April

You’ve always wanted to see your name on a book cover as an author. You have several start-up manuscripts in a file on your PC. You’ve decided it’s time to take the plunge to finish a novel and submit it to a publisher. That’s great if you avoid the mistakes new writers make. Making mistakes … Read more

Many best-selling authors use pseudonyms. Think of this as a stage name for actors, except in the writing industry instead. Novelists choose to publish under pseudonyms for various reasons. For example, George Eliot, author of the iconic novel, “Middlemarch,” was, in fact, Mary Ann Evans, who chose a male pseudonym to fight against biased toward … Read more

Current literacy statistics for adults in the United States are startling. More than 50% demonstrate reading skills equivalent to levels for fifth grade and below. While people with remedial reading skills like this are often still able to function in their daily lives, many struggle, especially regarding cognitive skills, as well as comprehension and reasoning … Read more

Inexperienced authors often seek ways to improve their skills. In fact, anyone who takes their craft seriously understands that there’s always room for improvement. If you’re wondering whether it’s worthwhile to take a writing class, the short answer is yes.  Regardless of how long you’ve been a writer, it’s typically beneficial to take a writing … Read more

How many movies have you seen or books have you read that were laden with clichés? Think “burial on a dark, rainy day” or “snowed in for Christmas” types of scenes. As an author, you’ll want to learn how to use weather to create mood in a novel without making descriptions or situations so commonplace … Read more

Helping your novel achieve its full potential in the marketplace is part of your responsibility as an author and part of your publisher’s responsibility. You’ll discuss things like cover design, target audience, and marketing campaigns. You will also set a date to launch your new book.  On the surface, you might not think it matters … Read more

Advanced technology has brought ease and convenience to life where once there was neither. For example, consider those who lived in a time when they had to haul water from a riverbank each day, wash clothes by pounding them with rocks and cook each meal over an open fire. In the writing industry, authors can … Read more

Authors want readers to enjoy their books, so much so, that they (the readers) will want to read more of their stories. It’s simple really; if they like what they read, they’ll come back for more. There are issues that can make a reader turn away from a novel without even getting to the second … Read more

Lorne Oke, former head men’s and women’s golf coach at Taylor University, used to type his mother’s manuscripts to help her prepare them for submission to a publisher. His mother began her writing career later in life and continues to create novels for her loyal and widespread fan base at age 90. Lorne once told … Read more

Even if you’re still in the earliest stages of writing a novel, it pays to think ahead. If your plan is to become a career author, it’s never too soon to begin laying the groundwork for success. Imagine that you’ve completed your manuscript and have “gone through the wringer” of the editing process. In the … Read more