Beth Greenslade's Blog, page 116

How To Resurrect An Abandoned Story

We all have them, you know, those half-finished stories that lie crumpled at the back of a draw, or, (more likely these days) in a folder within a folder within a folder hidden in the depths of our desktops.

While we may have abandoned these stories for a reason, they are worth hanging onto and revisiting from time to time to see if we can resurrect them.

Often at the time of giving up, we cannot see where the story is going, perhaps it has become too painful to write, or you suddenly got sidetracked, swept up by another, more pressing idea, or a life event that took over for a while.

However, taking a break and gaining some perspective can actually be exactly what we need to return to our stories full of new ideas, able to overcome obstacles and breath new life into them!

So what can we do when we return to our abandoned work to see if it still has some potential? Try these helpful tips:

Do some research.

Often we end up drying up because we simply haven’t done enough research and therefore don’t have enough to say. Whatever requires research in your story, make sure you do it and do it thoroughly. Having the confidence in your writing because you know what you are talking about can help give your story a boost. It might be your story is set in a particular era, or your main character has a job that you need to learn about - all stories require a little bit of homework, so make sure you do yours to help inspire you once more.

Inject some drama

It might be that you simply became a little deflated with your story because there wasn’t enough going on. Think about how you can turn the story on its head and make it more dramatic. You need to hook readers in and then keep them wanting to turn those pages. If nothing really happens in your story you can't expect that to happen.

Figure out ways to be unusual

It’s easy to breathe new life into your stories by tweaking things here and there. You don’t necessarily have to rewrite a character for example, instead just think of ways to make them stand out. What quirks and details could you add to them to make them more memorable and interesting? Give them a lisp or a stutter, a catchphrase, a scar, a dark secret. Pay attention to the way you describe a person's appearance, a landscape, a room. If your descriptions are a little flat think about ways to make them more arresting and attention grabbing

Kill someone off

If you weren’t sure where your story was going why not try and kill someone off and see if that inspires you to take it in a whole different direction? There is nothing like a good death to throw a spanner in the works!

Make a plan

The best way to ensure that you finish your story this time is to make a plan. If you outline chapters, plot lines and the ending you’ll feel so much more confident that you will get there, and inspired to keep on going until you do!

Resurrecting your old writing can be incredibly rewarding and satisfying, and you never know, you might have been sitting on a real gem of a story all along!

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

The post How To Resurrect An Abandoned Story appeared first on Writer's Life.org.

How To Write A Helpful Book Review

Writers need to help one another out, and where they can do so, with very little effort on their part, is by writing each other book reviews.

Whether you have been asked to critique a fellow writer's book, are leaving a review on Amazon, or are reviewing a book for a writing club or group, knowing how to do so helpfully will not only give the author useful feedback, but will help your fellow readers too.

So what should you include in a book review? Here are some useful ideas:

Make notes as you go

Make sure you write down important points and things that strike you as you read the book. It will be difficult and probably quite annoying to try to remember it all once you are finished, and the more precise you can be and the more examples you can give, the better.

Think about what is fact and what is opinion

Let’s be honest if you are a die-hard romance fan and this book is an intense thriller, you are already setting yourself to dislike it. Try to review books you would be genuinely interested in reading and think you would really enjoy. You should approach the idea of writing a book review rooting for the author not already feeling as though this won’t be a book you’ll like.

Be thorough but don’t nit pick

There are several points you should pay attention to:

The language and structure

The plot and how it develops

The themes of the book

The characters and their development

Have some things say about each, but don’t go on for pages and pages. Try to summarise and be concise but also try to explain your opinions so other readers can get a sense of where you are coming from and decide for themselves whether they would agree with you or not.

Be both positive and negative

Regardless of whether you completely adored the book or thought it was the worst thing you’ve ever had the misfortune of reading, try to include both positive comments and more constructive criticism. No book is perfect, similarly, there must be something positive to say about every story - so try to keep your review fairly balanced. If you find yourself feeling strongly that you don’t have anything good to say, perhaps it’s best if you don’t write a review at all.

Finish on a high

It’s nice to finish your review on a positive note if you can. This will leave the author feeling as though your review was fair and they will be more willing to take on any advice and criticism you have given them.

Writing a book review for your fellow authors can be tricky, but done right can be very helpful too! Use these tips as a guide to writing a good book review - one that both authors and readers will appreciate.

