Dead Calm
I have been a fan of Adam Nathan for several months. His is one of those rare emails that I enjoy opening and then linking to his webpage. I love his engaging and soul-bearing writing style. The excerpts from his upcoming book, Walking Backwards (A journey of a thousand miles on the Camino de Santiago) are…
Using the author’s platform to sell—not your books, but yourself
Perhaps after reading Is an author’s platform necessary? Pros and Cons you decided to create an author’s platform. You spent countless hours creating a blog, joining various social media, and collecting emails addresses. You are proud to say, at last, that you have a presence on Facebook, Twitter, Google +, Amazon, Goodreads, Barnes and Noble, and…
Content Editing: Plot, Pace and Clock— Part 2 of 2
When fine-tuning the storyline, in addition to plot, you need to be aware of pace and clock. In the first of this two-part series, guest blogger Lynn Perretta discussed content editing and the importance of plot. In the second part of the series, she discusses two other elements of editing: pace and clock. Last time…
Is an author’s platform necessary? Pros and Cons
This week on the Books and Writers LinkedIn Forum, the discussion Is An Author’s Platform Now A Prerequisite? has stirred quite a bit of controversy. The author’s platform—a long-range career growth tool is a tool comprising of various of activities that you the author use to get readers to notice you and your work. These…
Content Editing: Plot, Pace and Clock— Part 1 of 2
Congratulations to you as you finally write –The End– on the first draft of your manuscript. You have a right to feel proud; it has been a lot of work. But before you hand off the book to beta readers, you need to fine-tune the storyline. This process is called content editing. In the first…
Writer’s block is an excuse for not writing
Last night at my Author’s Connections meeting, a local author spoke about writing and the importance of plot, character development and dialogue. During the Q and A, someone asked him if he ever suffered from writer’s block and if so, what did he do to overcome it. To my disbelief, this writer of six mysteries…
Eight lessons learned while searching for my muse
Do you have a muse, someone who inspires your writing, brings enlightenment, helps you overcome writer’s block, and infuses you with a Can-Do attitude? I have struggled for years trying to find my muse; no one has come forward, though I have found a few lessons. For example, don’t ask your father for help. Trying…
Enter book contests to make yours an award winning book
I get a little green with envy when I see “award-winning author” or “award-winning book” on a Twitter or Facebook profile description. At book signings and in book stores, the medallions on books taunt me, “Buy me, I am an award winner!” What amazes me is that there are so many award-winners. The only way…