Anne R. Allen's Blog, page 38
December 24, 2017
Frazzled by the Holidays? Blame it on Charles Dickens!
The first Christmas card was sent soon after Charles Dickens’ “A Christmas Carol” was published. by Anne R. Allen As we approach the frantic season known as “The Holidays,” I always ask myself, “Why do we do it?” Why do I make fake snowdrifts around a dying tree in my sunny California living room and […]
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December 17, 2017
“Secret Writing Rules” and Why to Ignore Them
Do you know the “secret writing rules”? by Anne R. Allen Somerset Maugham famously said, “There are three rules for writing. Unfortunately, nobody knows what they are.” But pretty much everybody you meet in the publishing business will give you a list of them. (One is “never start a sentence with ‘there are'” —so watch […]
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December 10, 2017
THE TWELVE DAYS OF CHRISTMAS…WRITING CLICHÉS
Writing clichés are allowed at Christmastime, even welcomed! by Tara Sparling When it comes to Christmas, writers and writing are inextricably linked. The rites and rituals of the season are handed down from year to year through books, TV, movies, and song. But where are the festive songs about writers? I searched high and low, but […]
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December 3, 2017
Easy Blogging for Authors: 10 Tips for a Successful Author Blog
The Author Blog: Easy Blogging for Busy Authors is almost here! by Anne R. Allen I’ve made some spectacular blunders in my blogging career. But since we learn from our mistakes, I’ve got a boatload of information now. As Ruth and I say: “We made the mistakes so you don’t have to.” The worst decision […]
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November 26, 2017
Authors’ Alphabet: From A to Z.
An authors’ alphabet of useful resources from agents, bestselling authors, and many websites, including this blog. by Ruth Harris A Adverbs. Stephen King on the “atrocity of adverbs.” Agent. Necessity or luxury? Laurie McLean lays it out. Nathan Bransford tells how to research an agent. Amazon. Upended traditional Big Six publishing. Also a river in South America. […]
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November 19, 2017
How to Write an Author Bio for Any Occasion
Even new writers need to keep an author bio on hand. By Anne R. Allen The author bio on your social media, blog or website is one of the most important things you’ll ever write, so you want to put some thought into it. It’s what’s going to define you for agents, readers, editors, journalists, […]
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November 12, 2017
Why NaNoWriMo is Liberating for Some Writers and Dangerous for Others
by Anne R. Allen Okay, I’ll confess: I have never been tempted to join in NaNoWriMo. That doesn’t mean I don’t admire the heck out of people who can do it. Charles Dickens wrote A Christmas Carol in a little over month. You can’t argue with that kind of success. But some writers prefer to […]
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November 5, 2017
How to Tame the Social Media Beast
Social Media can feel like a monster. Here’s how to slay it. by Chris Syme When it comes to book marketing, there is no bigger potential time waster than social media. There are approximately 210 social media sites listed on Wikipedia (global numbers). Of those 210, there are about ten that you can probably name […]
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October 29, 2017
How to use Authentic Historical Detail to Trigger Emotions and Memories in Your Reader
Beyond Nostalgia: authentic historical detail from fads, trends, and headlines can help you write books readers will relate to. by Ruth Harris Writers of historical fiction, whether Regency, Middle Ages, Victorian use the markers of the era—clothes, furniture, manners, leaders, resisters, war, peace, prosperity, recession—to create character, conflict, and plot. Writers of fiction set in […]
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October 22, 2017
Amazon’s Latest Crackdowns: Do they Include Amazon Review Trolls?
Where will Amazon review trolls lurk now the Amazon fora are gone? by Anne R. Allen Amazon periodically cracks down on users who have been abusing their customer review and ranking systems. Most of us are happy when the giant retailer takes steps to combat the abuse. Cheaters take money out of our pockets and […]
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