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

The post How To Write A Helpful Book Review appeared first on Writer's Life.org.

How To Write About Your Life

'Write what you know' is age-old writing advice that has been given to us writers time and time again. While we can decide how to interpret this, writing about your own life and your own experiences is that path that many writers choose to take.

Even in highly fictionalised work, we can’t help but be influenced by what we have experienced in our own lives, the people we’ve met, the places we’ve been, the conversations we’ve overheard. Times of joy, of loss, of anger - the way we feel, what we have endured - all these things come out in our stories, whether we consciously decide to include them or not.

Harnessing what happens in your life and using that to influence your stories, whether a memoir or a piece of fiction can be an incredibly powerful tool for a writer. But how do we do it? Here are some helpful tips:

Keep a notebook with you at all times

Keeping a notebook handy wherever you go is a sage piece of advice for any writer. You never know when a thought might strike you that you want to use in your story. You also never know when you might overhear a conversation or have an experience that you want to remember in exacting detail. A notebook allows you to capture everything you are thinking, feeling and experiencing at that moment so no detail will be lost later.

Get in touch with your emotions

Being able to capture and express emotions is hugely important when it comes to writing. We need our readers to be able to engage with our story, and the characters within it, on an emotional level. Whenever you feel an emotion strongly try to write about it, what caused it? How do you physically feel? If it involved another person, how did they react? What thoughts went through your mind? Being able to really capture the details of our emotions will make them all the more real, raw and beautiful when we express them on the page.

Decide what you are comfortable with

Of course, when you choose to write about your life you have to decide how much you want to expose. If you are writing a memoir readers will expect you to get down to the nitty-gritty, to share personal secrets, to expose your flaws. If you are using your life experiences in a work of fiction you need to decide how far you will stray from the truth, and which experiences you are comfortable retelling and sharing with the world.

Say yes to things outside of your comfort zone

The more our lives are full and interesting, the more we will be inspired to use them in our work. Get out there and live the most exciting life you can. A good story is full of unexpected events and by going outside of our comfort zone and saying yes to things we perhaps wouldn’t usually, we often find ourselves in situations which are simply too good/ scary/ funny/ bizarre not to share with our readers!

Engage with others

Talk to people. Everyone you can. The most interesting stories have a range of characters and perspectives and to write them well, you must have experience with a range of people in the outside world! Even engaging with people you don’t like can be helpful for that villainous character - the evil doctor, the controlling husband, the mean boss. The more you talk to people the more they will open up and share their stories with you too.

Use your senses

Try to pause in your life, and really zone in on what you are feeling, seeing, smelling touching, tasting and so on. Often it is easy to go days without really concentrating on our senses. Next time you are out walking really listen, really look, really smell and note down what occurs to you. If you are in a bustling city pay attention to what is happening, the noises, the people. Observant details that ring true help readers immerse themselves in a story, so even everyday experiences can be used to help make our writing better.

Reflect

We often feel differently about things that have happened after time has passed. Memories change, emotions settle, we move on. Reflect on things that have happened to you in your past - how do you feel about them now, what would you have done differently, if anything at all? Writing about our pasts and how time has changed us can also be powerful fuel for any story.

Writing about your life is a great way to reach out to readers and connect with them. Whatever kind of story we are writing, we can use our lives to help make it richer, more interesting and more real.

How do you bring your experiences into your writing? Let us know!

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

The post How To Write About Your Life appeared first on Writer's Life.org.

How To Get Clients As A Freelance Writer

Starting out as a freelance writer can be tough. Securing enough clients and work to keep paying the bills is something that all freelancers worry about. In fact, even those who have been making a success of freelance writing for years still know that it is important to always be thinking ahead and making sure that they can keep their heads above water!

There are many great benefits to being a freelance writer. Being your own boss and managing your own hours are two of the biggest. However, as with any job, there are downsides too, and for freelance writers, job insecurity is one of them.

If you want to secure the highest paying gigs and continue to get writing work from repeat clients, you are going to have to put careful thought and planning into how you approach your work.

Here are some useful ways to do just that:

Make sure that you personalise your emails

Sending out mass emails is an absolute no-no. Don’t just pitch some general ideas to a whole bunch of outlets and hope that one might get back to you. When you first contact editors, your message must be thoughtful, well-researched and impressive. Regardless of how good your idea is, if an editor suspects you have sent the same email to 100’s of different publications, they simply won’t bother giving you the time of day. Take time to find out the name of the person your should contact, read and research the publication, and tailor your pitches to suit them.

