...] about Guest Post: 4 Easy SEO Tips for Writers and Authors [+Successful Examples]
Guest Post: 5 Key Questions to Get to Know Your Kids
Allen Wolf is the author of You're Pulling My Leg!: The Ultimate Storytelling Game and You're Pulling My Leg! Junior: The Ultimate Storytelling Game. By Allen Wolf My wife and I helped our five-year-old boy, and seven-year-old girl ride their bikes when a stranger approached us on the street. “Are those your grandkids?” he asked with a smile. “No, I’m their dad,” I … [Read more...] about Guest Post: 5 Key Questions to Get to Know Your Kids