Elizabeth Spann Craig's Blog, page 67
February 24, 2019
End Your Story Well to Sell
by Zoe M. McCarthy, @ZoeMMcCarthy
If you don’t backload a satisfying ending to your story, readers may not buy your next book.
We’ll look at tips for a satisfying ending scene(s). When I say ending scene, I don’t mean an epilogue.
Tips for a Satisfying Ending*
Tip 1: Don’t Rush the Ending
The reader will feel like the author wrapped up everything quickly to meet a deadline.
In a romance, you might be tempted to hurry the heroine to agree to an engagement or say “I do,” at the altar. Perhaps you could slow the ending down by wrapping up a minor subplot. Maybe the heroine has wanted a place to call home since the beginning. Without belaboring the ending, maybe you could bring this idea full circle before or after promises of love.
Tip 2: Don’t End in a Flurry of Conflicts and High Emotions
Cutting off the story when actions and emotions are intense is like characters sprinting to a cliff with bad men in pursuit and the reader turns the page to find “The End.”
Readers need to come down from the emotional frenzy and witness what the characters feel and do when they’re in their more normal state. In a legal thriller, after a highly emotional court drama and verdict play out, a short scene occurring on the next day might follow. Over breakfast in a diner, the defending lawyer shares with the released defendant how at the last moment he obtained the one piece of evidence that saved the defendant’s life.
Tip 3: Resolve Subplots
Unless your book is part of a series, resolve all subplots. Often a series will leave one subplot open to be continued in the next book. Readers of a book series accept an open subplot, but the main plot needs to be resolved.
It’s best if all subplots are not resolved in the last scene.
No subplot should distract readers from the main plot’s resolution. Suppose in the last chapter of an author’s disaster book, he orchestrates a father and son’s fast-paced rescue from an earthquake. The last scene shows them searching for the rest of their family in rescue shelters. Resolution of the father’s and son’s differences over the son attending college would distract from the search and the joy when they locate family members.
And don’t draw out resolutions of subplots. Although the reader has earned a rest period in the ending, she doesn’t desire a fall-asleep period.
Tip 4: Show How Your Protagonist Is a Wiser, More Competent Person
The main character may not achieve the goal he hoped for, but he should be able to do something he couldn’t do in the beginning. If he hasn’t grown in some way, even if it’s to accept that he won’t accomplish his goal, readers will feel the time they’ve spent with him through conflicts and disasters has accomplished nothing. That’s not satisfying.
Tip 5: Make the Ending Unpredictable, Plausible, and Memorable
Although your ending must be plausible and must deliver what readers expect from the genre, give the reader an ending they can’t predict. For example, romance readers expect the hero and heroine to get together in the end. This is predictable. But how they finally get together can be something the reader doesn’t expect.
For example, the reader expects the couple to have it all, but for the hero to choose love, he sacrifices his desire to return to his homeland. For genres other than romance, keep the reader guessing whether the protagonist will succeed or fail at getting what she wants right up to the final moments.
Work on your last page until it leaves the reader with something that’s memorable and resonates.
Tip 6: Be Careful If Your Ending Isn’t a Happy One
If your ending isn’t a happy one, the reader must at least feel satisfied. Perhaps the protagonist chooses to do something courageous that harms him, but it’s best for those he loves. In fact, your ending may be more interesting if it contains a win and a loss.
Tip 7: Create More Than One Ending
Try different endings and see which gives the best emotional satisfaction or introduces a “gotcha.” Make sure a twist is believable, though. Using a clichéd gimmick, such as a character is alive after the reader witnessed his death, might not be satisfying.
Tip 8: Include the Title or Theme
If your story has a strong theme or a title that represents the theme well, including the theme or title may work in your story’s wrap-up. But if either feels plunked in or cheesy, neither is right for your ending.
What element might you include in your ending that would be a welcome surprise to your reader?
*Excerpts and paraphrases from Zoe M. McCarthy’s Tailor Your Fiction Manuscript in 30 Days. More examples of each tip are included in the book.
Zoe M. McCarthy is a full-time speaker, author of Christian contemporary romances, and blogger on writing. She’s a member of ACFW and the treasurer of the Virginia chapter. On suggestions from an agent and a publishing house editor, Zoe developed a detailed resource, Tailor Your Fiction Manuscript in 30 Days. Zoe and her husband live in the Blue Ridge Mountains and enjoy canoeing and spending time at their lake cabin. She teaches a community Bible study, leads writing workshops, and hosts a prayer shawl ministry. She has six grandchildren.
8 Tips for a Satisfying Ending From @ZoeMMcCarthy :
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February 23, 2019
Twitterific Writing Links
by Elizabeth S. Craig, @elizabethscraig
Twitterific writing links are fed into the Writer’s Knowledge Base search engine (developed by writer and software engineer Mike Fleming) which has over 48,000 free articles on writing related topics. It’s the search engine for writers.
Have you visited the WKB lately? Check out the new redesign where you can browse by category, and sign up for free writing articles, on topics you choose, delivered to your email inbox! Sign up for the Hiveword newsletter here.
New Stuff:
Industry expert Jane Friedman is hosting a webinar on Friday, March 8 (it will be recorded, so you don’t have to watch it live) on ‘perfecting your author website, email newsletter, and social network. I’ve heard Jane speak before and she’s incredibly knowledgeable (I’m not an affiliate…just a fan of Jane’s). The webinar is only $12 if you sign up before March 1. More information here.
