If you want to captivate your readers, a good beginning is essential. Even more so, however, is the story needs to continue to hold them. When the plot meanders and wanders from place to place without much direction or motivation for the characters. When you look at each scene, consider what purpose it has for…
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Picking the right name for a book is about more than what sounds good to you or what feels right for the story. It is important to look at the title as part of your marketing. Along with the cover, titles will draw in the readers at first glance. And because it’s part of marketing,…
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Choreography is usually something you think of in relation to plays and movies. As authors, however, having appropriate choreography as your characters move through a scene is just as important. After all, you’re creating a movie of sorts in the minds of your readers. All you’ll do is create confusion if characters hop from one…
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There are so many subgenres listed in KDP and other self-publishing sites that it can be more than overwhelming to figure out the right ones. Experienced authors and publishers know the importance of picking the right one, which just increases that pressure. In this extended episode from our archives, we take a closer look at…
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No matter where you are in your writing journey or what kind of writer you are, there are some things you need to know before you ever put that pen to paper (or fingers to a keyboard). It doesn’t always have to be the plot of the story or a detailed history of the characters….
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Reviews can mean everything for book sales. Good ones can help a book thrive, while bad ones can drive away potential readers. In this episode, Leigh and Ley discuss ways to get the most effective reviews. Original episode aired July 23, 2020.
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Book marketing is like opening doors for your readers to find you, not a stick you hit them with. – Heather Hart
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I’m writing a first draft and reminding myself that I’m simply shoveling sand into a box so that later I can build castles. – Shannon Hale
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Write your story as it needs to be written. Write it honestly, and tell it as best you can. I’m not sure that there are any other rules. Not ones that matter. – Neil Gaiman
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