Authors love to chat about whether they’re a plotter or pantser. It’s an enlightening topic that pulls back the curtain to see how novels make the journey from idea to bookshelf. Do you start your book by plotting out the scenes? Once you have a solid outline from opening image, through the various acts and […]
Tag Archives | book craft
Writer’s Corner: A Title Is Worth a Thousand Words
Just like an intriguing book jacket, your book title should attract interest. And a good one is worth a thousand words, or dollars, or however you’d like to quantify it. Simply put, titles attract readers. And there are lots of opinions to what makes a good book title and why it will help you sell […]
The Importance of Editing
You either have a “love it” or “hate it” relationship with editing. I used to despise the process, but after getting into creative writing, I enjoy it. While I don’t like editing my non-fiction work, fiction editing somehow “feels” different to me. But still, I’m no editor, and yes, some of my emails are cringe worthy. But I […]
Developing Your Craft
People are born with raw talent every single day. They’re blessed at birth to share their gifts with the world. But even the most genius of individuals must continually develop their craft. At the age of fifteen, Leonardo Da Vinci became an apprentice of painter and sculpture Andrea del Verrocchio of Florence so he could […]
A Book Is Born
Guest Post: How do you get behind the idea of an Author Platform as your ‘new reality’ Fun title, huh? The title of this article should be “Don’t Do as I Did….” It’s a free country, of course, but… I did it all wrong. But, hey, I’ll start at the beginning… Once upon a time, […]
Book Craft With Jessi Holleran
I met Jessi through Copper Dog Books, where they are the Social Media and Marketing Coordinator, leading cutting edge creative initiatives online and in store. Jessi lives, works, and plays in western Maine! Their mission is to boost and promote marginalized authors’ works and help kids find books that mirror their lived experiences. After coming […]
Start With Your “Why?”
Go back. Way back. Back to the day you decided you were going to write a novel. Why did you make that promise to yourself?
Stepping Into the Negative Space
From posting your child’s graduation picture on Facebook, to sharing a business win on LinkedIn, there will be backlash. Whatever the reason, social media invites negativity. Thoughtless commentary and hurtful, snarky remarks go hand in hand with stepping into the social media space.
Writer’s Corner: Resources for Developing Character Archetypes
A reader doesn’t need to like all the characters in your book, but they want to understand what makes them tick. They want to learn more about them. They want to know what motivates them. They want to follow them on their journey. They want to see them evolve and realize their arc. And when […]
Writer’s Corner: Is “New Adult” Still a Thing?
Young Adult book sales have soared over the past two decades, probably because they appeal to a wide range of readers, from tweens to octogenarians. While authors in this genre typically target ages twelve to eighteen, they capture a much broader and older audience. And with the category being vast in topics and audience, a […]