Beth Greenslade's Blog, page 113

How To Write With Clarity

One of the most useful things you can do for your writing is to make it clear. Clear writing is sharp and precise, it doesn’t use three words when one will do, in short, it makes every word count.

Writing with clarity is so important if you want to reach out to your readers and connect them to your story from the outset. If your writing is cloudy, confusing, and full of unnecessary descriptions and words it is so easy for a reader to get put off.

So what can you do to sharpen up your writing and make sure that you write with more clarity?

Think about the reader

Always, always keep the reader in mind. If you do this you’ll soon be able to pick out parts of your writing that aren’t clear enough. Remember you need to think like your reader would think and pretend you are seeing your work for the first time. You know your story inside out, but would someone who's not inside your head really get what you are trying to do?

Say what you mean

Don’t beat around the bush - be direct and say what you are trying to say. If you are too subtle you could risk the reader missing your point altogether.

Make tough decisions

Sometimes writing with clarity means you have to accept that just because that word or phrase seems super clever and elegant, it just doesn’t sit right and you need to let it go. It can feel strange and difficult to do this at times but once you have gone through your whole novel, you’ll see how much clearer it reads.

Avoid clichés

Clichés make your writing dull, slow and predictable. You also run the risk of them being lost on the reader and therefore confusing them as well as damaging how your writing comes across.

Write in the active voice

Writing in the active voice brings life and energy to your writing and keeps it direct and sharp. Make sure you always write in the active voice and watch our for instances where you slip into the passive when you come to edit your manuscript.

Write with simplicity

You don’t need to be a walking thesaurus to be a good writer. If a simple sentence delivers the correct meaning then you don’t always need to make it sound more complicated than that. While writers love to use language to create beautiful images, if you overdo it the core of the story will be lost and your reader will be left in the dark - no matter how poetic you might sound.

Don’t dwell

Don’t stay anywhere any longer than you need to. Keep your writing full of energy and movement. Know when it's time to finish a description or end a scene. Writing that stays stagnant can not only become dull but less clear as well.

Writing with clarity will engage your readers and deliver your story to them in a clear and exciting way. So make sure you follow the above tips to keep your writing short, sharp and clear and you'll be surprised what a difference it can make!

 

Bethany Cadman -author of 'Doctor Vanilla's Sunflowers'

The post How To Write With Clarity appeared first on Writer's Life.org.

How To Write More Freely

Sometimes it can be a real struggle to sit down and write. Whether it’s just getting ourselves motivated, or that pesky inner critic preventing the words from coming out, there are times where all writers will find it hard to write freely.

Of course, to be as prolific and productive as possible, we want to try and keep these instances to an absolute minimum. So how can we prevent them, and make sure that every time we sit down to write the words just flow?

Make sure you do your warm up.

Even if you write every day, it’s good to warm up those writing muscles before you start working on your story once more. So before you get to it, try a 10 minute warm up where you free write (write anything that comes into your mind completely uncensored). This will get those cogs turning and help you get all the nonsense out before you begin for real!

Acknowledge that writing is hard.

No writer thinks that writing is easy, and the more you understand and acknowledge the highs and lows of writing, the more you will accept the fact that sometimes you have to make an effort. Often this can help you get over whatever you're struggling against more quickly. Beating yourself up when you are having a bad writing day won’t help, so the sooner you can move on the better.

Be prepared.

If you have done your research, created chapter outlines and really know your story, you’ll find it so much easier when it comes to starting your writing project. Make sure that you have something to say, that you are clear on where your story is going and that you are passionate and excited about it.

Don’t think about editing.

If you write and edit at the same time it will be difficult to really get into your story and you’ll often finish a writing session feeling as though you haven’t achieved anything. Try, if you can, to just get your story down in the first instance, and then edit afterwards. If you can’t bear to do that, at least wait until you’ve finished a chapter before you go back and start to edit what you have written.

