[gif: Monty Python and the Holy Grail. "I am not dead yet!"] Well, hello there. I thought it might be time for a bit of a status update. This blog has been quiet for a while, and I've been a wee bit less active on Twitter as well. I'm still around, but my participation in …
On the Importance of Inciting Incidents
A while back I posted a Twitter poll asking writers at what point in their story the inciting incident took place. I expected a range of answers, but was surprised to find more than one reply of "I don't have one." I'm going to go out on a limb and say yes, you probably do, …
Self-Pub Research Checklist: Compensation & Pricing
Ok, *cracks knuckles*, let's do this. Here's where things are going to enter a territory that intimidates a lot of writers... math. Buckle up, because this is going to be a long one. In this final part of my series on distilling self-pub research, we're going to talk all about money. How to price your …
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Self-Pub Research Checklist: Distribution
In my blog series condensing the various research I've done on my self-publishing journey, today's topic might be the trickiest... Distribution. What do you mean by distribution? Essentially, distribution is the path you want to take to get your books in the hands of readers. You can print your books via an on-demand printing service …
Self-Pub Research Checklist: ISBNs
Self-publication is hard. Really hard. There are so many variables, and the beleaguered author is a one-person-army trying to tackle them all. Especially when you're just getting started, it can be pretty overwhelming. Well the cavalry is here! In this multi-part series, I'll tackle the topics I had to research while prepping for self-publication and …
Cambiare Teaser Chapter:
BUY LINKS:GoodreadsAmazonBarnes & NobleKobo Sample: The forest whispered to Cirelle. She ignored it, of course. Only a fool would respond to the distant hissing of her name, the half-heard snatches of melody. Though the susurrus of voices was nothing new, a lump of dread still knotted her stomach. Cirelle had never been to the forest …
Rant/Rave: Cover Design Trends
First off, a disclaimer: This list is purely subjective. None of the covers in the "rants" section are actually bad design, they're just specific trends I personally dislike. Same goes for the "rave" section. Your opinion may differ. Art and design are very individual, and the things that make me swoon might make you roll …
Indie Author Spotlight: Blair Cousins
Introduce yourself! Tell us your name and one interesting or unusual fact about you. Hi, my name is Blair Cousins and one unusual fact about me is that I am very good at tossing trash into dumpsters. It's weird I know, but a very useful skill in my line of work, for my day job. …
Short Story: Speechless
This story emerged from a prompt in my writing group: "A scene without dialogue." An idea sparked to do a brief retelling of The Little Mermaid using that concept. I may have skirted the "no dialogue" rule a bit, but I really enjoy the end product and thought I'd share. Speechless Could one steal a …
Sacrifices Indie Authors Make (and why they’re worth it)
This is another one of those "things I wish I'd been told earlier" posts, so buckle up. First, a bit of backstory. Yes, I queried traditionally before deciding to self-publish. No, indie was not a "last resort". I only queried briefly before taking a step back, reviewing the feedback I was receiving, and deciding my …
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