Work for free

OK so some writers may baulk at the idea of offering their services for free, but doing so can quickly land you paid writing gigs that keep on coming. Working for free, or guest posting can help boost your reputation increase your network of contacts and looks good in your writing portfolio too. This is a particularly helpful tip if you are just starting out and need to get some published work under your belt to refer other clients to. If you are happy to work for free make sure it is worth your while. Be sure that you will be credited, and you can link to the piece on your website. Ask the person to write a review or recommendation for you, and make sure that the publication is big enough that it matters.

Be proactive

If you have been given a one-off piece of work to write that’s great! However, don't just finish the piece send it off and then forget all about it. Make sure when you have finished that you get back in touch with the publication to see if you can write any more for them. Keep an up to date list of every client you have worked with and when work is drying up, actively approach them with ideas. If you have done a good job for them and have a good pitch, there is no reason why they wouldn’t consider working with you again.

Find a niche

One direction to take your freelance writing career in is by finding a niche market, becoming specialised and then making sure you shout about it to everyone who matters. Even if it is unusual, if you can dominate that area then you will end up getting repeat customers and a steady flow of work. Showcase your skills by writing a niche blog on the subject which you can use as an example of your knowledge when contacting potential clients.

Build your reputation

Make sure you have a great website, build up a writing portfolio, and ask every client you work with if they could write you a review. If you can build up a good reputation you’ll find it so much easier to secure work, as potential clients will be able to see at a glance that you are reliable, trustworthy and deliver high-quality work.

Getting clients as a freelance writer does take time and effort, but the more experienced you get and the more quality work you deliver, the more clients you’ll find coming to you - that’s how to make your freelance writing business a success and continue to grow and grow!

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

The post How To Get Clients As A Freelance Writer appeared first on Writer's Life.org.

Freelance Writers! Get In An Editors Good Books And Secure Future Work.

Being a freelance writer can be a tough gig at times, especially when you are just starting out. At the same time, if you become successful it can be a lucrative and rewarding career - and the perfect job if you are hoping to finish your novel on the side.

Part of becoming a successful freelance writer is building up a number of clients that you can work with time and time again. This way you have more of a steady income and aren’t living from gig to gig wondering where the next paycheck will come from.

So how do you get these regular gigs which make your life as a freelance writer so much easier?

The answer is simple.

Impress the editor.

Every job starts off as one job really. If you do it well then you are far more likely to secure further work with that publication, and the more times you impress the more likely you are to get work again, and so on, and so on.

In order to impress an editor there are several things you must do.

Here are our tops tips to help get you into an editor's good books:

Familiarise yourself with the publication

Make sure you read through several copies of the publication before you bother contacting the editor and pitching your idea. You need to get a good idea of what kind of articles and stories they publish, the tone of voice, the angle - all this will have been carefully curated to sell more copies. If you come in with something completely off the wall the editor just won’t take you seriously.

Pitch a good idea (concisely)

Make sure you pitch a good idea, in fact, pitch several. If you have done your research you’ll know what kind of pieces make it into the publication so you should have several ideas up your sleeve. Pitch your idea clearly and consisely - the editor doesn't need pages and pages, just the headline and the main points. Remember, bad ideas will waste an editors time and demonstrate you don’t understand their readership (or haven’t bothered trying). Several good ideas however, will not only impress them and give them options, they might also just end up asking you to write the whole lot.

Do your research

A well-researched article is so important. If you have strong opinions or state anything as fact, it's a good idea to be able to back it up. Even if it’s a topic that you don’t think requires much research still try to find out more about it and do some reading - this will influence your writing and make it seem more authoritative.

Be original

Don’t just rehash the same tired old stories. Think of a fresh and interesting way to put your point across or to say something that may or may not has been said before. If you are just repeating the same content readers won’t be enthused by what you have to say, and editors will find a reason not to publish your work.

Have perfect spelling, grammar and punctuation

This is kind of a no-brainer really. Make sure that you proofread your work, check for errors and get someone else to look over it too - it’s always helpful to have a fresh set of eyes. While little errors here and there are only human, if you’ve made any blundering mistakes your editor will be less than impressed.

Read submission guidelines - and follow them!

