Marketing Hacks for Indie Authors
If you’re your own publisher, you’re also your own marketer. Don’t expect to see your book in big chains or on bestseller lists right away—few small businesses start there. But here are a few realistic steps to market your book: 1. Many bookstores and libraries host “local author” days. Pitch your book directly to the […]
DON’TLET YOUR EGO GET CONNED: Spotting the Vanity Publisher
Most legitimate publishers view subsidy publishers (a “respectable” term for vanity publishers) as little more than con artists. These companies will publish anything—for a price—taking as much money as possible from authors and often providing shoddy printed books in return. This frustrates me, especially since it’s no longer a world where publishers hold all the […]
EDITORIAL ADVICE: The Balance Between Feedback and Creative Integrity
If an agent suggests editorial changes, do I have to make them? Will I lose my agent if I don’t? This question has come up several times recently in my conversations with writers. Agents are publishing professionals, and most are pretty savvy about what will sell—after all, we wouldn’t be in the business if we […]
THE POWER OF EDITING: Why Every Manuscript Deserves a Second Look
THE POWER OF EDITING: WHY EVERY MANUSCRIPT DESERVES A SECOND LOOK ….or third, and fourth for that matter. My mailbox is full – daily! From authors looking for someone to represent or publish their manuscript. If I could give any piece of advice – before you submit your manuscript, there’s one crucial step you can’t […]
Who Is Your Reader?
Who is your reader? We all know that writing for kids isn’t a one-size-fits-all game—it’s about meeting them where they are. Every age group has its quirks, from the little ones just starting to read to teens juggling complex emotions and vocabulary. The trick is tailoring your language, sentence length, and story structure to match […]
Be the Corn Stalk in the Bean Field
I get it! Coming up with a completely original plot is like trying to reinvent the wheel. But that’s where fresh perspectives or a unique twist come into play. I often say, “Writing is like putting new wine in old casks.” Sure, it’s all been done before, but sometimes all it takes is a modern […]
Thou Shalt Not Moralize
THOU SHALT NOT MORALIZE When I was in school, we had plenty of children’s books that often read like a sermon disguised as a story, with too-good-to-be-true kids and naughty ones who got their “just desserts” in ways that would make us cringe now. Most of those preachy tales have gone the way of the […]
Trimming Tales: Cultivating Clarity by Pruning Weedy Words
I often reference my favourite pastime, beyond writing, as it provides me with invaluable moments of clarity – Gardening. Today, I’m digging into the art of literary pruning. Picture this as your trusty editing machete, hacking away at the overgrown jungle of unnecessary verbiage. Grab your editing knife, and let’s slash our way through the […]
Wake up ALL 5 Senses and Learn to Bring ALIVE the Olfactory Language of Experience
It’s not just about writing. Awaken all FIVE SENSES. In a culture dominated by the visual, with myriad words for colour and endless screens captivating our attention, it’s easy to overlook the richness of our other senses. For authors crafting compelling narratives, content marketers shaping engaging brand stories, and professionals across all fields harnessing the […]
Reading isn’t merely a pastime; it’s a journey
Reading isn’t merely a pastime; it’s a journey. With each page turned, we enter adventures beyond the confines of our own existence. Through the written word, we explore worlds unknown, traverse through time, and explore human emotion. Reading nourishes the soul, igniting the imagination and sparking creativity. It invites us to dream, to question, and […]
