Self-publishing still has quite a stigma attached to it, and not without reason. After all, it can be done by anyone who has the means and the time to put his or her work out there with a relative minimum of technical skill required. Hence, self-published books can and often do still turn out lookingContinue reading “How to Look Professional as a Self-Published Author”
Tag Archives: genre
YA or NA?
One of the questions I’ve found myself asking in the past is what’s the difference between young adult and new adult when it comes to writing fiction (or even nonfiction)? Where is the all important line of separation between these supposedly distinct age ranges? Well, though I tried to answer this to some degree inContinue reading “YA or NA?”
When to Let a Story Go
Sometimes it seems like a story just isn’t going anywhere. We’ve worked and reworked it a hundred times, but it never seems quite right. Agents and publishers alike perpetually reject it (something I discussed last week), and it’s getting downright disheartening. At this point, it may be time to do the unthinkable: to go aheadContinue reading “When to Let a Story Go”
Writing About Touchy Subjects: Politics
In the last couple posts, I briefly talked about how to write about nudity and religion. In this final post in the trilogy, I shall talk about what is perhaps the most explosive topic of all in this day and age: politics. Now, I’ve covered a lot of this same ground in the last twoContinue reading “Writing About Touchy Subjects: Politics”
Writing About Touchy Subjects: Religion
Continuing from last Monday, another subject that might be considered sensitive is that of religion. Many stories and novels either barely mention the idea or avoid it altogether. Admittedly, this is often because it is not an essential plot element. However, it helps that this is one area where it is easy to rub peopleContinue reading “Writing About Touchy Subjects: Religion”
Writing About Touchy Subjects: Nudity
Sometimes writers encounter topics that can be tricky or even embarrassing to deal with. Subjects that I was always taught growing up did not belong in polite conversation. Yet, for the sake of the narrative we are putting forth, it is often necessary to push through somehow, lest we lose something in our attempts toContinue reading “Writing About Touchy Subjects: Nudity”
My Ten Favorite Women Authors
In case you weren’t aware (I wasn’t until a couple years ago), March is Women’s History Month. So, in honor of the occasion, here are ten ladies of literature I think deserve some attention for their contributions to the written word in order, and with web links where applicable:
Five More Problems with the ‘Redwall’ Series
As you probably know, I am quite an admirer of Brian Jacques and his work. It has been a major source of inspiration for me in my own writing without a doubt. However, sometimes it is good as a writer to step back and take an objective view of the books etc. that we like,Continue reading “Five More Problems with the ‘Redwall’ Series”
How to Find the Right Cover Artist
Some authors are blessed with talents in both written and visual arts. For such individuals, coming up with suitable cover art for their work can be easier than writing the book itself. However, for most authors, illustrating is at best a secondary endeavor, and so there is a need to find someone else who canContinue reading “How to Find the Right Cover Artist”
DIY: Designing Your Own Cover
Greetings, and welcome to my first proper post of 2022! This is going to be the first of several posts on Do-It-Yourself aspects of book design for self-publishing authors. All authors write their own books and do a bit of editing themselves, obviously. However, there are certain aspects that most either let their publishers takeContinue reading “DIY: Designing Your Own Cover”