Find out how your editor wants their work to be presented to them and follow them precisely. It won’t look good if you can’t even read and follow some simple instructions!

Stick to deadlines

This might be the most important rule. Whatever you do, don’t miss a deadline, and don’t ask for an extension. If anything try to get your work in well before the deadline, you'll make the editor's life so much easier and they will look upon you far more favourably if your piece needs some amending.

Pleasing an editor is relatively simple. If you have got to the point where the have accepted your pitch all you have to do is write it well and send it in on time in the format they have requested and you should be fine. Follow these simple tips to ensure you impress editors and you are so much more likely to build great relationships and good reputation -which will inevitably lead to more work.

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

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Are You Ready To Write Full-time? Do This First!

Making the decision to write full-time can feel as daunting as it is exciting. However, many writers make the decision somewhat blindly - after all, how can we predict how a freelance writing career is going to go?

Giving up a regular income, being on the payroll, getting sick leave, holiday and maternity pay and generally lots of job security can seem like madness to many. But if you make a success out of being a freelance writer it can be both a lucrative and rewarding career. You are your own boss, you make as much or as little money as you want, and you work as and when you want to - sounds pretty good right?

The key to making the switch to writing freelance full-time is to ensure that you have organised and prepared yourself well in advance of taking the plunge. Follow these tips to give yourself the best chance of success.

Start while you still have another job

Don’t just quit your well-paid, comfortable job and expect to land freelance writing gigs straight away. You need to build up a portfolio, a client list and a good reputation. If you start freelance writing in your spare time you can do this easily and will be safe in the knowledge that you still have money coming in! Building up a good reputation takes time, but once you have one then you’ll find the offers of work come much more easily.

Become an expert at managing your finances

Freelance writers are self-employed which means they’ll have to take came of all their income and expenditure and be prepared to file their own tax return come the end of the financial year. Filing a tax return doesn’t have to be complicated - providing you have remained organised and kept clear records of how much you have earned throughout the year.

It’s also important to remember you can receive tax deductions on your expenditure for things such as workspace and equipment, electricity, travel and even lunches and coffees - so to take full advantage and keep all your receipts. It’s also a good idea to open a separate bank account for your writing earnings and expenses. That way you will find it much easier to track everything when you need to.

Make a plan and set yourself goals

Having a firm plan in place will help you keep organised and motivated to work. You should make a list of all publications and other outlets you’d like to write for, their contact details and ideas to pitch. Find out how much they pay as well! Set yourself targets in terms of how much you’d like to earn and by when and figure out the steps you need to take to get there.

Remember, being a freelance writer requires you to constantly secure new work projects so you need to make sure you factor in time to research new publications and pitch new ideas too. Work out how you value your own time - don’t go for projects that aren’t worth it otherwise you’ll spend too long on something that does not give you a valuable enough return.

Going freelance is so exciting, but it is important to be organised and level-headed about it too. If you are then there is no reason why you can’t make it a success and look back knowing it was the best move you’ve ever made!

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

The post Are You Ready To Write Full-time? Do This First! appeared first on Writer's Life.org.

How To Support Your Fellow Writers

Being a writer is no walk in the park. If you are trying to make writing your career you have to put in a huge amount of effort, as well as get used to the idea that there will be many bumps in the road, and days where you don’t think you can do it. Days where you want to give up, where you get another rejection, where you aren’t taken seriously, where you wonder how you are going to pay your rent this month and so on!

That’s why it is so important that writer’s stick together. We know better than anyone how tough it is out there, and how lonely and isolating our work can often feel. Trying to help one another, encourage one another and support one another is crucial. We shouldn’t look upon one another as competition but instead see how we can learn from one another, and how we can help teach one another too.

So what are the ways you can support your fellow writers? Let’s take a look:

Listen

It’s very easy to only want to talk about your own work. To discuss in detail your story, your characters, what projects you’re working on. You're excited about them and passionate about them after all - and that’s great. However, it is important to remember to step back from time to time and make room for your fellow writers to talk about themselves too. Taking time to listen and acknowledge and appreciate what other writers have to say is important - it builds relationships and actually might help you learn something, or look at your own work in a new way too.

Critique

Getting constructive criticism on our work is so helpful. Being able to critique each other's work and offer feedback that we know will be impartial and helpful is extremely useful. Obviously critiquing fellow writers work is a difficult job, and needs to be done with sensitivity. Always find positive things to say alongside the more constructive bits of criticism you want to share. The more open you are to doing this the more likely you are to get other writers to critique your own work too.