Business / Miscellaneous
How to Cut Down on Your Business Expenses (for Writers and Creatives): @kikimojo
Why Indie Authors Need Literary Executors & How to Appoint One: @maggieauthor @IndieAuthorALLI
7 Top Publisher Tips Authors Need To Be Awesome: @1JULIEANDERSON @BadRedheadMedia
Voice Technologies For Authors: @bmetrock @thecreativepenn
Business / Taxes
Prepping for Tax Time as a Writer:
Conferences and Events / Miscellaneous
Writers’ Conferences for Newbies: How to Attend Your First Conference: by Billie Wade @write_practice
London Book Fair Notes: Charles Clark Lecture; IPA Freedom To Publish @Porter_Anderson @HugoSetzer @jacksthomas
Bologna Children’s Book Fair Names 2019 Ragazzi Award Winners: @Porter_Anderson @pubperspectives
British Book Awards Program Names Nine Bookshop Shortlists: @Porter_Anderson @pubperspectives
National Book Foundation’s Spring ‘NBF Presents’ Season: Expanded Programming: @Porter_Anderson
Sweden’s Dorotea Bromberg Is London Book Fair’s Lifetime Achievement Laureate 2019: @Porter_Anderson @doroteabromberg
Creativity and Inspiration / Goal setting
How to Set Wildly Ambitious Writing Goals—and Accomplish All of Them: @PSHoffmanAuthor @WritersDigest
Creativity and Inspiration / Inspiration / Reading as Writers
Studying Stories as a Writer: @TyreanMartinson @TheIWSG
Five Books About the Magical Post-Apocalypse: @ShaunBarger @tordotcom
10 Tips for Writing a Good Book Review: @_HannahHeath
7 Novels about Orphans: by Elizabeth Brooks @ElectricLit
Creativity and Inspiration / Miscellaneous
Taking Risks as Part of the Creative Lifestyle: @SeptCFawkes
Creativity and Inspiration / Motivation
Why Your Writing Matters—Even if You’re Not Making Any Money from It: @aliventures @LiveWriteThrive
Creativity and Inspiration / Productivity / Fitting in Writing
How to Create an Easy Habit of Daily Writing Without Willpower: @WritetoDone
Why It’s Hard to Find Time to Write and How to Do it Anyway: @WriteNowCoach
How to Boost Writing Productivity with Calendars or To-Do Lists: @colleen_m_story
21 ways to get out of the writing doldrums: @pubcoach
Creativity and Inspiration / Productivity / Writer’s Block
Procrastination is a Self-Perpetuating Cycle: 9 Tips for Getting Unstuck: @KatieDavisBurps @annerallen
Creativity and Inspiration / Writing Life
13 ways to prevent overwork from affecting your writing: @pubcoach
“On the Excavation of My Desk”: @davidulin @lithub
The Mirror World of the Dyslexic Novelist: @RodDuncan @tordotcom
“How a Community Made Me a Better Writer”: @WriterMomLife @pbackwriter
No One Cares But You: @DeanWesleySmith
Writing and the Creative Life: Writing Sprints and Writing Walks: @GoIntoTheStory
Make Time to Be Solitary: @hopeclark
How 1 Author’s Mental Illness Affects Her Writing: @LisaLisax31
When Is a Piece of Writing Finished? @BeingTheWriter @womenonwriting
“How I Found Love One Literary Event at a Time”: @tajjaisen @lithub
How to Say “I’m a Writer” and Mean It: @bethmarcel @lithub
Analog Writing in the Digital World : @pauljessup @sfwa
How Mental Health Can Affect Productivity (And What to do About it): @writingcookbook
Genres / Fantasy
The Emotional Journey of Writing Fantasy: @_rachelhartman @tordotcom
Eight Terrain Features for Fantasy Kingdoms to Fight Over: by Oren Ashkenazi @mythcreants
Genres / Memoir
5 Steps to Overcoming Fears of Writing about the Deeply Personal in Your Memoir : @BrokenWhole_JB @WritersDigest
Genres / Mystery
Crime Fiction: When Old Cases Are Reopened: @mkinberg
Genres / Romance
Guide To Writing Will-They-Won’t-They: @writingandsuch
Genres / Science Fiction
20 Mistakes To Avoid In Science Fiction: @writingandsuch
Genres / Screenwriting
Books Vs. Movies: Taking Out the Heart of “A Wrinkle in Time”: @CockeyedCaravan
Why ‘Friends’ Has An Awesome Pilot (And What It Can Teach Writers): @Bang2write
Promo / Blogging
How to Start a Blog (Simple Guide for Beginners) in 2019: @RobMening
Promo / Miscellaneous
Want Authorly Superpowers? Build a Street Team: @AngelaAckerman
A Simple Question for Better Book Marketing: @Margo_L_Dill @womenonwriting
5 mistakes you’re making in your 60-second elevator speech: @gigirosenberg
What are Loglines? 6 Tips to Write Strong Summaries: @nownovel
Promo / Pricing
Schedule Price Changes and Promos with Draft2Digital: @Draft2Digital
Promo / Social Media Tips
Using Twitter For Your Author Platform: @wvancamp
Promo / Speaking
4 Tips For Authors in Public: How to Overcome Your Fear of Being Seen: @thDigitalReader @thecreativepenn
How a Writer Can Put Power into a Point: @YvonneOrtega1 @EdieMelson
Promo / Websites
9 Tips to Help You Build a Great Author Website: @createastorylov
Publishing / Miscellaneous
Publishing Colleagues and Friends Remember Accessibility Advocate Robin Seaman: @Porter_Anderson @pubperspectives
Industry Notes: Podcasts at London Book Fair; Pew Research on Smartphones: @Porter_Anderson @jacksthomas
Interview: Jessica Sänger on Weighing the EU’s Copyright Directive After Trilogue: @Porter_Anderson @pubperspectives
What Is Public Domain? (And Why 2019 Is a Big Year): @bfrazjd @JaneFriedman
Radish Originals: Seung-yoon Lee’s New Venture in Online Serials: @Porter_Anderson @bylineSY
Publishing / News / International Publishing
German Market Watches as Its Largest Wholesaler and Distributor KNV Struggles: @Porter_Anderson @pubperspectives
In Brussels: A Focus on Francophone Independent Publishers: @oliviasnaije @pubperspectives
Russian Book Publishers Say Paper Costs Are Limiting Production: by Eugene Gerden @pubperspectives
Publishing / Options / Self-Publishing
5 Tips for Self-Publishing Beginners: @lsmith335
Publishing / Options / Traditional Publishing / Querying
Can I finish my five book series before querying? @Janet_Reid
