One night while watching TV, an ad popped up that was perfectly targeted at me thanks to the glory of internet tracking. The ad promoted a software package that promised to take your mediocre writing and transform it into tomorrow’s best-selling novel. (I may be exaggerating slightly…) It demonstrated features ranging that could fix things from grammatical errors to stylistic issues, insinuating that perhaps it could replace the job of a decent editor. Could such programs be useful for a … Read More »

A frequent question we get here at FWA is: Where can I find an agent/publisher for my book? There is an awesome *free* tool to help you not only find agents and editors, but learn the specifics of what they like and how to query them. This magical gadget is called Manuscript Wish List, and yes, it is completely free. No subscription required. Manuscript Wish List, or MSWL, acts as a search engine for agents and editors. Your quest has … Read More »

It seems as if there’s always a new app or other technology being pushed as “essential” for writers. I admit I’m attracted to shiny techie things. I try just about anything new, although I’m finding it harder and harder to keep up will all the innovations. Some apps with steep learning curves can make life more complicated. At some point one has to do a cost vs. benefit analysis. And by cost, I don’t just mean dollars; I also mean … Read More »

Making book ads can be a pain and take a lot of time. There are many programs out there that you can use to create ads, but one that is particularly easy to use and makes eye-catching ads is Book Brush. There are five tools in this program: Instant Ad Mockups, Custom Ad Creator, Video Creator, Box Set Creator, and Cover Creator. You can sign up for a free account and have access to some of the tools, but for … Read More »

When you’re picking a writing software, it can be hard to know which one is the best for you. You can spend hours researching and debating programs, guessing until you find one you like. If you’re like me, you get a bit anxious before making a software purchase because it feels like too permanent a decision. Chances are, you’ve heard of either Scrivener or Final Draft. Both are available for macOS, Windows, and iOS. Personally, I use the macOS and … Read More »

You spend hours upon hours on your blog, why not make sure as many people as possible see it? The point of a blog is to reach readers, and there are little tricks you can do to boost your visibility and gain more readers. Also, you want to make sure your content is delivered in a way that makes sure people are actually reading what you post. Blog audiences have expectations for content, just like genre readers. In fact, thinking … Read More »