Category: Novel Writing
Flexing Novel-Writing Muscles
I was reading an article in our local small town newspaper recently about a high school student who was making significant wins in swimming competition. The article explained that this young lady swims two hours every day at her high school pool. Then a couple days a week, she travels twenty miles to where her coach is located for more intense, concentrated training. It’s obvious this young student’s mind and her body are toned and honed for swimming. She probably dreams about swimming. As novelists, we too should be constantly looking for ways to flex and tone our writing muscles. This might include our powers of concentration, our skills for keen observation, our wild flights of imagination, and so on.
Who Killed September Falls Book Trailer
Check out the trailer for Who Killed September Falls by editor/author Annette Young.
It’s All in the Title and the Blurb!
The article explains the importance of selecting a title and providing a supporting blurb, which will entice potential readers to purchase a book. The title and blurb are the book’s equivalent to an advertisement, showcasing the product.
Not All Reviews Are Equal
So, it goes like this: You finish your novel (or short story or poem – substitute your own medium here), and decide to put it ‘out there’ for feedback. Maybe you post some chapters on your blog, maybe you submit to a peer review website, maybe you’re really brave and you send it out to an agent, or even pay for a professional critique.
Suggestions For Writing the End of a Novel
By Sheila C Skillman
So important is the end, that it can spoil an otherwise excellent novel. As a regular Amazon reviewer, I have read novels thinking, This is superb. I’m going to give this novel 5 stars. And then I’ve reached the end, and my potential review slips a star.
Studying Your Favorite Author Can Help You Write Your Book
One thing that is extremely helpful to authors as they are writing their book is market research. You may have heard this term used as it relates to consumer research for marketing services and products, but it is also a very relevant practice for writers, too!
Publish an E-Book on Amazon – The Rise of The Author
Amazon’s Kindle has leveled the playing field for all authors. No one but you will stand between you and your dream of being a published author. Maybe it’s time to take that old novel out of the drawer where you’ve kept it hiding, dust it off, clean it up and submit it for publishing on Amazon. Only you can stand in the way of your dreams in this day and age.
Having a Successful Book Signing
Finally, after an excruciatingly long wait, your book is released to the public. You’re still basking in the glow of being an author and suddenly, along comes an invitation to the first of many book signings at a bookstore. Now what?
Shaping A Book
I often say that books are more than the sum of their words. A real book is an entire entity-plot, organization, characterization, style, including all of the subheads for each one. Circling all of these things is the entire forest-the shape of the book.
Write a Book Starting Today: It’s Easier Than You Think
Many people want to write a book. Indeed, a survey found that ten per cent of the population want to do it. Few people accomplish it, but you can.
Tips For Attractive Book Covers
Nothing is more important than an effective book cover to sell a book. The front cover must stand out to get people’s attention within a second or the sale may be lost. Here are a few key points to make sure your cover has what it takes to sell your book.
So You Want to Be a Writer: Tips for Aspiring Novelists
Last June I attended an awards ceremony for high school students who had maintained a 4.0 or higher GPA. As the graduating seniors received their awards certificates, an administrator announced their college plans and career goals. One kid planned to become a forensic CPA; another had his eye on an investment banking career. (So much for all that generational idealism we all keep hearing about.) But here’s what really struck me: there were as many honors students who planned to become novelists as planned to become doctors.
How to Make Author Events Effective
Many authors are introverts and reluctant to go out into the public eye to promote their books, but today, authors must also market their books, and the most effective way to get out the word about your book is to appear at events. Beyond the simple book signing-which is rarely effective-authors can attend a variety of events from conferences, to individual public speaking events, to arts and craft shows. But authors must do more than just show up-they have to work to make the events effective.
On Writing Thrillers – Science Fiction Or Science Faction?
This isn’t about literary fiction such as that of JD Salinger or F Scott Fitzgerald – I’m discussing thrillers, specifically techno-thrillers. Now, you might think immediately of Tom Clancy, but Patricia Cornwell is also, to me, a techno-thriller writer. When I read Cornwell, I believe almost all the technical detail – she was a real-life medical examiner. To what extent does a writer expect a reader to suspend belief?
Book Promotion: The Best Top Fifty Tips
Here are fifty tips to help you promote your book. Think about them, expound on them, and let them get your juices flowing.
Book Authors: How To Sell More Books And Get Your Publisher Active
It is an unfortunate reality that most people who write books believe that their publisher will always put their best foot forward, to promote their book. In the real world, it does not quite work that way
Critique your own Writing
A professional novel critique can help you to get your work published but it is possible to critique your own writing before investing…Creative Competitor Editor Annette Young shows you how…
Manuscript Critique- Why You Should Invest In Your Writing
Writing a novel? Dont’ forget to request a manuscript critique and give your novel a fighting chance of getting published.
Want to Become a Published Author?
If you want to become a published author, you need to ensure that your book project is of the highest quality before submitting to the publishers.Bear in mind that the publishing world
Land in Sight?
We continue new author and Creative Competitor subscriber Judith Barrow’s journey to publication…….. Land in sight by Judith Barrow It’s now three months on. The first commercial editor (the best) has succumbed to maternity leave. The one who was finally chosen by my agent (the second best?) has had my [...]
Paddling Like Mad and Getting Nowhere
by Judith Barrow Part Three of Judith’s journey towards novel publication……… At this point I have to admit a thought creeps unwanted into my mind. If the publisher had only posted that envelope a couple of days earlier I wouldn’t have needed an agent – or, speaking truthfully, I wouldn’t need to pay an agent. [...]
There are no signposts in the sea…
Part Two of Judith’s blog about getting her novel published.. So – I’m back to square one. For a month I hibernated (my family and friends call it sulking but I prefer to think of it as re-grouping). I have a brilliant manuscript that no one wants ( at this point I think it’s important [...]
Drowning not Waving
Judith Barrow As part of our Novel Writing Month, we asked Creative Competitor subscriber and newly published author Judith Barrow to share her angst as she endeavoured to get her novel published. July 2008. Drat (or words to that effect!) It’s been four months since I gave my manuscript of Pattern of Shadows a hug and [...]
Murder Mystery Books – Read, Absorb and Write
Murder mystery books are always a popular read and if you take a look in your local bookshop, you will see what I mean. We can learn a lot from published authors of this genre if we take the time to do a little