5 Questions to Ask Before Submitting to an Agent or Editor: @tessaemilyhall
Publishing / Process / Book Design
3 Things to Consider When Designing Your Novel’s Cover: By Ray Flynt @Janice_Hardy
Publishing / Process / Distribution
Business Musings: Bookstores and Libraries (Planning for 2019): @KristineRusch
Writing Craft / Characters / Development
How To Create Characters Using The Enneagram: by Rebecca Langley @standoutbooks
A Master Class on Character — Interview with David Corbett (podcast): @DIYMFA
Make Characters Unique with Layering: @JamiGold
Character Type: Addict: @GoIntoTheStory
Writing Craft / Characters / Emotion
How to Get Emotion Onto the Page: @LisaCron
Writing Craft / Flashback and Back Story
How to Write Flashbacks So They Aren’t Clunky: @BrynDonovan
Writing Craft / Lessons from Books and Film
A Lesson On Subtext from Mary Poppins: @writerashley
5 Ways Sylvia Plath Can Help You Improve Your Writing: @FredBobJohn @standoutbooks
Writing Craft / Literary Devices
30 Rhetorical Devices — And How to Use Them: @ReedsyHQ
Writing Craft / Miscellaneous
How to Turn a Writing Prompt You Hate Into a Story You Love: @sarahstypos @write_practice
Writing What You Don’t Believe: @davidcorbett_ca @WriterUnboxed
Method Writing: @richardgthomas3
Practical Steps to Improve Your Craft: @rsmonterusso @StoryGrid
My Pet Peeves as a Reader – Slang in Writing: @Peter_Rey_
5 Ways to Create Writing Magic: @lilyionamac @DIYMFA
How to Keep Your Book Relevant After Its Release: by Gary McPherson @WritersDigest
Begin from the Middle: How to Start Your Story In Medias Res: by Paul Buchanan @WritersDigest
Breaking The Fourth Wall: @writingandsuch
On the Problems of Changing Style, Novel to Novel: @TJohnstonWriter @lithub
Writing Craft / Pacing
Beat Sheets to Help With Pacing: @writingrefinery @DIYMFA
Writing Craft / Punctuation and Grammar
‘Myriad’ vs. ‘A Myriad Of’: @GrammarGirl
What Are Run-On Sentences? @GrammarGirl
Writing Craft / Revision
Kill your darlings. No, but really. @KMcCaughrain
Real Life Diagnostics: Is This Fight Scene Working? @Janice_Hardy
But I Won’t Do That: Sex and Revisions: @bryngreenwood @WriterUnboxed
The Editor’s Clinic: The Limits of Editing: by Dave King @WriterUnboxed
Writing Craft / Revisions / Critiques
7 things to consider before you join a writing group: @TheLeighShulman
Online Critique Groups: A Path to Better Writing, All from Your Comfy Couch: @meanwinniejean @RMFWriters
Writing Craft / Scenes
All-Important Considerations When Crafting a Scene: @LiveWriteThrive
Writing Craft / Word Crafting
29 Ways To Write About Happiness: @Writers_Write
The Top Writing Links From Last Week Are On Twitterific:
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February 22, 2019
5 Tips for Self-Publishing Beginners
Hi, everyone! Today I’m guest-blogging over at Laura Smith’s blog with a post for self-publishing beginners. I’m offering 5 self-publishing basics. Hope you’ll hop over. :)
Photo credit: Stuck in Customs on Visualhunt / CC BY-NC-SA
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February 17, 2019
Prepping for Tax Prep
by Elizabeth S. Craig, @elizabethscraig
Clearly, I’m no accountant or tax lawyer. In fact, I encourage anyone with a large-ish writing business to use a CPA, as I do. I had one terrifying moment in 2013 where I realized that my tax return was a disaster. Fortunately, I found a well-recommended CPA to help me out before the tax deadline.
My accountant had me do two things right away: start pre-paying the state and federal estimated taxes, and set up a separate bank account for my book earnings and book-related expenses.
In 2013 I was still trying to wrap my head around the fact that this was so much of a business. I’d always tried to treat my writing as a business, but on the dollars and cents side I sometimes failed to handle it that way. Now writing income is direct-deposited into my account and whenever I need to buy printer ink (or a laptop), I make sure I take the money out of that writing account.
I’ve also gotten good about keeping track of possible write-offs. Here are the types of expenses that I track and give to my CPA:
Book production: Cover design, ISBN costs, Editing, Formatting, Library of Congress copyright listings
Advertising: Newsletter marketing (MailChimp costs), giveaway costs (Goodreads and others: the cost of participating in the program, the cost of the book, the cost of postage), photography (head shots)
Website: Website support and services, WordPress domain, hosting, domain name registration
Professional subscriptions and memberships: ALLi, Toastmasters, Hootsuite Pro
Courses and professional development: Any promo-related classes, writing-related resources, research material, etc.
Office Supplies: Ink, paper, chargers, batteries, USB microphones/cameras for podcasts, internet usage, software, postage
Conferences, festivals, book signings: Keep gas and food and hotel receipts. Note the cost of the conference.
Do you have a good way to keep track of your writing-related expenses? What have I missed on my to-be-tracked list?
Prepping for Tax Time as a Writer:
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February 16, 2019
Twitterific Writing Links
by Elizabeth S. Craig, @elizabethscraig
Twitterific writing links are fed into the Writer’s Knowledge Base search engine (developed by writer and software engineer Mike Fleming) which has over 48,000 free articles on writing related topics. It’s the search engine for writers.
Have you visited the WKB lately? Check out the new redesign where you can browse by category, and sign up for free writing articles, on topics you choose, delivered to your email inbox! Sign up for the Hiveword newsletter here.
