It’s bound to happen. The story you were so eager to write is going nowhere. Or it’s going in too many directions. It doesn’t make sense anymore and bears no resemblance whatsoever to that exciting, glittering tale your mind conjured up. What’s your next move? Tempting as it may be, DO NOT hit the delete button and relegate your writing to the cyber cemetery for all eternity! There are less drastic steps that will eliminate any regret down the road. … Read More »

Book covers are a tricky business. All of the wonderfulness of your story needs to be reflected in an attention-grabbing cover that will make readers want to choose your book. Now that your story has been written, lets explore some cover thoughts and ideas. Genre It’s important to convey the genre of your book to give potential readers an idea of what your book is about. Established design styles will serve as a guide, but here are a few examples: … Read More »

The time has finally come to write the dedication page to the story you’ve sweat blood and tears over. Should be easy enough, right? Sometimes it seems that these little blurbs are harder to write than the book itself. Let’s toss around some ideas to help you get this important part of your book written. Who? Who should you dedicate your book to? Well, there are many answers, and they can be a lot of creative fun. You can dedicate … Read More »

Writers are dedicated, committed, sometimes obsessed individuals. Their creativity seldom gives them a moment’s peace. Some writers work on multiple projects simultaneously, which amps up the pressure to create even more and leaves little, if any, time to just chill a little. So, how does a writer take a break without feeling like they’ve abandoned their work, impatient characters, and unresolved plot? Even if writers can’t completely disconnect, let’s explore some temporary solutions. A Related Break Set your work aside … Read More »

When it’s time to name the characters in your story, where do you start? If you’re lucky, one or more may have already told you who they are. What about the rest? Some may be secondary characters or ones that are mentioned only once or twice, but they still need names so readers can picture them in their mind and identify with them. Let’s see what we can do about those blank spaces on your character roster. Personality Traits Take … Read More »

At some point in the life of your story, you’re going to have to write a book blurb. Some writers are convinced that this short description is more challenging than writing an entire novel. How does one condense an 80,000 word story into a 150-250 word teaser? Well, it’s not impossible, and it’s important to try and get it as right as you can—for a number of reasons. Back Cover Showcase Your book blurb is an important attention-getter on the … Read More »