Tag Archives: matt knight

About This Writing Stuff…

This week, Anne R. Allen warns us against career-killing marketing tactics, Ruth Harris shows authors how to build a better bio, and Beth Barany provides strategies for developing characters and plot.

At Writer Unboxed, Kathryn Craft offers sage advice on handling copy edits while over at the Kill Zone, James Scott Bell helps us determine when our book is ready for prime time.

Angela Ackerman explains how to use setting as more than a mere backdrop and my favorite article of this batch is Lauren Sapala’s timely (for me) discussion of the paralyzing stress that can occur when writers become too “attached to outcome.”

All that and a little more. Enjoy!

How Bad Marketing Can Destroy Your Author Brand, Lose Friends, and Influence Nobody by Anne R. Allen

How to Plan, Write, and Develop a Book: Word Count Goals for the Three Acts of Your Novel, Memoir, or Non-Fiction Book by Mary Carroll Moore

6 Ways Your Author Bio Can Help You Sell Books by Ruth Harris

Top Digital Marketing Takeaways from U.S. Book Show 2022 by AJ Jack via BookBub

Copy Edits: To Challenge or Concede? by Kathryn Craft

When Is Your Book Ready to be Published? by James Scott Bell

7 Essential Tips to Plan Your Novel Like a Pro by Beth Barany via Anne R. Allen

Serialization Rights for Traditional and Self-Published Authors by Matt Knight at Sidebar Saturdays

Publishing Contracts 101: Beware Internal Contradictions by Victoria Strauss at Writer Beware

Setting Description Mistakes that Weaken a Story by Angela Ackerman

Stressed About Your Writing? What’s Really Going On (and How to Get Over It) by Lauren Sapala

 

 

About This Writing Stuff…

It has been three weeks since my last blog post. How the hell did that happen? Well, I’ve been stretched thin as of late with my FT job, a few expensive home renovations, health problems, managing eBay auctions (the time has come to downsize), and yes, writing projects.

I have a short story in progress for a contest, the second draft of my SF novel awaits my attention after that, and I’m waiting to hear back from two small presses on short stories I submitted to them. I’m also scheduling a book signing or two for a speculative fiction anthology I just released with a group of fantastic writers and I’m reviewing a presentation on self-editing that I wll be giving to a local writers group on Monday evening (24 May).

However, the fact that I’ve been neglecting my blog has been gnawing at me, so here we go!

This week, Steve Hooley reviews several sites for serialized fiction, including Kindle Vella, while Jodie Renner discusses close and deep third person POV.

Mary Alice Monroe and KL Burd use fiction to raise awareness of environmental issues and social issues, respectively, while Philip Athans offers advice on blending SF, fantasy, and horror. James Scott Bell provides tips on increasing productivity, Terry Odell delves into crafting character descriptions, and Kathryn Craft wages war against the lame apology.

All that and much more. Enjoy!

Serialized Fiction and Vella – What Do You Think? by Steve Hooley

Tips for Deepening the POV in Your Fiction by Jodie Renner

Weaving Real-Life Environmental Issues into Your Fictional World by Mary Alice Monroe

Fantasy and/or Science Fiction and/or Horror by Philip Athans

The Five Things You Need When Writing a Mystery Novel by Melodie Campbell

6 Practical Business Tips for Authors to Market Their Story of Success by Taylor Payne

7 Tips for Producing More Words by James Scott Bell

Character Descriptions Part I by Terry Odell

Character Descriptions Part II by Terry Odell

Why Bookshop.org is Not the Savior the Book World Needs by Ellen Peirson Hagger

The Magic Number by Todd Sattersten

Legal Protection for Fictional Characters by Matt Knight

Kick Your Story Up a Notch by Knowing Your Character’s Conflict Style by Kelsey Allagood

Unapologetic Characterization by Kathryn Craft

Incorporating Social Issues Into Your Manuscript by KL Burd

 

About This Writing Stuff

This week, James Scott Bell makes a good case for putting your protagonists between opposing characters, thereby forcing them to choose a path. Siera London introduces us to the BENP system of book marketing, and Daphne Gray-Grant links perfectionism with depression.

Richie Billing examines the use of religion in the fantasy genre, Joe Bunting provides a 20-step guide to novel writing, and Donald Maass teaches us to how dance to the beat (story beats, that is).

At Fiction University, we get schooled by Kassandra Lamb on the relationshp between backstory and behavior, Chris Eboch explains the importance of plot questions, and Janice Hardy offers advice about planting clues in your story.

All that and a lot more. Enjoy and Happy Holidays!

Religion in Fantasy by Richie Billing

What Kind of Marketing Plan Will Work for Us? by Siera London via Jami Gold

Put Your Lead Between Opposite Characters by James Scott Bell

How to Choose Scenes for Your Story by Chris Winkle

What is DRM (Digital Rights Management)? by Matt Knight at Sidebar Saturdays

Show Me the Money: Royalties, Rights, and Riches for Indie Authors by Erika Liodice

The Beat Goes On by Donald Maass

How to Write a Novel (Without Fail) by Joe Bunting

How to Sneak Clues Past Your Readers and Keep Them Guessing by Janice Hardy

Writing a Page-Turner: Keep the Reader Guessing with Story Questions by Chris Eboch

The Importance of Backstory (or How the Brain Connects the Present to the Past) by Kassandra Lamb

Is Your Depression Masquerading as Perfectionism? by Daphne Gray-Grant

11 Ways to Give Writing Perfectionism the Heave-Ho by Daphne Gray-Grant

60 Things For Your Character to Do When They Talk or Think by Amanda Patterson