Business / Miscellaneous
The Different Types of Editing Explained: @jimdempsey @WriterUnboxed
Best New Year Strategies for New Novelists: @ZaraAltair @ProWritingAid
Conferences and Events / Miscellaneous
Tips for Author School Visits: @AHuelsenbeck
London Book Fair Designates its Official 2019 Illustrator and Poet: @Porter_Anderson
Bologna Announces 2019 Themes: Women, African-American Culture, Handwriting: @Porter_Anderson
France’s Maghreb-Orient des Livres at 25: Gaining Importance Among Festivals: @oliviasnaije @pubperspectives
London Book Fair Announces Its 2019 International Excellence Award Shortlists: @Porter_Anderson
Conferences and Events / NaNoWriMo
6 Tips for Polishing Your NaNoWriMo Manuscript: @JuneCasagrande @NaNoWriMo
Creativity and Inspiration / Goal setting
Goals Should Account for the Realities of Our World: @JoEberhardt @WriterUnboxed
One Writer Shares Her 2019 Writing Goals: @SarahRPainter
On Setting Word Count Goals: @jamesscottbell @killzoneauthors
Give Me Fewer Resolutions and More Hustle: @Gabino_Iglesias @LitReactor
Making Sure Your Writing Goals Are Smart: @SueBEdwards
Creativity and Inspiration / Inspiration
Fine Tune Observation Skills to Fire Up Creativity: @CreativeKatrina
Creativity and Inspiration / Inspiration / Reading as Writers
Is it Possible to Read Too Much as a Writer? @AuthorSAT
What Type of Reader Are You? @LisaLisax31
14 Books to Help You Deal with Millennial Burnout: @erinkbart @ElectricLit
On the Experience of Entering a Bookstore in Your Forties (vs. Your Twenties): @The_Big_Quiet @lithub
Crime Fiction Based in San Francisco: @mkinberg
5 Fully Immersive Novels of Psychological Suspense: @ljsims50 @CrimeReads
8 Books That Fuel Our Fascination with Twins: @EJRous @CrimeReads
8 Books About Immortality: by Frances Yackel @ElectricLit
Creativity and Inspiration / Motivation
Making an Attitude Adjustment in Terms of Your Writing: @pubcoach
Creativity and Inspiration / Productivity / Fitting in Writing
Build Productive Writing Habits: How to Write More in the Time You Have: by J. J. Hanna @WritersDigest
Creativity and Inspiration / Productivity / Writer’s Block
5 Tips for Breaking Through the Wall of Your WiP: @KelsieEngen
Five steps to banishing block: by Lisa O’Donnell @CBGBooks
Creativity and Inspiration / Productivity / Writing Quickly
Boost Productivity by Taking Effective Breaks: @LisaEBetz
One Thing that will Speed Up Your Writing and Publishing Progress: @NinaAmir
Writing Slow and Not Loving It: @jillkemerer
Creativity and Inspiration / Writing Life
5 Reasons to Handwrite Your Story: @victoria_grif7
Confidence Through Criticism: Walt Whitman and the Discipline of Creative Self-Esteem: @brainpicker
When a Writer Doesn’t Write: @PeevishPenman
4 Things You Should Know Before You Quit Writing Your Novel: @KMWeiland
Bandersnatching Your Writing Career: @theladygreer @WriterUnboxed
One Writer’s Plan to Cut Back on TV for 2019 to Make More Writing Time: @PhilAthans
12 Signs It’s Time to Say Goodbye to Your Writing Project: @MegDowell
Signs You’re Afraid of Finishing Your Manuscript: @KMAllan_writer
Writing on the Tough Days:
7 Hacks That Will Transform You Into an Unstoppable Writer: @Frank_McKinley
7 Tips to Make You a More Observant Writer: @EdieMelson
Genres / Fantasy
On the Freaky Foods of Fictional Worlds: @thegarlictattoo @lithub
How to Choose Sounds for a Fantasy Language: @AriannaRLemont
Genres / Memoir
7 Reasons To Write A Memoir: @Writers_Write
Genres / Miscellaneous
The 6 Golden Rules Of Writing Legal Fiction: @FredBobJohn @standoutbooks
Respect for graphic novels: “…addressing social and political issues”: @Porter_Anderson @SusanHarrisWWB @wwborders
Genres / Mystery
Crime Writing: What Makes a Good Witness? @FionaQuinnBooks
Being Confronted With One’s Illusions as an Element in Crime Fiction: @mkinberg
Genres / Non-Fiction
Nonfiction Books: 15 Proven Techniques and Methods for 2019: @TheIvanKreimer
Genres / Romance
How Do I Write Non-Sexist Sex Scenes? @mythcreants
Want Readers to Fall in Love With Your Hero? Create The Perfect Hero Lens: @sacha_black
Genres / Screenwriting
Screenwriting: What 22 Industry Pros DO Want From Your Writing: @Bang2write
Promo / Blogging
5 Tips for Better Blogging from @lsmith335 :
Promo / Connecting with Readers
This Is What Happens When You Stop Lying to Readers: @GlennJMiller @CareerAuthors
Promo / Miscellaneous
4 Ways to Boost Your Digital Marketing Strategy: @cleemckenzie @TheIWSG
Promo / Newsletters
How to Keep Your Newsletter from Sucking: Writers @jakazimer @RMFWriters
Promo / Social Media Tips
How to Set Up and Edit Your https://t.co/EHAmyYA10j Author Profile: @thDigitalReader
How Writers can Use the Power of Instagram: @ChrysFey @theindiepubmag
Publishing / Miscellaneous
How to Pitch Articles and Get Published: An Effective 4-Step Strategy: @robertleebrewer
Nine Lessons From a Small Indie Publisher: by Richard Charkin @pubperspectives
Publishing / News / International Publishing
Bulgaria’s ‘BookMonster’ Intends to Make Youngsters Game for Reading: @jaroslawadamows @pubperspectives
‘German Stories’ Launch at Germany’s Guest of Honor Program in Taipei: @Porter_Anderson
Wattpad’s Hong Kong Office Opens Partnership with Huayi Brothers Korea: @Porter_Anderson @pubperspectives
Five Questions for the Sheikh Zayed Book Award’s Paula Santillán Grimm @Porter_Anderson @pubperspectives
Books at Berlinale 2019: “Pitching Literature to Filmmakers”: By Holger Heimann @pubperspectives
Publishing / Options / Self-Publishing
“Why Being Indie Brings Me More Joy in My Writing”: @errinstevens @IndieAuthorALLI
Publishing / Options / Traditional Publishing / Querying
Real Life Diagnostics: Does This Query Blurb Make You Want to Ask for Pages? @Janice_Hardy
How to write the perfect pitch-letter to an agent: by Anna Davis @CBGBooks
How to Write a Query Letter That Grabs a Literary Agent’s Attention: @JerryBJenkins
Where does that personal connection info belong in your query? @Janet_Reid
Publishing / Options / Traditional Publishing / Rejections
Finding the Constructive Criticism in Every Rejection: @MegDowell
Publishing / Process / Book Design
How to Design a Book Cover… Backwards? @chloescheffe @lithub
Publishing / Process / Formatting
Converting from MS Word to Mobi Using Kindle Create: @harmony_kent
Publishing / Process / Services to Avoid
Writing Scams: What Authors Need to Watch Out for in 2019: @annerallen
Writing Craft / Characters / Antagonists
9 Tips For A Powerful Antagonist That Work For Any Genre: @LisaHallWilson
The Villain Doesn’t Change: @SPressfield
Writing Craft / Characters / Development
7 Tips to Writing Humanoid Monster Protagonists: Even the Undead Can Have Heart: @cyallowitz
Choices characters make: @Janet_Reid
Writing Craft / Characters / Emotion
How Charles M. Schulz Made an Art of Difficult Emotions: @brainpicker
Writing Craft / Characters / Protagonists
Writing Tips: 4 Mistakes To Avoid When Creating Your Protagonist: @sacha_black @thecreativepenn
Writing Craft / Common Mistakes
