By Jenny Zimmer Thinking of penning your life story? Excellent decision! But before you dive headfirst into the ordeal, are you sure you know the do’s and don’ts of writing one? I’m certain just the thought of your life enclosed in the pages of a bestseller is exciting, but don’t rush into the process just yet. There’s a lot to learn, and you’ve luckily stumbled upon … [Read more...] about Guest Post: Do’s and Don’ts of Writing Memoirs and Autobiographies
Writing
Guest Post: Life as a Mystery Bookshop Owner and Writer
By Matt Cost I am an author who once owned a mystery bookshop. It was called The Coffee Dog Mystery Bookstore, named after my chocolate lab of the time. I also work very closely with my publisher in marketing and promoting my books. And I read. One could say that I have seen the business of books from every angle. For me, people coming into my bookstore fell into two … [Read more...] about Guest Post: Life as a Mystery Bookshop Owner and Writer
Earning Money From Blog Posts and Social Media
As a writer, it's always helpful to be on the lookout for ways to earn money. One of the ways is, of course, to get paid for writing articles. The Writing Cooperative shared 10 publications you can write for and earn money. But there are other ways. Kristen Walters wrote about how she made over $10,000 from one of her blog posts. Like anything content-related, the key is … [Read more...] about Earning Money From Blog Posts and Social Media
Writing Content People Want to Read
Let's talk about writing, and how to write content (whether it be books, articles, or even marketing copy) that people will want to read. Start with your goals. Kindlepreneur has a great guide on goal setting. The gist is to figure out your big project goal, and then break it down into smaller, more manageable steps. Then create a system so you're accountable for achieving … [Read more...] about Writing Content People Want to Read
Time for Writing: Finding Courses, Critique Groups, and Editors
I don't know about you, but I've got several unfinished manuscripts and a long list of story ideas. I'm finally setting aside time to work on my writing, which is both exciting and a little daunting. With that in mind, here's a round-up of helpful articles and resources if you find yourself in the same situation. Writing Tips All stories have backstories. Readers don't need … [Read more...] about Time for Writing: Finding Courses, Critique Groups, and Editors
Setting Writing Goals and Other Writing Tips
When you're writing a book, there are a lot of things to keep in mind: character development, strong scenes, a plot that moves forward with each scene, etc. This applies to both fiction and non-fiction writing. Writing Tips Joy E. Rancatore offers some helpful tips about how she kept track of her timelines and characters in her various writing projects, to make sure … [Read more...] about Setting Writing Goals and Other Writing Tips
Researching Your Next Book
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 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
