Posts Tagged ‘book’
Why Writers Need to See Their Message as Bigger Than Themselves
I’ll admit it. I wouldn’t mind penning a bestseller and having people around the country and world know who I am. I wouldn’t object to having some bylines in some of the most respected and well-known publications, such as The New York Times. It’d admittedly make it easier to garner reliable income from my work.…
Read MoreBook and Screen: How Thinking of Your Writing as Film Can Improve Your Draft
Lord of the Rings. Matilda. The Wizard of Oz. Bridgerton. They’re all works that started out as books but moved to the screen. It might be debatable whether the movies/series are better than the novels. But here’s a good reason why thinking of your book like a film potentially can improve the content. Most writers…
Read MoreSmall Press Distribution Is Gone, But You Still Have Options
Small Press Distribution got thousands of books into readers’ hands. Now that they’ve shuttered, we writers can’t quit. I’m sharing this list of indie presses from Electric Literature hoping to lend a hand. Let’s check out these other options and rebuild. This is an opportunity for writers to remember that they do not have to…
Read MoreHello, Unknown Beta Readers, Goodbye Friends
Over the past year, I’ve completed multiple manuscripts. I labored through all the required tasks, including the completion of multiple rounds of edits, creating proposal packages, and creating cover mockups. Eventually, I reached the point where all the pieces were in place to query or self-publish — save one. I had no beta readers. It…
Read MoreWhy I Hated ‘Bridgerton’ on Netflix
During the pandemic, like so many others who are trying to navigate life with lockdown restrictions, I turned to Netflix. And because I have an affinity for period books and films (minus the uncomfortable stupidity of corsets, of course), I thought Netflix’s Bridgerton would be a good choice. Did I binge-watch the first season? Yes. Did I…
Read MoreWhy Classifying Books By Genre Needs to Die
If you go to agent or publisher websites, a common call is for writers to create something entirely fresh, something that doesn’t fit the usual molds. But even with those statements, I’m not at all convinced that the publishing world or general public has abandoned genre classifications as much as agencies and houses would have…
Read More5 Tips for Creating a Killer First Draft
Writing is a process, meaning that it’s not a great idea to expect to crank out a perfect first draft. But I’m a sucker for efficiency and quality, too. I also believe in creating a first draft that doesn’t leave you with quite such a bad taste in your mouth. So if you’re aiming for just moldy…
Read MoreHow Many Books Should You Read Each Year?
In America’s culture of “more is probably better”, people tend to flaunt how many books they’ve read like badges of honor that offer implied evidence of competence. In this context, Pew Research says that Americans read an average of 12 books per year. The median is four books per year. But is there really a number of…
Read MoreHow Choice Creates Compelling Fiction
Think fast. What’s the secret to a fantastic novel? It’s not mastering the story arc (because naturally, you want your book to read EXACTLY like every other book sold). It’s not avoiding a specific point of view (yes, you actually can do third-person omniscient). Truly compelling fiction, in my view, revolves around one thing—choice. Why…
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