Make time for your writing

The more you write, the easier it will be. That’s just a fact. If you can make time for your writing, even if it is just a little bit every day, you’ll keep your writing muscles working. If you wait months in between each bout of writing, it could take you ages to get back into the swing of things again, and your book will take so much longer as a result.

Keep learning.

The more you learn, the more you’ll be inspired to write. Learning can take many different forms. It may be studying the craft, experimenting with different writing styles, reading books from authors you admire, or simply going out in into the world and observing everything you can. Whatever you do try to keep learning, being curious and inspired by the world around you.

By doing the above you can help to keep those writing muscles working, keep your inner critic at bay, become a more prolific writer and keep improving all the while too!

Bethany Cadman -author of 'Doctor Vanilla's Sunflowers'

The post How To Write More Freely appeared first on Writer's Life.org.

How Your Writing Can Change The World

You don’t have to be a bestselling author in order for your writing to have an impact. By writing and sharing our writing with others, we are doing something positive, something good. However many books you sell, however prolific a writer you are, remember that you are doing something amazing.

Here’s how your writing can change the world:

Writing encourages reading, and this brings great pleasure.

Reading is one of life's simplest and greatest pleasures. It’s cheap, educational, cathartic, environmentally friendly, healthy and fun! By writing you are encouraging more people to read, you are contributing and promoting the pleasure of reading as a hobby, and no doubt reading a great deal yourself.

Writing speaks to people and helps them know they are not alone.

No matter what you write, you end up exploring emotions, human behaviour and big topics such as love, friendship, fear and death. People take great comfort in reading something that they can identify with. Reading helps people to feel as though they are understood and this can make such a difference in their lives.

Writing allows people to explore worlds that are not their own.

Sometimes it can be so cathartic to escape reality for a while, and there is nothing quite like a good book to take us into a whole different world and help us get some respite from the one we reside in, albeit temporarily! Great stories transport the reader to places that they have never been before, they feel immersed and carried away by the story, the adventures, and the universes created by writers - and that is something truly wonderful indeed.

Writing can teach us lessons, and make us think differently.

Writers can choose to use their writing to teach valuable lessons, to give new perspectives and make us see the world and the behaviour of people in a different light. Writing can inspire, motivate, and bring about change. As writers, we have the power to reach out to our readers and try to make the world a better place.

Writing demonstrates how following your dreams and believing in your goals is a wonderful thing.

In short, you are setting a good example. By continuing to write, and do what you are passionate about and what you love, you encourage others to do the same. Imagine a world where everyone followed their dreams, and never gave up on their goals? What a happy place it would be! If by writing, you can encourage just a handful of people to keep pushing to achieve what they want out of life, you are making the world a richer and happier place to be.

Writing truly is a wonderful gift, and we can all use our writing to change the world, to inspire people, and to bring about kindness. No matter how vast or tiny our readership is, even the smallest changes can add up to make a huge and amazing difference!

Bethany Cadman -author of 'Doctor Vanilla's Sunflowers'

The post How Your Writing Can Change The World appeared first on Writer's Life.org.

How To Find Your True Writing Voice

We often hear the term finding your ‘voice’ as a writer. But what does it really mean?

Finding your writing voice is all about getting to a place where you feel as though you have found your true authentic, unique style of writing.

The term voice makes sense when we really think about the way people speak - even those with similar accents have different intonations and inflexions, different ways of pronouncing words or emphasising syllables.

Your writing voice is just the same. No two writers will write the same story, in the same way - each brings something truly original to the table with their use of words and language.

Finding your writing voice, however, can take time. Just as if you spend a long enough time in a foreign country you might pick up the accent, pronunciations or phrases, the more you read and learn about writing the more you will pick up too.

Sometimes it takes practice and experimentation, choosing bits from what you have discovered, what you have absorbed and combining them to create your own personal writing voice. One which feels natural, exciting and, above all, uniquely you.