Is Story Structure Strangling Your Writing? @Janice_Hardy
Writing Craft / Dialogue
How to convey accents in fiction writing: beyond phonetic spelling: @LouiseHarnby
Writing Craft / Drafts
How to Finish Writing a Book: @writingcookbook
Writing Craft / Flashback and Back Story
5 Easy Tricks to Smuggle in Background Info (and Even Make it Fun): @RidethePen
Writing Craft / Miscellaneous
One writing rule you really need: @Roz_Morris
Psychology and Writing: How to Use Psychology to Write Amazing Stories: by Joslyn Chase @write_practice
How to Write a MacGuffin: @themaltesetiger
A Cheat Sheet To Writing A Novel In Suburbia: @NatashaTynes @WomenWriters
Writing Craft / Pacing
An Easy Tip for Tightening Your Novel’s Plot: @Janice_Hardy
Writing Craft / POV
Are You a POV Snob? @MaeClair1
Using “You” in Deep POV: by Jax Hunter @RMFWriters
Writing Craft / Pre-Writing / Plotting
Midpoints: Signpost Scene 7 and The Mirror Moment: @abigailkperry @DIYMFA
Writing Craft / Punctuation and Grammar
3 Apostrophe Rules: @VSAnderson1
Writing Craft / Revision
Six Easy Tips for Self-Editing Your Fiction: @KristenLambTX
Writing Craft / Scenes
How to Set a Scene: @Lindasclare
Writing Craft / Settings and Description
Make Plotting Fiction Easier: 3 Ideas For Settings And Moods: @angee
Writing Craft / Tropes
Hero’s Journey Archetypes: @valerie_francis @StoryGrid
Writing Craft / World-Building
How to Create a Wiki to Support Your Fantasy Worldbuilding: @jennlyonsauthor @tordotcom
Writing Tools / Apps
How a Writing Tool Can Help You Write Better: @HayleyMilliman @LiveWriteThrive @ProWritingAid
Tour Scrivener’s Inspector: @ph_solomon @StoryEmpire
Writing Tools / Books
5 Inspiring Books for Writers: @LMacNaughton
The Top Writing Links From Last Week Are On Twitterific:
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February 14, 2019
Writing on the Tough Days
by Elizabeth S. Craig, @elizabethscraig
A few weeks ago I’d read an interesting post from Cathy C. Hall about the danger of waiting for ‘the perfect time to write.’ She gives examples of likely ‘perfect time’ scenarios, which are basically anytime but now. Waiting until life is less-challenging.
As Cathy puts it:
There is no such thing as the perfect time for writing. There will always be something or someone coming along to give us a perfectly good reason not to write. And before you know it, it’s been weeks, months, years, since you’ve written much at all.
Waiting for the perfect time (or, at least, a better time) to write may seem to have an easy solution: prioritize your writing. But that’s only part of it.
I think that this is another area where writerly perfectionism can rear its ugly head. We think if we’re squeezing in five minutes here or there or if we’re in a rush that we’re not creating perfect work.
As the old saying goes, you can’t fix an empty page. Maybe you’re not creating perfect work, but you’re creating. And days when I’ve been creative are my best days.
How do you fit writing into your schedule instead of waiting for the perfect time? I have a few ideas, having done it for so many years (as I’m on the brink now of an empty nest, I have to do this less-frequently, but I still prepare for it).
Fitting in Writing During Tough Days:
Carry a small notebook and pen or pencil with you.
Alternatively, use an app on your phone to write in small pockets of available time.
Backup your manuscript to an app like Google Drive so that you can remember where you left off with your story and seamlessly continue it on the go.
Be mentally prepared to jump into your story in those small dead moments of the day instead of checking social media or emails. I wrote daily while sitting in the carpool line outside my kids’ schools.
Train yourself to write in a variety of different places (this really helps to combat ‘perfect time’ syndrome). Try libraries, parks, and coffeehouses.
Try writing at different times of the day. It helps when you can write when no one else is up…this could be either at the beginning or the end of the day.
On those really crazy days when you can’t get your head into your story, try making lists of things that can further your book in an easy way.
See just how flexible you can possibly be with your writing. That’s one way to get more done in short spurts in 2019. A nice side effect is that you’ll build confidence in your ability to get your writing done even on the toughest days.
Do you ever fall into the ‘perfect time’ trap? Any tips that I’ve left out?
Tips for Writing on the Tough Days:
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February 10, 2019
5 Mistakes to Watch Out For When Editing Your Blog Posts
by Laura Smith, @lsmith335
Editing Is Crucial
Let’s face it, even a good first draft can look like a hot mess when it’s first read. Every decent English teacher I’ve ever had has marked up my rough draft with a red pen and then said, “good job.” But we’re not in English class anymore, and we have to take the red pen to our work ourselves. That means catching everything from basic typos to cutting entire sections that don’t flow with the rest of the piece. It also means throwing away some basic knowledge that I learned in school and adapting to the age of writing online.
I have to admit, this was the most self-aware piece I’ve ever written. I had to make sure I was following my own advice as I was giving it. After all, what’s the point of offering advice if you’re not going to follow it yourself? Below are five of the major elements that I review when I’m editing my blog articles.
1. Long and Wordy Sentences and Paragraphs
Reading on a screen is much different from reading from a piece of paper. Forget everything your elementary school teachers taught you about writing paragraphs. If you can make your point in two sentences, move onto the next paragraph.
Help your readers out by breaking up your paragraphs into shorter pieces. A quick scroll through the article will cause them to notice the length right away. They’re more likely to read three paragraphs that are each three sentences long than one paragraph that is nine sentences long. It’s like cutting a peanut butter and jelly sandwich into fourths rather than in half to make a kid believe that they’re eating a smaller amount of food.
Also, vary your sentence length. Can you split a long sentence into two shorter ones? Are you over-explaining something that the reader already understands? Can you provide a specific example rather than rephrase what you just said? Read your work aloud to make sure you can say the sentence in one breath. If not, your own voice will tell you where you need to pause.
2. Trying To Cram In A Good Point That Doesn’t Fit With The Rest Of The Article
Notice when you’re veering off-topic. When we’re drafting a piece, we tend to write down everything that comes to mind, and that’s good. But you have to be willing to cut anything and everything if you need to. This might be because of word length limits or the fact that the point has nothing to do with the rest of the paragraph or article.
