Word magic.
If you’re a fiction author, you know that short stories sell. They’re useful as promotional tools, and if you’re beginning, they’re a fun way to learn storytelling skills. Recently, a coaching student told me that one of her little ebooks outsells everything else she’s written. “It’s become the foundation of my self-publishing business,” she said. “This story introduces my readers … Read more
Recently, a local authors’ group asked me to chat with them about self-publishing. It was a fun evening with a mix of traditionally published folk and self-publishers. After a brief presentation, the authors asked questions—with many questions about marketing, as well as failures, books that just won’t sell. Everyone has duds, but there’s always something you can do. We’ll look … Read more
Today, self-publishing is big business. With many millions of books available, how do you write fiction that stands out? It can be a struggle. Not only do authors compete with other self-publishers, they also compete with: Traditional publishers. Literary agents. Amazon’s powerful imprints. Traditional publishers are relaunching authors’ backlists. Literary agents survey the battlefield, ready to pounce on new authors … Read more
Are AI tools dangerous? Many freelance writers are using chatbots like ChatGPT, but they’re uncertain about the process. Are artificial intelligence apps “safe”? I’ve had many questions about using tools like ChatGPT, Bard, and others in a writing business. Let’s look at common dangers, and how to avoid them. Common artificial intelligence dangers to avoid if you’re a freelance writer … Read more
How’s your writing process? We’re almost at the end of the year. Perhaps you’re doing your annual review of what worked, and what didn’t work, for you. Recently, several writers told me that they want to change, improve, or create a new writing process in the new year. Want to achieve more in 2023? Start by considering the numbers. Your … Read more