Of course, we all want to get there quicker. So how can you find your voice as a writer? Here are some things you can try:

Stop striving for perfection

If you put too much pressure on yourself it will be difficult to get into a writing flow. You need to relax and not worry too much about whether what you are writing is any good. Practice makes perfect and the more you write freely the easier you will find it to discover what feels natural and right. If you are constantly aiming for perfection this process will be so much harder and more laborious too.

Read as much as you can

Reading is a crucial part of your role as a writer. Read lots of different books in lots of different genres and let yourself be influenced by the ones you love. It’s not copying, it’s simply discovering what you love, whose style you admire, and how you can use what inspires you to improve and enhance your own work.

Keep learning

Never ever stop trying to learn. Your writing voice may develop and adjust as you become more experienced, and that’s great. Don’t resist that and similarly don’t try to force it either. If you keep learning, absorbing, experimenting, you’ll find your writing voice comes naturally to you.

Write regularly

If you can, try to write each and every day. You don’t need to spend much time doing so, but keeping this up will help you find your writing rhythm, it will become a habit, and when that happens your writing voice is so much more likely to reveal itself.

Don’t think about what other people are thinking

Sharing your writing can be a deeply personal thing, but when you are trying to discover your writing voice other people shouldn’t come into the equation. The best and fastest way to find that unique voice of yours is to stay true to yourself, so don’t let what other people might think get in your way.

By following the above steps you will feel so much more in tune to yourself as a writer and more able to freely create your work without  judgement or criticism. If you are able to get into this mindset your voice will naturally come to you, and with it you’ll feel so much more confident and successful as a writer.

How did you find your writing voice? Let us know!

Bethany Cadman -author of 'Doctor Vanilla's Sunflowers'

The post How To Find Your True Writing Voice appeared first on Writer's Life.org.

Write What You Fear

The best writing comes from a place of courage. Of facing up to our fears and tackling them head on. The best writing isn’t censored or submerged or flimsy. It hits hard and leaves you gasping for air.

Writing what you fear can not only mean you produce some of your best work, it can help you deepen and expand as a writer, and bing about a sense of peace and satisfaction like never before.

So how do you write what you fear? Try doing this:

Write about what you dream of

If you could be any kind of writer, who would you be? Go on, just dare to believe for a minute. Would you be a travel writer, going on amazing adventures and exploring the world? Would you write an autobiography exploring the scary, crazy unpredictable events of your life? Would you be a poet? Would you write weird, niche fiction that you know may not appeal to anyone else but that you would completely love?

Sometimes our biggest dreams are our biggest fears. We shut ourselves down because we think our ideas are too crazy, too 'out there' or foolish to work. But if you want to be true to yourself, and to find true satisfaction in what you write, really think about what it is you want to write about, and then only write about that.

Write about what you care about

Being vulnerable is pretty scary, but if we tap into all our emotions, all our experiences, some pretty incredible writing can emerge. It can be hard to really let our imaginations run wild or to really dig deep into our emotions or our past. It can be scary to use our love for someone, our heartbreak or our pain in our writing - but if we let ourselves be vulnerable in this way, the emotion will come across in our work and it will be raw and vulnerable and beautiful.

Write about what you don’t want to talk about

What are you keeping locked up? What secrets do you have? Exploring the deep, dark depths of our souls is terrifying but can be where our best writing will come from. Not only will we feel brave and courageous, but writing about what you have kept hidden from others can provide a huge sense of relief and ultimately catharsis too.

Write about what you think will shock people

Be fearless in your writing, don’t soften the edges, don’t tiptoe around the subjects that might cause controversy. While writing purely to shock may seem gratuitous, if you are writing about a serious subject don’t avoid the gruesome, graphic details. It may make your readers uncomfortable, it may shock them, but it will get them to react. You may feel scared and uncertain, you may be worried that people will judge you, but fortune favours the brave after all!

