Anne R. Allen's Blog, page 47
April 3, 2016
We are All Prisoners of Our Unexamined Beliefs: Is a False Belief Holding Back Your Writing Career?
by Anne R. Allen “Think outside the box” has become a mindless cliché these days. So many people repeat it that the meaning has mostly been lost. In fact, most people are unaware they are in boxes, so they have no particular desire to think outside of one. But most of us are boxed […]
March 27, 2016
Take Your Book from Meh to Marvelous: Why Every Writer Needs (at Least) One VIP
by Ruth Harris Male or female, good guys or bad girls, famous or infamous, VIPs are the Very Important Persons who go their own way, do their own thing, make their own rules and don’t give a damn about your plans, your ideas, or your outline. You create them but they have a life of […]
March 20, 2016
When You Step in Dogma, Scrape it off Your Shoe: Writers, Ignore Dogmatic Marketing Advice!
by Anne R. Allen The most dangerous concept in the universe is probably, “there is only one right way.” People who insist there is only one right way to live, think, behave, or believe are responsible for most of the world’s conflict and suffering. Merriam-Webster defines dogma as “a belief or set of beliefs […]
March 13, 2016
The Five ‘Insider’ Secrets Of Top Fiction Writers
The Five ‘Insider’ Secrets Of Top Fiction Writers by Dr. John Yeoman How do you write a ‘killer’ novel or story that brings you a contract with an agent or publisher? Or that leaps over the short-list to gain a top prize in a contest? There’s a secret to it. But more than 90% of […]
March 6, 2016
6 Reasons “Show Don’t Tell” Can be Terrible Advice for New Writers
by Anne R. Allen One of the most sacred commandments in the writerly bible is “Show-Don’t-Tell.” As Susan Defreitas wrote at LitReactor, “If writing advice were classic rock, this would be ‘Stairway to Heaven’.” Show-Don’t-Tell is sound advice—up to a point. Nobody wants to read a novel that’s a dry recitation of incidents. That can […]
February 28, 2016
7 Ways To Rekindle The Joy Of Writing
FROM MIKE TYSON TO ALBERT EINSTEIN: Why Writers Need To Goof Off And Space Out by Ruth Harris “Everyone has a plan ’till they get punched in the mouth,” observed philosopher-pugilist, Mike Tyson. Not just boxers, Mike. Ditto for writers. Whether you’re a plotter or pantser, you start out with some kind of plan. […]
February 21, 2016
Beware the “Writing Rules Police”
by Anne R. Allen The Harvard Business School recently did a fascinating study of toxic employees and their effect on a company’s bottom line. The researchers discovered the most difficult and costly employees aren’t the lazy ones or the gossipy ones. It turns out the worst are the ones dead-set on following rules to […]
February 14, 2016
Murder is More Fun with an Accomplice: A Guide for Co-Writing a Novel
By Melodie Campbell To the elderly man in the khaki sweater who lifted his reading glasses to stare open-mouthed… To the unknown person who gasped and knocked over a chair behind me… To the woman with the stroller who stared in horror, and then wheeled her toddler frantically away toward the exit… False […]
February 7, 2016
5 Reasons Writers Need Google Plus, Even Though New Google Plus is Awful
by Anne R. Allen First I have to say how jazzed I am to be named one of the 16 Best People to Follow on Twitter by book marketing guru Penny Sansevieri at Author Marketing Experts, Inc. Thanks Penny! It’s a great list and I’m honored to be on it. Okay, I know why […]
5 Reasons Writers Need Google Plus, Even Though New Google Plus is Awful
by Anne R. Allen First I have to say how jazzed I am to be named one of the 16 Best People to Follow on Twitter by book marketing guru Penny Sansevieri at Author Marketing Experts, Inc. Thanks Penny! It’s a great list and I’m honored to be on it. Okay, I know why […]
