Make sure you have retained your publishing rights Can you show strong sales of your self-published work? But a traditional publisher would be able to market the book better! But 50 Shades of Grey was self-published and then republished, and it wasn’t good! Can a case...
Don’t take it personally when it isn’t personal What to do if you receive a form rejection Try and put yourself in their shoes What to do if you receive a semi-personal rejection Recognise encouragement where you find it What to do if you receive a personal rejection...
You have an idea for a book … and that’s all You’ve just finished the first draft of your first book What you really need is some writing classes What you really need is to learn a bit about the industry You’re thoughtlessly rushing to publish A problem every editor...
Organise time to write Plan what you will do with each writing session Try micro goals: a micro word count goal or a micro time goal Designate a writing space Get rid of distractions Don’t put it off – start now ‘I’d love to write a book, if only I had the...
‘If you want to be a writer, you must do two things above all others: Read a lot and write a lot.’ Stephen King It’s difficult to contribute to an artform you don’t like or understand Read the classics if you enjoy them Read a variety of books Read shorter books ‘You...
Self-publishing vs traditional publishing What is a hybrid publisher? What is a vanity press? What is a self-publishing service provider? I see it happen far too often: a writer has been taken in by a vanity press, when they thought they were working with a...
Publishing a short story collection or a book of essays is a subject that attracts some conflicting advice. On one hand, there are those who are immediately dismissive, saying many publishers don’t publish short stories at all (true), or short stories don’t sell...
by Alexa Tewkesbury There can’t be many people – even among those who don’t write – who haven’t come across the term ‘writer’s block’. While it might be thrown casually into conversation when writers are having a difficult writing day – accompanied by the back of a...
I talk about book categories and book genres all the time, especially to urge writers to know well the categories in which they write. That’s because, in order to allow readers to find your work, it’s essential to know where in the publishing landscape your book fits....
by Sarah Tinsley It’s hard to believe that youth isn’t the key to everything. We’re sold the idea that looking as young as possible equals beauty. That staying in touch with the things young people find important will keep us relevant in society. For older writers, it...