Join groups

Joining writing groups whether physical or virtual is a great way to feel part of the writing community, to build friendships with fellow writers, to share your experiences, fears, and successes and generally support one another in all aspects of the writing process. Writers groups are great for anything such as seeing what the other members think of your new book cover design, or just asking for some friendly advice when you are feeling creatively blocked.

Write reviews

If you want to support your fellow writers then read their books! Reading one another books and leaving reviews is a great way to help boost one another’s profiles. Think about the last time you got a positive book review from someone - it feels pretty amazing right? So the more we can do this for one another the better.

Follow one another on social media

Being active on social media has become increasingly important for writers over the past few years. But it can be difficult to get a good following. Seek out other writers and follow them on social media, sign up for their newsletters, and follow their blogs. Doing this for one another shows your support, strengthens the writing community and could open up doors for you too.

Supporting your fellow writers is a mutually beneficial relationship. You’ll feel great knowing you are supporting one another and helping to realise each other’s dreams, but in doing so you’ll also learn a lot, and hopefully build some amazing lifelong friendships too!

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

 

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How Long Does It Take To Write A Book?

Many writers who are thinking about starting their first novel wonder how long it will take them to complete it. Of course, this question does not have one definitive answer and can depend on many different factors. However, understanding them will help writers gain a better insight into how long it might take them to complete a book. Let’s take a look at some of them:

How much time have you got?

Not many of us are in the privileged position to make novel writing our full-time job. However, before you begin it is worth considering how much time you can realistically dedicate to writing your novel. If you work full time you are likely to be doing the majority of your writing on the weekends. Think about setting yourself weekly goals. Remember getting up an hour earlier each morning and dedicating some of your downtime in the evening to novel writing can make all the difference.

How quickly can you write?

Be honest with yourself. Are you one of those writers who sits down to write and everything just pours out, or do you prefer to write slowly and deliberately and think about every, sentence, every word? All writers are different and have techniques that work best for them - there is no one correct way to do it. Saying that, it's good advice to get the first draft of your story down as quickly as possible. The faster you write your first draft the more likely you are to keep the momentum going, so try not to censor yourself too much.

What kind of book are you writing?

The genre of your book will play a part when determining how long your novel will be. Typically readers expect fantasy novels, for example, to be longer than general fiction. There are no hard and fast rules about it but a guideline for some of the most common genres suggests:

YA fiction - 45k to 80k

Romance - 85k to 100k

Horror - 80k to 100k

Mysteries, thrillers and crime fiction 90k to 120k

Science fiction & fantasy 100k - 150k

Don’t forget about the editing stage!

It’s important to remember that finishing your book is only the first stage. If you are hoping to get published or even to self-publish your book there is still plenty of work to be done. Let’s face it, first drafts are usually pretty bad so we need to go back and rework them to make them better. Then, of course, there is proof-reading, book cover design, approaching agents and publishers, writing letters, creating a marketing plan and so on. The editing stage can take just as long (or longer) than writing your book in the first place, so this is worth considering if you are hoping to sell your book once you have finished it.

Asking how long it takes to write a book is akin to asking how long is a piece of string?! Every author has their own way of writing, their own roadblocks and hurdles to manoeuvre around and get over. Getting to the end of your novel is just as much about dedication and determination to persevere as it is finding the time to do it. If you truly believe in yourself and in your story, you’ll get there in the end!

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

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How To Write A Great Book Ending

Writing an ending to your novel is possibly one of the hardest parts about it. If you have planned out your whole book before you start you’ll no doubt have a good idea of what will happen at the end. But when it comes to actually writing it, it can be far harder than you may have thought.

How you end your book is so important, and something that you should give plenty of thought to. Writing an awesome ending can cement a readers opinion that your book is brilliant, or can leave them feeling confused, cheated and even betrayed!

How can you make sure that your book ends on the right note? Here are some questions to consider:

Is it the right time to end your book?

One of the worst things you can do is make your readers feel as though the book has been cut short. This is not just in terms of actual length - though this is worth considering (people want to feel as though they are getting their money’s worth after all), but how your story has played out so far. Have you made sure your readers are invested in your characters? Have you led them on a journey? Have you built up the tension, the pace, the excitement enough that your readers are gripped on every word and can’t wait to see what happens next? If you end your book before you have really told your story, you are doing both your readers and yourself an injustice.