So next time you get that feeling of anxiety or hesitation and you feel yourself resisting what you really want to write about, just stand up to your fear and work though it.

You’ll find if you do you just might surprise yourself and produce something truly amazing. So aim high, dream big and don’t worry about what other people think!

Bethany Cadman -author of 'Doctor Vanilla's Sunflowers'

The post Write What You Fear appeared first on Writer's Life.org.

Does Being A Writer Mean Being Miserable?

We all have this impression of the sad, lonely and tortured writer. One who suffers rejection after rejection, who wakes up in the middle of the night, burning with a desire to write. One who is fearful of scorn, who cannot help but belittle themselves, who is wracked with envy, who feels like they are constantly struggling against themselves and against the world.

But really, is this how writers are these days? Instead of focusing on the negatives and the myth of the miserable writer, shouldn’t we try to change this perception? Writing is tough but it’s also so rewarding and brings joy and satisfaction to many.

Let's take a look at some of the common misconceptions about how writers are and what, in this day and age, the picture really looks like.

The lonely writer

The lonely writer has no time for others. Family and friends become little more than insignificant breezes that echo through their houses. They lock themselves in shadowy rooms and do not come out for days. The find it hard to communicate by any other means than via their craft. They are protective and closed, not wishing to share their work, paranoid someone might steal their precious ideas. The die alone in rags, their talent never discovered.

While some of us might like the drama that this picture paints, the truth is, most modern day writers lead fairly normal lives. I write freelance so spend a lot of my working hours alone, sure. But I also spend lots of time around other people and don’t feel lonely in any way. I dedicate myself to the craft and work hard, but I don’t think I have ever missed a meal! Writers can be bubbly, sociable, and content - and being so doesn’t make them any less brilliant at what they do.

The tortured writer

The tortured writer spends hours tearing at their hair and agonising over every single word. They are a perfectionist. They get chapters away from finishing their book and then burn it all because they know they can do better. Their talent is taken for granted, they are often misunderstood and rarely ever happy.

It’s great to care about your work and are passionate about what you do, but does this really mean your life must be wracked with heartache and misery? I think not.

It is all too easy for writers to use the notion of suffering as a trap - a trap that they themselves climb into. We can’t possibly finish this piece because it’s not perfect, we can’t possibly write anymore because our minds are too full of ideas, we can’t possibly send off this manuscript because the world is not ready for what we have to say.

In reality, most writer’s who get to the end of their novels feel proud and satisfied and excited to start the next steps to achieving their goal - and you know what? That’s more than OK.

The jealous writer

We hate all other writers - unless they are rubbish and unsuccessful like us, because, you know, misery loves company. But then they get a book deal and we want to cry and kick them in the shins. We say things like ‘well they weren’t true to themselves’ or ‘they wrote for a mainstream audience.’ We are brimmed up with jealousy and self-righteousness and we fling ourselves around spilling our misery and bitterness wherever we go.

You know what? I’m not gonna lie. If you are doing everything you can in the writing world to try and make it, it can feel a little disheartening when you hear of yet another undiscovered writer being ‘discovered.’ However, the truth is, rarely does a writer just spend a week jotting down their musings only for it to get picked up and turned into a multi-million-pound bestseller.

For most writers, success comes through perseverance and a lot of hard work. That’s why, more than anything, we need to support and encourage one another, and let each other know that we are in it together!

The terrified writer

The terrified writer is so full of self-doubt they can barely write at all. They can’t show their writing to anyone, they daren’t call themselves a writer, and if they manage to send their manuscript off the first rejection makes them scurry back into the hole of sadness and fear from whence they came.

Sure most writers have experienced moments of being a little too self-critical, of feeling uncertain and unsure, but are we really paralysed with fear? Do we really hate on ourselves so much that we can’t bear to sit down at our computer screens and write another word?

Writing isn’t some sort of blood-curdling horror show, and being rejected is so far from the worst thing that is ever going to happen to us - so if we crumble and die when it does we need a thicker skin.

