Amazon is without doubt a massive force in the book world. Having a strong presence on Amazon makes it easier for readers to find your work and buy your books. One tool you can use to boost your visibility as an author on the platform is by having an Amazon author page. This is where you can click on an author’s name on Amazon and learn more about them. My Amazon author page:   You’ll notice it has my headshot, … Read More »

Illustration brings your story to life in a way that words alone can’t. There is a multitude of talented illustrators out there. You just need to know where to look. Besides knowing exactly where to find these amazing people, there are other considerations you need to take into account before diving in. It’s essential to find an art style that compliments your specific story and combing through portfolios takes time. First, you must ask yourself a very important question… Do You Need … Read More »

Concrete poetry is a fun way to express creativity in a visual form. The words are shaped into an image that is representative of the poem’s theme. The challenge with this type of poetry is formatting the work on a computer if you want to send it out for publication or publish it yourself. There are professional programs out there in the Adobe suite that are perfect for this, but they have a huge learning curve. The good news is … Read More »

Google Docs is a popular word-processing tool that lets you access your documents and files from any internet-connected device. I for one have found it to be immensely useful as an editing tool; I like to review a Doc on my iPad, and then make changes on my laptop before sending the updated Doc to my collaborators. I also love Google Docs because it’s a great tool for collaborating with people both near and far. (And did I mention Google … Read More »

Like many writers I have a drawer full of beautiful journals — some too beautiful to abuse with my plain Anglo-Saxon words. If you have a writer on your gift-giving list here are a few gift ideas other than journals and pens. 1. Books. (Duh!) Writers are coveters of books. If you’re not sure which book to get, let me suggest a couple of titles. Tony Hoagland’s The Art of the Voice, Jane Yolen’s Take Joy, Stephen King’s On Writing, … Read More »

The new year is traditionally a time for self-improvement. Some join gyms, others launch new projects, but I like to get introspective. I think the new year is a great time to reconsider how we can use Gmail to get more done. Gmail is possibly the most widely used email service, but are you getting the most out of it? The following Gmail hacks will help you take control of your inbox and go from being a Gmail user to … Read More »