We've all heard the old adage "don't judge a book by its cover," but the truth is that is exactly what we do. A cover tells the reader a ton about a book and can be the difference between them taking a closer look or moving on.
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As a new author, it can be difficult to figure out what to do for the basics that everyone more experienced takes for granted. When you are submitting your manuscript to agents or publishers, you want to make sure your manuscript looks as professional as possible. You can use this guide to send a manuscript to an editor or designer, but the title page isn't necessary.
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Self-publishing has given authors more opportunities to take control of their work, but it also comes with an increased cost for the author. A self-published author has to pay for everything from editing to marketing, which can get expensive. This week I have 5 tips to help you save money without sacrificing quality.
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LivingWriter is a new software that claims to be the best writing app for authors. But is it really better than Word, or other software? Word is the industry standard, but it isn't perfect, and other programs like Scrivener have attempted to fill the void but they all have their own issues. LivingWriter is more than a word processor—it also has features to help organize and plan out a manuscript. But is it worth the price?
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Here is a list of 6 programs that can be helpful for authors. They range from help with writing to layouts for ebooks and print books to storing files. I lay out the pros, cons, price, and basic elements for each program. There are plenty of other programs available that are not covered here, which doesn't mean they aren't valuable. I also don’t get any sort of commission or benefit for recommending these programs.
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Hiring a professional editor can be intimidating for new authors or authors who haven't had to find an editor on their own before. It can be hard to know where to start, or even what you are looking for. This week, I've got 5 tips for hiring an editor.
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Dialogue is a core piece of many stories and is an opportunity for the reader to get to know characters and their relationships. Here are 5 quick tips for writing better dialogue.
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Dashes can be tricky, especially for writers not specifically taught the differences. Here I'll explain how hyphens, en dashes, and em dashes differ and how they can be used correctly.
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You often have seconds for your book to stand out, so a carefully crafted pitch is essential. Here I'll share 5 tips to help you create a perfect pitch.
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I have some quick tricks I've learned both as a writer and editor to easily improve the quality of your writing.
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If you've written a book and want to get it published you have to decide how you want to publish it. There are 3 main avenues you can choose: a traditional publisher, a vanity press, or publishing it yourself.
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Getting your book professionally edited is important not only for authors who are self-publishing, but doing a round or two that will help authors who are seeking to have their book traditionally published.
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No one is perfect, but knowing what words trip you up will help improve your writing.
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Congratulations! You've written a book! Now you want to publish it but aren't sure where to start.
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