In one recent piece that I wrote, I was describing the things that writers do to distract themselves from writing. I started naming specific tasks and chores, like changing light bulbs or taking old clothes to the Goodwill. It felt like a lighthearted and relatable point. However, not only did it take up a crucial chunk of my limited word count, but it was redundant and kept the reader from getting to the point of that section, which was to take time to organize your files. So, I shortened the paragraph to one sentence and got to the actual point of the section much faster.
If a stray sentence or paragraph fits better in another part of the article, move it. Otherwise, save it for a different article, or delete it all together. Even a solid point can distract from the focus of the piece and make the article look choppy and disorganized to a reader.
3. Using a Bad Title
Titles are hard for me. Whether it’s the title of a book, an article, or a section of a piece, I stress over whether the title is too generic to capture a reader’s attention or too obscure to let the reader know what the article is about. Luckily, there are free tools to help with this, at least when writing blogs and articles.
One such tool is the Headline Analyzer. Here, you type in the rough title that you have come up with and the category of the piece, and the site will tell you how “good” it is. You want to aim for a 25% effectiveness or higher. You can then tweak words and placement, and run it through again to compare with your last score. Here is the link to the site: https://www.aminstitute.com/headline/
4. A Rushed or Boring Introduction and Conclusion
When I blog, I like to write a meaningful introduction and conclusion to most of my pieces, even if those are the parts that a lot of readers like to skip. Still, my formal training taught me to summarize and reiterate your points at the beginning and end of your essays so if a reader does take a look at it, it has to be gripping.
Start with a personal story, ask a question, or tell a joke, depending on the topic. Don’t ramble on. Get to your list or the meat of your article fast. Keep it short so that readers don’t feel the need to scroll past the beginning or stop at the conclusion. Don’t think of these sections as something to get through. Use them to put your own personal flair on the piece.
5. Inconsistencies in Formatting and Word Choice
You have to pick a format and stick with it. Don’t put some important words in bold and others in Italics. Don’t start numbering sections and bulleting others. Don’t start with a quote at the beginning of some of your sections and then stop halfway through. Don’t use jargon that you haven’t explained or examples that are confusing or take too long to describe.
If you’re reviewing a movie, don’t start calling a character by their nickname without explaining that it is their nickname the first time you use it or providing the names of actors who played certain characters but not others. Make sure that you are using the right format for the titles of novels, short stories, songs, movies, TV shows, etc. Don’t assume you are a master of English mechanics. Look up anything that you’re not sure of on trustworthy sites.
When you’re looking up pictures, make sure they fit in with the topic of the piece. Don’t try to make it work with a creative caption. Use high quality images so that readers know what they’re looking at and don’t think there’s something wrong with their screen.
Conclusion
Using these five editing tips are going to lower your chances of kicking yourself when you find an error or weakness in your piece after it is published. It’s devastating to find imperfections in your perfect work, and you most likely will, but at least they will be small blemishes, not giant warts. So, take your red pen and start marking up that page before you hit publish!
Laura Smith is the self-published author of three middle grade books, a volunteer editor for LitPick (a student book review website), and a blogger for HubPages. When she isn’t writing, she’s shopping, drawing, working on projects around her house, and spending time with her family.
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February 9, 2019
Twitterific Writing Links
by Elizabeth S. Craig, @elizabethscraig
Twitterific writing links are fed into the Writer’s Knowledge Base search engine (developed by writer and software engineer Mike Fleming) which has over 48,000 free articles on writing related topics. It’s the search engine for writers.
Have you visited the WKB lately? Check out the new redesign where you can browse by category, and sign up for free writing articles, on topics you choose, delivered to your email inbox! Sign up for the Hiveword newsletter here.
News
I had a couple of really fun interviews last week. One with Ellen Jacobson (where we discussed character v. plot (and also cookies and penguins!) and another at the Maltese Tiger blog where we discussed making progress on a story during tough writing days.
There’s also a new podcast I’ve discovered that should be fun for True Crime and mystery lovers. We Never Solved Anything features Kay and Tay as they explore a new unsolved mystery every week.
Business / Miscellaneous
Freelance: 20 Ways to Generate Article Ideas in 20 Minutes or Fewer: @mridukhullar @WritersDigest
Business Musings: The Current State of Disruption (Planning for 2019) : @KristineRusch
Outsourcing self-publishing tasks: @JyotsnaR @IndieAuthorALLI
Book vs. Film: “Bird Box”: @ChrisShultz_ @LitReactor
How Developmental Editing Improves Your Writing: @WritingForward
Conferences and Events / Miscellaneous
The Selfies Award Announces Its First Self-Published Shortlist: @Porter_Anderson @pubperspectives
Wellcome Book Prize Announces Its 10th Anniversary Longlist: @Porter_Anderson @wellcomebkprize
AAP’s 2019 Professional and Scholarly Conference: ‘Mission Critical’: @Porter_Anderson @bgreene
“How I Helped Create a Successful Online Summit for 600 Writers”: @DanBlank
Creativity and Inspiration / Goal setting
How to Define and Achieve Your Creative Goals (Podcast): @DanBlank
How to Set Writing Goals the Right Way: @EmmanuelNataf @ReedsyHQ
How to Make and Accomplish Goals: by Diane Tibert
Creativity and Inspiration / Inspiration / Reading as Writers
How to Use Kindle’s New Custom Font Feature: @thDigitalReader
Classic SF Works Set on Thrilling Space Habitats: @jamesdnicoll @tordotcom
How To Find Time To Read More Books In 2019: @inkyelbows
New Year, New Queue: Taming that TBR: @AnnieNeugebauer
A Children’s Fiction Author Shares Her 2019 Reading Resolutions: @alexthepink
MAP: 100 Iconic Love Stories From Around the World: from Global English Editing
Creativity and Inspiration / Perfectionism
Writing and Perfection – Is There Such a Thing? @KarenCV
Creativity and Inspiration / Productivity / Fitting in Writing
Why You Should Write Daily—Even if You Hate Writing: @KathyEdens1 @ProWritingAid
Writing More: 3 Essential Strategies To Write Your Book: @angee
Creativity and Inspiration / Success
