Word magic.
You want to write fiction—or perhaps you’re already an author—and you have a challenge. Days and weeks go by, and you don’t write a word. It’s all too hard. You get an idea, but by the time you’ve written ten pages, it’s gone. Your plot is silly; your characters are even sillier. Here’s the thing. Although professionals tell you to … Read more
Ah, creativity. If only we could be more creative… As it turns out, a pen and paper will help with that. Handwriting has numerous benefits, not only for writers, but for everyone. Yes, writing by hand is slower than typing, and less productive. And you can’t search a physical notebook by clicking on a search icon. (You can. More on … Read more
If you’re self-publishing, remember that the holidays are coming, and that they’re the big-spending times of the year. Some authors have already published Christmas-themed short stories, or have factored them into their publishing schedule. Others are developing planners and goal-setting templates, ready for the end of the year and January sales. Have you created goals for the next few months? … Read more
You may love writing fiction, but chances are that you have challenges. Perhaps you begin many more novels and stories than you finish. It’s a common challenge—your hard drives may be packed with unfinished fiction. Although that’s fine—you can begin stories just for fun—it’s unwise to make it a habit. Recently a frustrated writing student who’s starting her self-publishing career … Read more
Looking for writing ideas to help increase your income? Consider developing nonfiction ebooks. Not only can you write and sell them, you can write them for others as a ghostwriter. Recently, a new freelance writer was dismissive when I mentioned ebooks. He said there was no point in writing them, because: “Everything’s on the web, so no one’s paying for … Read more