If there’s one concept that deserves a sexy reboot, it’s Literary Citizenship. Especially for indie authors! You’ve probably heard the term tossed around a lot, usually when people are talking about supporting other writers, giving back to the literary community, or showing up for the books you love. But how do we make that actually […]
Literary Citizenship – Time to Make It Sexy Again Read More »
If you’ve never been traditionally published, it can look downright seductive. Like that mysterious, jaded blues singer in a smoky dive bar who has everyone mesmerized, it all seems so magical—until the lights come up and you realize the spell is broken, and so is the illusion.
I’ve been traditionally published. And most of the time, I will say “never again!” and mean it down to my very bones.
But, every once in a while, I’ve wondered if writing a “throwaway” book for a traditional publisher might score me some of the last remaining perks of that world.
The Lure of Traditional Publishing Read More »
What if I told you there’s a way to reach a flow state nearly every time you sit down to write?
Another Way to Reach a Flow State Every Time You Write Read More »
Is It Worth the Effort? I’m not entirely sure why I haven’t written a dedicated post about dictation before now. I’ve mentioned it in passing, and it’s come up in discussions, but never in its own spotlight. Maybe that’s because my relationship with dictation has been a bit of a rollercoaster. Let’s just say, I’ve
The Pros and Cons of Dictating Fiction Read More »
The Way to Find Where Your Story Starts Stop Backing Off and Dive In! Let me paint you a familiar scene: You’re writing the first chapter of your novel, and the temptation to lay out all the things is overwhelming. You know, the backstory, the history, maybe a tour of the protagonist’s charming little town?
The Way to Find Where Your Story Starts Read More »
Tips for Fast, Clean Drafting We all want to write faster, right? We dream of those marathon writing days where words flow effortlessly, the story falls into place, and by the end, we’ve got a manuscript that’s nearly ready for submission. But here’s the thing: speed alone isn’t the secret sauce. Let’s break it down:
Speed Matters, But So Does Precision Read More »
It’s probably not a surprise to you if I tell you that I have cancer. I didn’t keep my diagnosis a secret as I needed to explain to my readers why the next book in their favourite series would not be coming out quite as quickly as usual. In fact, there was a near-two-year gap
How to Write on Your Phone (and Why You Should) Read More »
the Alliance of Independent Authors (ALLi), who have begun to provide annual surveys and reports on indie earnings and other demographics.
Just recently, they released their 2024 Big Data Drop. It’s an overview and summary of various industry reports, showing trends, changes, and other datapoints.
The Big Indie Author Data Drop 2024 Has Dropped Read More »
Jane Freidman, at her blog just a few days ago, wrote a post, “Like It or Not, Publishers Are Licensing Books for AI Training—And Using AI Themselves.”
The post is a refreshingly blunt take on how AI is settling into the publishing industry. I will leave it to Jane to explain how, even for indie authors, there is new money to made from the AI phenomenon, if you’re smart and wrangle your contracts.
Why Now Is the Best Time to Be an Indie Fiction Writer Read More »
I very much resent SAAS (Software as a Service) products, these days, even though I’m chained to using two of them.
Microsoft 365 and Adobe Acrobat, since you ask. I just can’t get away from them. Similar products (Open Office, Google Office, and many PDF makers) just don’t offer the same features that I consider essential and use on a regular basis.
But I keep a watchful eye on potential contenders, all the same.
Here’s an offer worth snatching up. Read More »