How do you want your readers to feel?

Your readers should feel something when they finish your book (and not just relief that it’s over!). Carefully consider what lasting impact you want your story to have on them. The best books leave readers intensely feeling - this could be many different kinds of emotion -joy, sorrow, anger, outrage - but they must feel something.

Happy endings must be written so that your protagonist achieves their goal, a bittersweet ending will have the protagonist reflecting the costs and sacrifices made to do so, and a sad ending is one where perhaps your protagonist doesn’t get what they want.

Have you tied up loose ends?

Don’t end your book unless you have made sure that all loose ends are tied up. You don’t want to leave your readers confused about what happened to so and so character. While it’s OK to leave some mystery or to keep them guessing, this must be deliberate. If readers feel as though you have just forgotten about a part of your book they won’t be so forgiving!

What lessons have been learned?

Your novel ending will most likely focus on your hero and their journey. It is important to demonstrate what they have learned and how they have grown, regardless of whether they have achieved their goals or not. Your hero should be changed, and going forward will be different than before.

Developing a great ending for your novel takes time and energy. In fact, it’s worth having a separate, detailed outline just for this part of your book. As you write your novel your ending may develop and even change altogether, but making sure that you craft it well and that your reader leaves the novel feeling just as you hoped they’d feel is a marker of a truly successful story.

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

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What It Means To Be An Indie Author

The term indie author hasn’t been around forever. In the past being a self-published author was called just that and was akin to when internet dating first came out. You wanted to do it, but you didn’t want to tell anyone about it, full of concern that the outside world would see you as a failure, or perhaps a little desperate.

Now, just as internet dating has become the norm for singletons all over the world, self-publishing is common, and in many cases the preferred route for a number of authors.

There are, however, still many misconceptions about what it means to be an independent author

Barry Eisler, best-selling American author defined self-publishing as meaning ‘you keep the rights to your book and publish it yourself using distributor/retailers like Amazon, Apple, B&N, Kobo, Smashwords, and Sony, typically retaining 70% of the cover price instead of the 17.5% offered by legacy publishers (for digital editions). This isn’t what “most people” mean when they say self-publishing; it’s what everybody means when they say self-publishing’.

Many indie authors, however, object to being grouped into the same category as every other self-publisher. Because, in reality, self-publishing has allowed anyone and everyone to publish their own book, and the concern that there is no difference in label between those authors who pop their unedited musings on Amazon and those authors who dedicate time, and money and pour considerable passion into their craft is a concern that many quality authors feel.

This is perhaps why the term ‘indie author’ has been coined by those authors who want a new label, one that demands to be taken more seriously, and does justice to the effort involved.

Some believe that to define oneself as an indie author you must be truly independent and have no attachment to a publisher of any kind. Many independent authors are now setting up their own companies and only using the distributor i.e. Amazon as the middle man. Everything else is handled directly by them.

An indie author is a businessperson, one who has made the conscious decision to take control of their book publishing, who handles all the costs and income, and treats the marketing, the editing, and the publishing as part of their business. They do not self-publish because they are desperate to see their work in print, rather they have weighed up the pros and cons and have made the decision that being in control will bring them the most beneficial and lucrative result. Through their business, they employ professionals such as editors and cover designers to work on their product and make it the best it can be.

However, it is important to consider whether an indie author, having been offered a traditional publishing deal, would turn it down in favour of continuing to publish independently. It is probably fair to say that many would still jump at the chance. There are, of course, some indie authors who have decided to reject the mainstream publishing process and are vocal in their opinion of it, but the idea that all indie authors are disparaging of traditional publishing deals is something that perhaps we should move away from.

At the end of the day the most important point to remember is that we are all authors at the end of the day and whether we chose to self-publish, hybrid publish, get an agent, target niche small press or huge publishing houses, we should be supportive of one another regardless of which route we think works best for us. Whichever path you take, it's still a lot of hard work after all!

The fantastic thing about indie publishing is that there is room for everyone. It allows any writer to write about whatever they love and have a chance to find readers who will love it too.

Only we as individuals know how much time, energy, blood, sweat and tears have gone into our work, and as long as we continue to try to do our best, then being an indie author is a badge we can wear with pride.

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

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