7 things published writers do differently: @NathanielTower
5 Tips for Success from an Indie Author: @ceilingsmasher
Creativity and Inspiration / Writing Life
Are You On a Route Suited for Multiple Writing Projects? @RosanneBane
Pursue Your Contentment — and Your Chaos: @ThereseWalsh @WriterUnboxed
Your Skills May Need Time to Catch Up to Your Vision: by Bucket Siler
Can Parenthood Be the Artist’s Best Tool? @NemoAuthor @lithub
Seeking Truth in Fiction: @kcraftwriter @WriterUnboxed
Your No. 1 Secret Weapon: Writing Communities: @katrinschumann @JaneFriedman
Learning How And When To Take Advice: @reynagentin @WomenWriters
Writing: Does an Indie Author Ever Really Retire? @DebbieYoungBN @IndieAuthorALLI
The importance of patience for writers: @AnnieNeugebauer @WriterUnboxed
Gaining Confidence Through Experience as a Writer:
Rest for Success and Why Busy is Seriously Overrated: @KristenLambTX
Five Ways To Become A Happier Writer: by Mark Alpert @killzoneauthors
Genres / Fantasy
Seven Things Writers Get Wrong About Language: @Young_E_H @mythcreants
Genres / Historical
Crafting the Victorian Novel: Podcast Interview with @_DavidMorrell:
Genres / Mystery
Crime Writing: Burglary vs. Robbery: @LeeLofland
Getting Drawn Unexpectedly Into Murder as an Element in Crime Fiction: @mkinberg
Why Small Towns Are So Perfect for Crime Fiction: @sarablaedel @CrimeReads
My Influences, Writing Routine, and Writing Tips in my Interview with @themaltesetiger:
The Year in Sherlockiana: @LyndsayFaye @CrimeReads
Tips on Writing a Domestic Thriller: @JordanDane @killzoneauthors
How a Drug-Addicted Art Critic Created the Perfect Sleuth for the Jazz Age: by John Loughery @CrimeReads
Why Regency England Is the Perfect Setting for Mystery: by Catherine Lloyd @CrimeReads
Unusual Inheritances as an Element in Crime Fiction: @mkinberg
Genres / Poetry
‘Keats is dead…’: How young women are changing the rules of poetry: @DonnaLFerguson @GuardianBooks
Genres / Romance
Guide To Writing Faded Love: @writingandsuch
Genres / Science Fiction
Six Means of SF Transportation You Should Probably Avoid: @jamesdnicoll @tordotcom
Genres / Screenwriting
Translating Sherlock Holmes to the Screen Is No Longer Elementary: @JeffYorkWriter @CreativeScreen
Screenwriting: When Good Scripts Go Bad: @BittrScrptReadr
Genres / Young Adult
Resources For Writing Young Adult Fiction: @writingandsuch
Promo / Blogging
How Can Guest Posts Improve Your Book Marketing? by Rebecca Langley @standoutbooks
Promo / Connecting with Readers
Analyze Your Audience: @davidfarland
Promo / Miscellaneous
How to Calendarize Your Book Marketing Approach: @proflangley @WritersDigest
Promo / Platforms
5 Reasons Your Brand as a Writer is More Important than Your Book: @MikeLoomis @WritetoDone
Promo / Social Media Tips
The Ultimate Guide to Social Media for Writers 2019: @DaveChesson
Promo / Websites
Building an Author Website: The First Step to Publishing: @joebunting
Publishing / Miscellaneous
5 Ways to Write Your Most Urgent (and Publishable) Work According to Lit Mag Editors: by Rachel Thompson @DIYMFA
What does a copywriter do? The B2B content marketing guide [2019]: @wearearticulate
‘Cyberwar’ Wins AAP’s RR Hawkins Award: Kathleen Hall Jamieson Sounds Chilling Alarm for Publishers: @Porter_Anderson @pubperspectives
How Long Will Your Book Be? @davidfarland
Stieg Larsson Investigation Bestseller Acquired by Amazon Crossing: @Porter_Anderson
Publishing / News / International Publishing
Industry Notes: London Book Fair’s 2019 Trailblazers; GLLI’s First YA Translation: @Porter_Anderson
The German Book Market in 2018, and a Look Ahead to 2019: @HannahSJohnson @pubperspectives
Czech Book Sales Rise Amid Ongoing Industry Consolidation: @JaroslawAdamows @pubperspectives
Taipei International Book Exhibition 2019: Take ‘Time for Reading’: @Porter_Anderson
Translator Susan Bernofsky Wins Ulfers Prize; Georgina Moore Joins Midas PR: @Porter_Anderson
Publishing / Options / Self-Publishing
Five Commandments of the Independent Author Story: by J. Thorn @StoryGrid
Publishing / Options / Traditional Publishing / Rejections
100 Rejections: Achievement Unlocked: @Aeryn_Rudel
Publishing / Process / Author Assistants
What is an Author Assistant and Do You Need One? @JennyBravoBooks
Publishing / Process / Book Design
Book Cover Design for Your Author Brand: Name Placement: @DaveChesson @BookWorksNYC
Publishing / Process / Contracts
The Book Contract ‘Red Line’: @SophieMasson1 @WriterUnboxed
Publishing / Process / Translation
London Book Fair Names Singapore’s Jeremy Tiang ‘Literary Translator of the Fair’ : @JeremyTiang @Porter_Anderson
Writing Craft / Beginnings
Tips for Introducing Characters: @writingandsuch
Writing Craft / Characters / Arc
The Six Stages of Your Hero’s Character Arc: @LiveWriteThrive
Writing Craft / Characters / Development
Occupation Thesaurus Entry: Yoga Instructor: @AngelaAckerman
Writing Craft / Conflict
Story Grid: How to Create Conflict by Discovering Your Character’s Objects of Desire: @DavidHSafford @write_practice
Writing Craft / Dialogue
Dialogue: The Number One Mistake Newbie Writers Make: @manzanitafire
Writing Craft / Lessons from Books and Film
The Annotation Project: A Wrinkle in Time: @CockeyedCaravan
What Mister Rogers Taught Us About Storytelling: @Repino1 @tordotcom
7 Ways Kurt Vonnegut Poisoned Readers’ Minds with Humanity: @DustinGrinnell @WritersDigest
Writing Craft / Miscellaneous
Writing Within Limitations: @writing_tips
Writing Craft / Pre-Writing / Plotting
The “B” Story Rides to the Rescue of the “A” Story : @SPressfield
5 Tips on Writing Strong Plot Twists: by Savannah Cordova @ReedsyHQ
Writing Craft / Pre-Writing / Story Beats
Gremlins Beat Sheet: @DonRoff @savethecat
Writing Craft / Revision
When You’re Ready to Revise, What to Focus on First: @writeabook
Editing – Proof Listening With Word’s Read Aloud Feature: @authorterryo
“How I Learned to Enjoy Rewriting in 2018”: @BeingTheWriter @womenonwriting
Writing Craft / Scenes
Questions to Consider When Plotting a Scene: @CSLakin @JaneFriedman
Writing Craft / Settings and Description
Tips to Improve Story Description When Using Adjectives: @ZoeMMcCarthy
Writing Craft / Subtext
Subtext for Writers: @SarahSallyHamer @EdieMelson
Writing Craft / Tropes
Character Type: Advocate: @GoIntoTheStory
Writing Craft / Voice
Defining Your Unique Writing Style & Voice: @kristen_kieffer
Writing Craft / World-Building
10 Tips for Unique, Creative World-Building: @_HannahHeath @phoenix_fiction
Writing Tools / Apps
18 Microsoft Word Tips and Tricks for Mac and PC: @TCKPublishing
How to Use Track Changes in Word: @editoreditorial
The Top Writing Links From Last Week Are On Twitterific:
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February 7, 2019
Gaining Confidence Through Experience
by Elizabeth S. Craig, @elizabethscraig
I have a lot of sympathy for writers who get great ideas for other projects (known as SNI…Shiny New Ideas) while working on a book. When you’re in the daily slog of writing a novel, it’s very tempting to jump ship and start working on a new book that seems more like a sure thing.
