Special Feature

What If: A Guide to Story Generation

Some folk have no problem with story ideas; they’re full to the brim with them. I’m not one of those and, though I’ve lived a while, it seems I often need help from outside sources. There are lots of ways people like me (those without an eternal parade of plots and storylines) can generate story…
Issue Two Hundred Fifty Five Special Feature

What Rejection Letters Really Mean

by Wendy S. Delmater Oh no. Your literary creation—poem, article, novel, or story—has been rejected. What do you do now? One of the first questions you should ask is, was this a Form Rejection or a Personalized Rejection? When you use The Grinder (by Diabolical Plots) to keep track of your submissions, it even gives…
Issue Two Hundred Fifty Two Special Feature

How to Promote Yourself on Social Media (Without Trying Too Hard)

— By Isabelle Kenyon So you have a book and you have access to the internet – and theoretically, you can now promote that book to the WORLD through social media. Unfortunately, social media marketing is a tricky thing to do ‘right’ or to pin down. I’m going to talk you through the mistakes I…
Issue Two Hundred Forty Eight Issue Two Hundred Sixty Three Special Feature

The Top 3 Red Flags When Searching for Book Editors

Lindsey Danis A freelance book editor can help a writer polish a manuscript, but too many editors prey on vulnerable writers who want external validation. Inexperienced or predatory editors can do more harm than good—taking your money, not directly improving your manuscript, and causing indigestion. What red flags should savvy writers know when searching for…
Issue Two Hundred Forty One Special Feature

Everything You Need to Know to Have a Successful DIY Writer’s Retreat

By Akanksha Singh Maya Angelou rented herself a hotel room in every town she lived in, just for her writing. She’d leave home at six, be in the room and writing by six thirty, and head back around lunch time. There’s something about having a room of one’s own, away from the stress of living,…
Issue Two Hundred Forty Special Feature

How to Write a Hook That Captures Attention

by Wendy S. Delmater Readers are dealing with a constant barrage of television, radio, internet, other written things, and real life: all are vying for their interest. Why should they read your story? To overcome that initial resistance, there’s a tool writers use. It’s called a hook. Hooks are something—sometimes more than one thing–in the…
Issue Two Hundred Forty Four Issue Two Hundred Sixty Three Special Feature

A Tale of Two Book Launches

By Susan Sundwall A few years ago, I realized a lifetime dream with the launch of my first mystery novel. I took the traditional route and partnered with a beloved local bookstore, one of the last in our area. Everything was handled by the owners and I was beyond pleased when almost sixty of my…
Issue Two Hundred Thirty Eight Special Feature Uncategorized

The Surprising Ways Writing Groups Open Doors

By Tina Jenkins Bell After I graduated from college, I had aspirations of becoming a published writer but had no idea of how to get there. I needed guidance beyond writers’ magazines, books, and annual conferences. I needed accomplished kindred souls who didn’t mind sharing their knowledge and resources. I found these souls collectively in…
Issue Two Hundred Thirty Six Special Feature

5 Things That Happen When You Start Calling Yourself a Writer

By Elaine Mead There can be very set ‘wrong’ and ‘right’ ways of being a writer – or so we’re led to believe. Historically, you’d need to have a publishing agent, an editor, published works, and books on shelves before you might dare to use the word ‘writer’ to describe what you do. And that’s…
Issue Two Hundred Sixty Three Issue Two Hundred Thirty Four Special Feature

18 Awards for Children’s Books

By Anne E. Johnson When you’re trying to sell copies of your book or sell your own merits as a writer, it doesn’t hurt if you can describe yourself as an “award-winning author.” One way to earn that label is to snag a prize for a book you’ve already had published. There are plenty of…
Issue Two Hundred Thirty Three Special Feature

10 Habits of Prolific Writers Worth Imitating

By T.N. Wesley  Have you ever wanted to double or triple your daily word output? Do you dream of producing a novel every year? Other prolific writers have done it, and so can you. By imitating their daily habits, you can increase your productivity. Below are ten habits of prolific writers which, if put to practice, will…
Issue Two Hundred Thirty One Special Feature

Book Signing Events: Do They Really Work?

By Kia Carrington-Russell With the increase of book signing events in recent years for Indie authors, newcomers to the industry often wonder if it’s worth the expense. The main thingto consider when looking into booking a table at an author signing event is: expense vs exposure. I went to my first signing in 2014 locally…
Issue Two Hundred Thirty Special Feature

BetaBooks: A New Tool for Organizing Beta Reading

By Kelli Fitzpatrick Beta readers are essential to the writing process. They voluntarily read your completed work to give feedback before you submit a manuscript for publication. While these people are awesome, the process of collecting feedback from multiple beta readers and keeping it organized and accessible has long been a hassle for authors, especially…
Issue Two Hundred Twenty Eight Special Feature

Seven Books Every Writer Should Read

There are hundreds of books on writing that are out there. In fact as a young writer I received many of these as birthday gifts; some were extremely helpful,  others were just frustrating, and many are still sitting on a shelf in my parents’ house, unread. However, whether you are a poet, a fiction writer,…
Issue Two Hundred Twenty Seven Special Feature

Top Conference Follow-Up Tips

by Devon Ellington  Meeting agents and editors at conferences gives a stronger sense of whether your work is the right match. You also meet other authors, who provide mutual support on the publishing journey. Conferences are both exhilarating and exhausting. How often have you returned from a conference, dumped your bag in the corner and…
Issue Two Hundred Thirty Two Special Feature

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