Anne R. Allen's Blog, page 28
November 17, 2019
Writing that Final Chapter: 6 Do’s and Don’ts for Bringing your Novel to a Satisfying Conclusion.
Writing your final chapter can be tougher than writing the first. by Anne R. Allen A new book by Patricia Cornwell, of Kay Scarpetta fame, has had 100s of scathing reviews on Amazon. Not only has she strayed from the mystery genre into scifi, but the book did not come to a satisfying conclusion. Readers […]
The post Writing that Final Chapter: 6 Do’s and Don’ts for Bringing your Novel to a Satisfying Conclusion. appeared first on Anne R. Allen's Blog... with Ruth Harris.
November 10, 2019
Finding and Using Competing Book Titles in Your Book Marketing
Competing book titles can help sell your book! By Penny Sansevieri As an author you’ve probably been told to look at competing titles through multiple stages of your journey from writing, to publishing, to book promotion. Competing book titles can be lucrative references for cover design, book length, and choosing your categories and keywords. They’re […]
The post Finding and Using Competing Book Titles in Your Book Marketing appeared first on Anne R. Allen's Blog... with Ruth Harris.
November 3, 2019
Writing that First Chapter: 10 Do’s and Don’ts for Starting Your Novel
by Anne R. Allen I’ve had questions from several writers recently about how to approach a first chapter. New writers hear so many rules about what they must do in the first line, first paragraph, and first chapter that they can feel paralyzed, afraid to write a word. Let’s hope that NaNoWriMo is helping some […]
The post Writing that First Chapter: 10 Do’s and Don’ts for Starting Your Novel appeared first on Anne R. Allen's Blog... with Ruth Harris.
October 27, 2019
Authors! Refresh, Rehab, Repair, and Renovate: How to Rejuvenate Your Backlist
Your backlist: remodel without a visit to a plastic surgeon or Home Depot. by Ruth Harris No, I’m certainly not sending you to the plastic surgeon. Even though maybe, just possibly your bio/book page could use — shall we say? — a nip and tuck. (Nothing personal. Just sayin.) And I’m not recommending a visit […]
The post Authors! Refresh, Rehab, Repair, and Renovate: How to Rejuvenate Your Backlist appeared first on Anne R. Allen's Blog... with Ruth Harris.
October 20, 2019
What Keeps You From Writing Success? Are you a Prisoner of Unexamined Beliefs?
Unexamined beliefs can keep a writer in a prison of your own making. by Anne R. Allen “Think outside the box” has become a mindless cliché these days. It’s repeated so often that the meaning has pretty much disappeared. But it’s still excellent advice—if you know how to follow it. Unfortunately, most people are unaware […]
The post What Keeps You From Writing Success? Are you a Prisoner of Unexamined Beliefs? appeared first on Anne R. Allen's Blog... with Ruth Harris.
October 13, 2019
Book Blog Reviews and Bookstagram: How Influencers Help Authors Reach Agents, Publishers, and Readers
by Julie Valerie. From Book Blog to Book Deal. First things first, because I’m sure this question is on a lot of writer’s minds: does a book blog still land a book deal? My answer? Of course they do. Great writing and great content will always find an audience, and where there’s an audience, especially […]
The post Book Blog Reviews and Bookstagram: How Influencers Help Authors Reach Agents, Publishers, and Readers appeared first on Anne R. Allen's Blog... with Ruth Harris.
October 6, 2019
Chekhov’s Gun: The Importance of Follow-Through in Fiction
by Anne R. Allen Anton Chekhov, the Russian playwright, also wrote short stories, essays and instructions for young writers. Probably his most famous writerly advice is this admonition: “If in the first act you have hung a pistol on the wall, then in the following one it should be fired. Otherwise don’t put it […]
The post Chekhov’s Gun: The Importance of Follow-Through in Fiction appeared first on Anne R. Allen's Blog... with Ruth Harris.
September 29, 2019
The Seductive Power of a New Book Idea: When to Give in to the Romance
Romancing your new book idea: when to give in—and when to give up. by Ruth Harris Falling in love is easy. We’re swept away, starry-eyed, giddy with possibility. This time it’s different. Really! But is it? The Old Book Blues. You’ve done it. Again! You’ve written yourself into a blind alley. You’re stuck, blocked, out […]
The post The Seductive Power of a New Book Idea: When to Give in to the Romance appeared first on Anne R. Allen's Blog... with Ruth Harris.
September 22, 2019
How Well-Intentioned Loved Ones Can Sabotage Your Writing Career
Launching a writing career is hard–especially with family sabotage. by Anne R. Allen Learning to write well is tough. Getting published is tougher. And selling your published books is tougher still. Nevertheless, we persist. Most writers feel compelled to write, and usually nothing can stop us. But we can be waylaid, distracted, and seriously discouraged. […]
The post How Well-Intentioned Loved Ones Can Sabotage Your Writing Career appeared first on Anne R. Allen's Blog... with Ruth Harris.
September 15, 2019
The Five Myths of Crisis Management for Authors
Crisis management during an online attack needs a quick, savvy response. by Chris Syme I know what you’re thinking. You see the word crisis and say, that will never happen to me. Sorry to burst your bubble, but you are wrong. As with all public figures, a reputation-tanking, book-disappearing, fan-stalking, Twitter-storm crisis can happen to […]
The post The Five Myths of Crisis Management for Authors appeared first on Anne R. Allen's Blog... with Ruth Harris.
