The other day I got a phone call from what must have been the most incompetent scammer ever. “Uh, hello? Ma’am?” “Hello.” I’m thinking this is a telemarketer. “How are you?” (Said very warmly.) You’ve won a prize from the Publisher’s Clearinghouse.” (Said hesitantly, almost like a question.) “Really?” “Yes. And we want to make …
What makes a great book? A wonderful story that is well-written is the usual answer, but that just sparks another question: what makes a great story? Most often, those who study literature mention the five elements of a story: character, setting, plot, conflict and theme. Character involves the people in the story: the hero/heroine, the …
Yesterday’s tips for writing a book covered some general ways to improve writing. Here are some specific pointers: Show, don’t Tell Every writing student has heard this, but what does it mean? Consider this simple example. “Marjorie was stunning.” I’ve just told you that she is a beautiful girl. “Marjorie’s dark shining hair tumbled over …
What’s the best tip for writing a book? Write a good one. That’s both harder and easier than it seems. With all the tools and resources of the internet, anyone can publish a book for little or no cost. Many authors who were thwarted in their quest to publish when they couldn’t interest a publisher …
Yesterday’s post listed four of my big mistakes in writing and publishing my first book. Here are five more: Mistake #5: Don’t get lots of feedback Feedback is essential to any writer. Not only can other readers pick up pesky typos or clumsy sentences, but they can help in numerous other ways, as in pointing …
While the list of mistakes I made while writing my book is a long one, I can easily pick out the top nine. These are the mistakes that cost me the most in terms of time or money. Mistake #1: Don’t take the time to learn the craft of writing. Selling books is a tough …