It’s OK to be scared but most writers are actually incredibly brave because they battle their fears, they use them to motivate themselves, and never stop fighting to achieve their goals.

The mad writer

From sticking our heads into ovens to slowly walking into a lake, writers don’t have the best reputation for being stable and level headed creatures.

However, the truth is that we all have our quirks and eccentricities, but writing actually helps many people feel more stable, more in touch with their emotions and more able to express the way that they feel or want to say.

Being, imaginative, creative, and looking at the world from a different perspective doesn’t make someone mad, it makes them unique and interesting. So let’s embrace our weirdness - a little strangeness makes the world a more interesting and colourful place after all!

Being a writer should make us proud. Because we are strong and brave, creative, unique and strange and brilliant.

So let’s distance ourselves from this image of a miserable and lonely writer - because we are passionate, courageous and following our dreams -and how many people can really say that?

Bethany Cadman -author of 'Doctor Vanilla's Sunflowers'

The post Does Being A Writer Mean Being Miserable? appeared first on Writer's Life.org.

How Writing Can Change Your Life

Writing really is a gift, and doing so regularly can be cathartic, therapeutic and truly bring positive changes and benefits to your life and the lives of those around you. It also, of course, can bring great pleasure to the lives of those who read your work.

So how does writing help to change your life for the better?

It helps you make sense of the world

Is there anything more useful than writing things down to help you make sense of them? Whether its a logical problem, or an intense feeling that you can’t quite account for. If you are feeling angry, or overjoyed, or deeply sad, writing things down and exploring your emotions in this way can help you make sense of things and feel much stronger and more equipped to handle anything life throws your way.

Keeps you in touch with your creative side

When we were children our minds were so much freer. We didn’t censor ourselves, we didn’t feel embarrassed or silly for believing in magic. Writing helps us to get back in touch with that childlike self. When creating a story, you can be as imaginative as you wish and can conjure up worlds where magical, otherworldly, impossible things might happen. Being creative helps to make our lives more interesting, more satisfying. Through creativity, we can explore ideas, make connections and find deeper meanings, and writing helps us to exercise our creativity on a regular basis.

Writing helps you remember things

Writing can evoke all sorts of emotions, all sorts of memories. Even if you are not writing a journal or autobiography, looking back on your work, you can’t help but be brought back to the time you were writing it. If you write throughout your life, no matter what it is you write about, you have this wonderful, fantastical, detailed account of your journey that is truly amazing to look back on.

Writing helps you communicate your thoughts and feelings

There is nothing more frustrating than feeling misunderstood, or struggling with emotions, desires and thoughts that you feel you cannot clearly express. Writing helps you to share such things, to explore them, and to reach out and touch the hearts of people who are perhaps feeling the same.

Writing brings joy to the world

Reading is a pleasure that has been enjoyed for hundreds of years. If your writing touches one reader, inspires them, comforts them, makes them look at the world differently, or simply entertains them for a while then you are bringing something positive and wonderful to the world. The more readers you are able to deliver this to, the better!

Writing is rewarding

Writing is something that you have to work hard at. But in doing so you will see fantastic results. Not only will you get closer to your goal of finishing that story, but your writing will also improve. It’s incredibly satisfying to get better at our craft, and the sense of achievement you feel when you finally finish your story is something truly amazing.

Writing really can make such a positive and impactful difference in your life. The more you do it, the more you will learn how to use it as a tool to bring you happiness and peace. Writing helps your memory, helps you feel more positive, and helps you communicate and connect with others, as well as providing you with a sense of pride and satisfaction like no other. So next time you sit down to write just remember what good it brings you, and be thankful for that!

Bethany Cadman -author of 'Doctor Vanilla's Sunflowers'

The post How Writing Can Change Your Life appeared first on Writer's Life.org.