But it worries me when I read blog posts by writers who are having trouble finishing any of the books they’re working on. There’s a lot to be said for finishing a project. That’s because, after you’ve finished one, you know you can do it. You know that, no matter what kind of shape that manuscript is in, you have the ability to work your way all the way through to The End.
There are other benefits to having lots of experience writing (whether on one book or multiple books). It gives you confidence when you face a problem with your story. I know that, with probably every other book I write, there’s going to be some point when I run into an issue. It could be a plot hole or a character that seems flat or any number of other problems.
But, when I run into an issue, I always feel so much calmer when I realize: I’ve been here before. I don’t think there’s a problem that I haven’t encountered at this point. And it keeps me from getting stressed to know that I’ve handled other roadblocks that have sprung up and turned out a decent book afterward.
Life is sort of like that, too. With years comes experience and the experiences…good and bad…help us to know how to handle problems when they pop up.
Establishing a writing habit and finishing projects are two ways of gaining this experience as writers. You’ll just need to find out what works best for you: writing in the morning? At lunch? In the evening? At home? At the library or coffeehouse? At work during a break? Then make sure the goals you set (as I’ve mentioned before) are reasonable and something that you can easily meet. It doesn’t help to set goals that make us discouraged.
For more tips for setting up a writing habit and for finishing a book see:
12 Tips to Get Unstuck and Finish Writing Your Book by Lorna Faith
How to Develop a Rock-Solid Writing Habit by Daphne Gray-Grant
5 Hacks to Create a Good Writing Habit by Joe Bunting
It’s a nice bonus that a writing habit leads, not only to a finished book, but to more experience to handle future projects (frequently in less time).
Have you run into roadblocks with your books that you’ve realized you can work through? Do you ever have trouble finishing a book?
Gaining Confidence Through Experience:
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February 3, 2019
What is an Author Assistant and Do You Need One?
by Jenny Bravo, @JennyBravoBooks
We are in the age of the author. With the rise of self-publishing and hybrid publishing, authors are pumping out books more than ever. We live in a content-based world with readers who are always wanting more, more, more. Not only do authors need to write more, but now, they need to maintain author platforms, keep updated on social media, and dive into advertising.
How can one person possibly manage all of this work? The answer is that they shouldn’t.
What is an Author Assistant?
You may have heard of a virtual assistant within the online business world. These are people that business owners can hire by the hour or on a retainer that can accomplish the time-consuming tasks that are necessary but draining.
An Author Assistant is essentially a specialized virtual assistant. With an Author Assistant by your side, you can concentrate on your writing, while your assistant can tackle your other tasks.
What can an Author Assistant do for you?
While it varies depending on the assistant, here are a few tasks that are commonly available to authors:
Email management and outreach
Advanced Reader Copy management
Social Media assistance
Book tour assistance
Beta Reader coordination
Blog writing and management
There are two types of assistant work. If you are an author who has a strategy and simply needs a point person to make these tasks happen, you will most likely find a more inexpensive rate. If you are an author in need of a more hands-on approach, you will need an Author Assistant who is a strategist and can be a more integral member of your team.
Do you need an Author Assistant?
Imagine what your week would look like if you could spend three more hours writing. Think of the author-related tasks that eat into your writing time. Do you feel bogged down with research? Do you lose time to book launches and still feel like you could have accomplished more?
Whether you are a beginning author or a seasoned author, an Author Assistant will be an asset for you. Often, Author Assistant services are flexible. If you only need a few hours a week, that is available to you. As you grow to trust your assistant and want to work more with them, you will be able to increase your hours or move to a retainer rate.
How do Author Assistants charge for their services?
Again, this depends on the assistant. However, there are a few structures that are fairly standard.
An hourly rate is typically what you will see when researching assistants. This is a clear cut way for you to determine how your money will be spent and for the assistant to provide you with a clear report of how they spent those hours.
A package rate is for specific services. For instance, you may see a blog tour management package, which breaks down specifically what you will receive for that service and eliminates the time tracking component.
A retainer rate is for assistants and authors who have typically worked together for a few months. This is a set monthly price that allows the assistant to be more available to the author for a larger sum.
You may wonder if there is a more preferable rate structure. I believe an author and an Author Assistant should start with an hourly rate to determine exactly how much work needs to be done and how much time it will take. I see the first month as a trial, getting-to-know-you month that allows the relationship to form. Package rates are much easier to project going forward.
Where can you find an Author Assistant?
There are a number of places to find assistants! Join a Facebook group with other authors and find who they utilize. You can also search in job boards and freelance sites such as Fiverr. Even posting your own search on social media will allow others to suggest assistants for you.
The important thing to remember is that you do not have to do everything alone. For an affordable price, you can work with an assistant who will save you time and allow you to focus on what you really care about… writing!
Jenny Bravo writes books about strong women who don’t have it all together. She shares self-publishing and writing advice on her website, Jenny Bravo Books. Jenny serves other authors as an Author Assistant and is passionate about book marketing and social media techniques. Find out more about her Author Assistant services here.
What kinds of writing-related business would you rather outsource to someone else? Have any questions for Jenny? And…I’m visiting Ellen Jacobson’s blog today. :) Feel free to pop by to say hi!
What Author Assistants Do and How to Find One by @JennyBravoBooks :
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