The most common question I answer is “How do I self-publish a book?” The answer is pretty simple and straightforward, but there are a lot of steps, and steps within the steps, and like everything else in life, simple does not necessarily mean easy…
When I think about plot, I start with two things: the concept of my story and the message I want to deliver through my story. Either of these aspects can come first, but they build on and intertwine with each other.
Believable settings are as important as believable characters. My foundation for creating an imaginative, credible setting is to think about what is going on in the story…
Well, I can share my experience and hope it encourages you. And I would love to hear what you have to share with me! EACH CHARACTER HAS A JOURNEY…
Books are LOOOONG, taking weeks, months, sometimes even years to write. It’s no wonder most aspiring authors run out of steam before they get there! I just completed the first draft of my first novel. So many times I felt overwhelmed, confused, and just daunted by the sheer enormity of it all. But just a few tricks helped me turn the corner and outrun the bullies in my head.
Reputable literary agents receive dozens of query letters a month, but they only take on a few new clients each year! Writing a compelling query letter is an important step for landing a good agent. Letters must be concise and professional and have all the information the agent expects, but they must also be intriguing and capture the agents’ attention.
So you’ve written your manuscript, revised it with a developmental editor and a few trusted readers (and then revised it again), and you feel ready to move forward. What is your next step? Well, if you are self-publishing, now is the time to connect with a professional copyeditor to give your manuscript that final polish.
Who needs a literary agent? If you want to submit your work to a traditional publisher, you need a literary agent. Most traditional publishers only accept manuscripts through literary agents…
If procrastination is the art of delay, perseverance is the fostered discipline to break through. We sometimes ping pong between procrastination and perseverance. Many of us would like to persevere more and procrastinate less. The question is: How?
What could be more overwhelming than figuring out which books compare and compete with yours? But actually there’s no quicker way to describe the likely experience of your reader than to reference another book.
Is your book idea so commercially viable that a traditional publisher might catch your vision and invest in it? Then you need to write a convincing book proposal, persuading them your book has economic potential.
Writing a book proposal also helps you develop clarity and talk about your ideas smoothly and succinctly. This ability is essential, whatever your publishing path.
What does it really mean to write with a Christian foundation? It means that I have surrendered my life to Christ, so my writing (and everything else) flows from a place that honors Christ, right? Simple to say, not so easy to do.