Great Advice For First Time Writers

For a first-time writer, the idea of getting published can feel as far away as another universe. When you first sit down at your computer or desk to begin that very first chapter, imagining your book out there, on the shelves, being read by actual people just doesn’t feel like it could ever become a reality.

The truth is that while we writers like to think of ourselves as whimsical, creative creatures, the process of writing a book and getting it into a publishable format is a much more practical task. First-time writers need to know that as much as having talent and being able to harbour and express exciting and unique ideas, it’s also about being super organised, dedicating lots of time to the craft, and approaching it from a very practical point of view as well.

So what can the first-time writer do to help get them from the first chapter to a published novel?

Have an end date

The first thing to do is to decide when you want to achieve this goal by. Without a self-imposed deadline, it is far too hard to organise yourself, stay motivated, stick to a schedule and structure the writing days/ months/ years ahead.

One you have an end date in mind you must concentrate on actually writing your story. In order to do this, it is imperative that you:

Do your research

Create an outline

Read continuously

Get advice from other writers

Create a writing schedule and stick to it no matter what.

Once your first draft has been completed next comes the editing stage. The editing stage can feel very daunting, particularly for first-time writers, but it is so important that you take this part as seriously as getting your story down in the first place.

When you edit you must:

Look out for inconsistencies

Check spelling, punctuation and grammar

Get feedback from as many people as possible

Check structure and pace

Remove and rewrite chunks that simply don’t fit anymore.

The editing process can be time-consuming and it may take you until your third, fourth, even fifth draft until you are happy with your novel. When you are it is then advisable to hire a professional editor to check your work to make it in absolutely the best condition it can be.

Remember you only have one shot at showing your novel to editors and publishers, so don’t waste it.

When your manuscript is ready for submission you need to think about several things.

Who to send it to

How to approach them

Following submission guidelines

Making the effort to submit on an individual basis.

Make a list of relevant publishers and agents who you think might be interested in your novel. Look at the lists of books they have, check out their submission guidelines and follow them exactly. Always write an individual letter explaining why your book would be a good fit for them and why their readers would love it. Make sure your synopsis is the absolute best it can be.

Keep track of who you have sent it to and their responses. Remember it can take more than six months before you get a reply!

Alternatively, you could self-publish your novel. If you wish to do this you must have your book cover professionally designed and come up with a detailed and exhaustive marketing plan. Be prepared for lots more hard work!

Understanding the basics of what it takes to write a novel is a good start for any first-time writer. And, if you plan your time carefully and make sure you follow all the steps then you can work methodically and sensibly towards your goal, and you are sure to get there in the end!

Bethany Cadman -author of 'Doctor Vanilla's Sunflowers'

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Where To Get Your Short Story Published

Whether you are writing a novel or not, it is always worth considering trying your hand at short stories on the side.

Short stories are a fantastic way of practising your craft, and can also enable you to make money and build your reputation as a writer as you go. You never know, if you end up being a successful short story writer, you could turn a collection of these into a novel too!

So say you have written, edited and polished a short story. What do you do with it next?

There are lots of places you can approach to try and get your short story published. So if you are ready to start sending yours off, here are some of the avenues to explore.

Literary Journals

While there used to be much more and higher profile publications that consistently published short stories, it is still prudent to consider submitting your story to relevant publications.

There remains plenty of smaller and more niche literary journals that publish fiction and are always on the lookout for content which they are happy to pay for too. Carefully consider the type of publication your story would fit into, or better still research which literary journals are in circulation, familiarise yourself with their content and write a short story tailored to them.

Reading plenty of other short story collections will help to inspire you too, and you can find the book’s Acknowledgements page where they will usually credit where they were first published. Use resource books such as 'The Writer’s and Artist’s Yearbook' or alternatively browse through online directories and then carefully read submission guidelines and ensure you follow them before submitting your piece.

