Articles by M.J. Moores

What Not To Do: Author Advice from the Trenches

It’s human to make mistakes; we even tend to learn from them from time to time. The problem with making mistakes as a new author is that they often come back to bite you – hard. My first mistake: impatience. I had the glorious dream that my book, my quartet in fact, was ready for…
Issue One Hundred Thirty Four Issue One Hundred Twenty Eight Special Feature

Smashwords: A Must for Your Author’s Toolbox

Every writer should have a toolbox – a go-to place that lists or houses all the fantastic contacts and resources that you can’t live without. Whether you’re self or traditionally published (or just building an author platform) one essential item to have in your toolbox should be Smashwords – the eBook distributor. About 50% of…
Issue One Hundred Fourteen Self Publishing Special Feature

The Climate Fiction Controversy

One of the first challenges an author faces is understanding the genre he or she is writing. From elevator pitches to query letters and beyond, professionals in the industry and the public use the idea of genre to help classify, organize, and clarify the contents of books. Cli-Fi or climate fiction is a relatively new…
Issue Seventy-Two Publishing Guides Special Feature

Reviews for Your Book

Recent controversies over reviews for books bandy about the idea that reviews are now only gimmicks for marketing purposes, due to their lack of quality and the ease with which anyone can rate a book. With a limited number of traditionally published books being reviewed by presses like the New York Times and Quill &…
Issue Sixty Six Special Feature

How to Find the Right Traditional Publisher for Your Book

Your book is done and now you’re ready to launch it into the world with the help of a publisher. The template query letter you’ve written is burning a hole in your computer waiting for those subtle finishing touches that will captivate an editor and make them drool over your masterpiece. But where do you…
Issue Sixty One Publishing Guides Special Feature

10 Common Misconceptions About The Publishing World

The face of publishing has changed dramatically in the last 10 years. As budding writers, most of us stored away bits of information about the publishing world as we dreamed of our next story. Now, many of our early conceptions are being challenged and changed. Don’t get caught living in the past – get up…
Issue Fifty Seven Publishing Guides Special Feature

6 Literary Award Competitions

The big debate ranging right now is whether or not book awards and award contests actually do what they promise – give you added publicity and help you sell your books. The short answer is it depends. Just like anything else in the writing and publishing industry, if you’re considering submitting your book for a…
Issue Fifty Four Publishing Guides Special Feature

8 Tips for Navigating Assisted Publishing

Standing before the publishing crossroads, at the completion of an edited manuscript, we are faced with two options: traditional or self publishing.  The problem is each choice then leads to more paths that only distort what we thought was a clear choice.  Suddenly small publishers, micro-publishers, printing presses, vanity presses, DIY options (bulk printing or…
Issue Fifty Publishing Guides Self Publishing Special Feature

Under the Covers: advice about cover art for self-publishers

You know those designer beds in department stores all decked out with multi-layered sheets, patterned duvets, and heaps of pillows – don’t you want to just dive in and snuggle down?  It’s the same way with books.  What makes readers want to dive under the covers with you is a visual promise, an enticement that…
Issue Forty Nine Publishing Guides Self Publishing

Profit Margin or Pride? The Stories of 2 Self Published Authors

Self-publishing is a tangible and viable option in this evolving digital age.  Knowing that traditional publishing houses no longer have the only say in who does or doesn’t get their book into print (physically or electronically), opens up a new landscape for writers and authors. But the question remains, “Will I be successful?” The answer…
Issue Forty Seven Publishing Guides Self Publishing Special Feature

Top 3 Reasons Why Fiction Manuscripts Get Rejected

My number is 28, what’s yours?  You know, the number of times a Literary Agent or Publishing House sent you the “Thank you, but no” letter. As writers we research the best possible way to write a query letter; how to manipulate our 350 page manuscript into a one page synopsis. We review all possible…
Issue Forty Six Special Feature

The Benefits of Procrastination

It’s the weekend, the kids are out with your spouse and you have nothing to do but work on your manuscript – except the breakfast dishes aren’t going to clean themselves, even if all they need is a bit of help into the dishwasher.  Oh, and the dog needs to be walked, dinner should be…
Issue Forty Three Special Feature

5 Places to Publicize Your Book, Without Social Media

Whether you decide to self-publish or are a first-time author with a traditional publishing house, you will be expected to do the bulk of your own marketing and publicity.  One thing the vast number of new and emerging writers have in common is tiny budgets. Social Media is a vital tool when it comes to…
Issue Thirty Six Publishing Guides