All posts tagged Writing

in category Marketing Your Book, publishing, Self publishing, writing tags Self publishing, Writing and 0 comments.

Myths about self-publishing

Think you know what it means to self-publish? Do you have a preconception in your mind about the ‘standard’ of a self published book or book cover, the ‘quality’ of the writing, or the credibility of the author?

In this day and age, lots of the things you already think you know about self-publishing are actually unwarranted.

Many people have a gut reaction when they hear about self-publishing. They think it’s somehow traditional publishing’s ‘poor relation’. That it’s what you do if you can’t get an agent, or your work isn’t good enough to entice a traditional publisher into backing you.

But this simply isn’t true any more.

in category Marketing Your Book, Self publishing, writing tags Book cover design, Writing and 0 comments.

The one thing that’ll make your book stand out from the crowd

Most people think that having a big publisher, an unlimited advertising budget, a PR consultant on speed dial, and a flashy cover are the things that can help you find success with your book.

And while these factors, if you’re lucky enough to have them, can no doubt contribute to your success, there is ONE simple (and free) thing that the majority of authors overlook.

It’s a very simple thing that you can do in a few minutes, with just a little research. And overlooking it can certainly make your sales suffer, without you really knowing why.

What is it?

in category publishing, Self publishing, writing tags Self publishing, Writing and 0 comments.

Is one book enough?

One thing we frequently discuss with aspiring authors is whether it’s possible to build a reputation, and a successful writing career, with just one book.

The simple answer is, no. To be recognised as an author, you really need to have the weight of several books in your repertoire, but really the discussion is about whether you can launch a writing career with just one book under your belt.

There are arguments for both sides. Let’s be honest, it’s a struggle to get your first book out into the world. Not just the mammoth effort of actually writing the words, but the huge learning curve to navigate editing, formatting, cover design options and self publishing platforms. Not to mention the post-publication marketing efforts to actually produce any sales.

in category writing tags authors, Self publishing, Writing and 0 comments.

My writing… has taught me to take risks and not be afraid to make mistakes

Author Q&A with Dee Dee Chumley

With a career spent as a high-school English teacher, Dee Dee Chumley first channelled her creative ideas as part of a friend’s writing group.

Her other talents have included teaching girls’ softball, and even a spot of bus driving!

Dee Dee has received numerous awards for her short stories, essays, and poems, and in 2012 her debut novel Beyond the Farthest Star won Best Juvenile Book from the Oklahoma Writers’ Federation, Inc.

We were lucky enough to have Dee Dee answer some questions for us, and share her thoughts on writing and self-publishing.

in category writing tags authors, Writing and 0 comments.

I had always doubted myself as a writer. Not anymore.

Author Q&A with Gordon Gravley

Gordon Gravley hails from the (sometimes chilly) Northwest United States.

Gordon first contacted us at the start of 2018, looking to update the covers for two of his novels, ‘Gospel for the Damned’ and ‘The Quieting West’.

We were thrilled to work with him to create new cover designs for his highly rated books, and also managed to sneak in a chat to find out a little bit more about him and his writing process.

Here Gordon tells us about a 25 year learning process, his interest in the Old West, and how maturity has benefitted his writing.

in category Marketing Your Book, publishing, Self publishing, writing tags author, writer, Writing and 0 comments.

How to bridge the gap between being a writer, and being an author

For the purposes of this blogpost, I am drawing a distinction between these two terms.

Let’s look at the dictionary definitions:

Writer
noun
noun: writer; plural noun: writers
a person who has written something

Author
noun
noun: author; plural noun: authors
someone who writes books as a profession

There you have it. The crucial difference between the two.

Now, not every writer wants to become a professional, and this is fine. Some writers are publishing academic papers, or a family history only intended for a select group of people.

But if you’re a writer who dreams of calling it your career in a few years, there are certain steps you need to take. You need to build a bridge to get from being someone who writes, to being someone who writes as a profession.

Here are nine suggestions to help you make that leap.

in category Self publishing, writing tags authors, first time authors, Writing and 0 comments.

Why REAL authors DON’T wait for inspiration to strike

Those of us who don’t work in a creative environment think it must be very hard for those ‘arty types’.

All that sitting around waiting for the inspiration to hit them.

Artists, musicians, writers… What do they do all day while waiting for the lightning bolt idea to strike?!

In fact, any designer, actor or author will tell you that waiting for the ‘sunbeam through the clouds – ta da!’ is total nonsense.

You have to practice your craft ALL the time. Even when you have no ideas. You keep going.

in category writing tags authors, Writing and 1 comment.

When I’m writing I’m always striving to create an environment that is tangible for the reader…

Author Q&A with LeAnne Burnett Morse

A professional writer for TV, LeAnne Burnett Morse has just published her first novel ‘The Willard’, a historical fiction set around the real-life Willard Hotel in Washington D.C.

LeAnne talked to us about where and when she writes, the differences between writing for TV and writing books, and the college professor who had a huge influence on LeAnne’s early writing career.

in category writing tags authors, Writing and 0 comments.

I was one of those kids that just wrote things down…

Author Q&A with Tammy Bench

Tammy Bench is a busy writer and mum, whose nostalgic writing shows her fondness for days gone by and echoes experiences from her own life.

We worked with Tammy on a cover for her book ‘Mr Chambers’, and are due to start work on a new cover for ‘The Not Gate’ shortly.

Tammy gave us some insight into her childhood writing, how her old school friends have inspired some of her characters, and about her past life as a magician’s assistant!

in category Self publishing, Uncategorized, writing tags Writing and 1 comment.

Ten top writing tips for authors

Do you ever get writer’s block? Not sure how to complete the sentence, round off the scene or develop your character?

There’s a lot more to writing a book than just an idea for a story.

But, there are no hard and fast rules. Every writer has a unique style and approaches their writing in an individual way.

Your editor can help with grammar, spelling and punctuation, but no-one can create the heart and soul of your story but you.

So, here are ten top tips to hone your writing and allow it to flow: Read More…