Online publications

There are still plenty of online publications that are well worth approaching with your short story. Naturally, these are more plentiful than those still in print as are far more cost effective to run. You may, therefore, find that they put out new issues more frequently, making them more likely to be in need of good fresh content. Bear in mind that if you do decide on this approach payment is likely to be less, though your story may well gain a wider audience as online publications are accessible all over the world.

Competitions

There are still plenty of literary competitions which require short story submissions. While you will only get paid for your short story if you win a prize (and maybe not even then depending on what kind of competition it is) you can still hope to have your story widely read, promote this on your website and social media and build your audience - all of which are very valuable.

Blogs

There are plenty of blogs still in existence which will happily publish guest post stories. Again you are unlikely to receive payment (though this is not impossible) for your work. But if the blog has a good following you are likely to have your work read by a large audience, and if you can include a link back to your own website and other work, this could be hugely helpful when it comes to building your own reputation and following.

Writing short stories is something I believe can benefit every writer, and is often a discipline overlooked by authors who simply want to get on with writing their books. So why not give short story writing a go, and see if it can help boost your writer profile, build your fanbase and perhaps make you some money too?!

Bethany Cadman -author of 'Doctor Vanilla's Sunflowers'

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What To Ask Yourself If Your Book Isn’t Selling

It’s always disheartening when you finally get your self-published book up on Amazon only to find the days, weeks and months roll by and you don’t seem to be selling any copies. For many authors, generating big book sales is difficult, and most may only see that a few a month, or even less leave the ‘shelves.’

It’s no surprise, therefore, that after a while you start to lose faith and wonder where it all went wrong!

At this point, it might be time to ask yourself the following questions - and it’s important to be honest with your answers too.

If you really want to boost your sales and get to the bottom of why your book might not be selling then you need to make sure you are doing everything you can to help make that happen.

Have you put your book up at a reasonable price? Take a look at what other self-published books in your genre are selling for. If your book is too expensive then no one is going to buy it. Similarly don’t sell yourself too short. If your book is suspiciously cheap people might be led to believe it’s not worth reading either.

Have you worked really hard on your book description? Your book description needs to immediately captivate your readers and make them feel as though this is a book they simply must read. Spend time researching other people’s descriptions to see what you can take from them and take your time in order to perfect it and get it just right.

Have you put your book in the right category? If your book sits in a category that’s actually not right for it, people who find it there will be looking for something different - and therefore be less likely to buy it. Think about your reader, what genre are they likely to go to, to search for a book like yours?

Have you had your book’s cover professionally designed? The importance of having a professional book cover design cannot be stressed enough. This is one thing that every writer should be happy to shell out for. Without one, readers simply can’t take your book seriously and will assume the content is as amateur as the cover.

Have you had your book professionally edited? Paying for a professional editor is so worth it if it means that your book is grammatically correct and error free. If it means you have to wait to publish your book, so be it. Your reputation is so important.

Have you done everything you can to build positive reviews? Make sure you are always pushing for new people to read and review your book. The more genuine positive reviews you have, the more people are likely to buy it.

Have you made your book available as an ebook? Having your book only available as a paperback is really selling yourself short. In order make sure you appeal to as wide an audience as possible it is important to have your book available in both formats.

Have you written more than one book? The more books your write the more shelf space you take up and therefore the easier it is for readers to find you. Keep on writing, build up a collection and you’ll be seen as a more professional and dedicated writer too.

Have you marketed your book in every way possible? Let’s be honest, there is probably more we all could do. Always try to keep marketing your book and try everything you can think of to improve its visibility.

If you answer yes to all these questions then you are giving yourself the very best chance possible to be discovered by your target readers, and for them to enjoy and spread the word about your book. Remember, simply adding your book to Amazon's website isn’t enough. It’s all about how much time and effort you can dedicate to your book - that’s what will most likely help see a boost in your sales and make your book a success.

Bethany Cadman -author of 'Doctor Vanilla's Sunflowers'

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