April

Is it possible to earn a decent living as an author without hitting the best-seller list? Yes, it is, if you’re good at what you do. If you’re a prolific author and consistently provide quality material for your readers, you can build a loyal fan base even if your name isn’t in the Top Five … Read more

Have you ever been excited to read a book, then disappointed by the time you finished it? You felt let down, like something was missing. You determine that the author didn’t focus on character development. This is a big mistake, one that inexperienced writers often make. Character development should be a top priority for fiction … Read more

With a background that includes earning a degree in Philosophy and teaching English in Thailand, Thomas R. Britten is also a husband and father of three. In addition to his studies and work in a secular environment, Britten spends a lot of his time preparing sermons for his congregation as a Protestant pastor. He has … Read more

Some authors churn out book after book. Others write one best-seller that stands the test of time. Either way, every story begins with inspiration. Someone or something is going to spark the idea that leads to your next novel. What or who will it be? While some ideas arise in a sudden or unexpected manner, you … Read more

If you were to interview the most prolific authors of all time, you’d no doubt discover that many of them have unique routines and tips to share with budding authors. What works for one writer, however, may not be a good fit for another. For example, Kurt Vonnegut (who was, perhaps, not as prolific as … Read more

Storytelling has and always will be an integral component of the human condition. The oldest surviving written tale comes from Mesopotamia, 2100 B.C., entitled, “The Epic of Gilgamesh.” This is widely considered the world’s first narrative. Since then, millions of books, translated into many different languages, have captivated readers throughout the world. Stories shape lives even when (or, perhaps, especially when) … Read more

If you’re considering becoming an author, one of many decisions you’ll make is to determine a genre. While some authors create stories in multiple book categories, prolific writers (especially those with best-sellers) typically establish a chosen genre as part of their brand. It’s helpful to analyze market data when choosing what types of stories you’re … Read more

Each author’s journey is unique. Instant success is rare; most writers are familiar with rejection letters. While people might decide to try writing books for various reasons, most authors hope to be able to generate income with their stories.  If you’re new to writing books, there are several things you’ll want to do before taking … Read more

The answer to the question in the title of this post is a resounding, “Yes!” While verbal slang has become mainstream, especially when texting, spelling, punctuation, syntax, etc., are still important for writers. If you hope to be prolific as an author, you must not merely “write a lot of books” but build a brand, … Read more

Most human beings want to feel loved and accepted. Writers are no different. This is why you might experience a rush of (negative) emotions if a publisher rejects your manuscript.  You might think that receiving the dreaded “rejection letter” is the worst thing that can happen to you as a budding author. However, even the … Read more