So often, writing feels lonely, doesn’t it? We’re alone in our writing cave getting words onto the page, and it’s not until we’re ready to show polished pages to a trusted critique partner that we embrace working with another creative. Or we’re alone in marketing our book, finding readers, or just … [Read more...] about Find Creative Gold with Author Collaborations
Search Results for: collaboration
Tips for a Successful Writing Collaboration
It's hard to believe that Angela and I have been writing together for over a decade. It started in 2008 with this blog, where we pooled ideas and shared writing responsibilities. Then we stepped up our game and decided to write a book together. And then another, and another. And then came our … [Read more...] about Tips for a Successful Writing Collaboration
How Authors Thrive in a World of AI-Generated Books
The rise of AI-generated books is sparking concern among many. We all know the book market is huge, yet the speed at which new works are being added prompted Amazon to place a '3 books per day' upload limit. I think we all agree that's more than a little worrying. It's frustrating, too. Vying for … [Read more...] about How Authors Thrive in a World of AI-Generated Books
Authors Are Assets, Not Competition
Most industries are competitive. Athletes go head-to-head for the medal or trophy. Car companies vie for market share as do grocery stores, restaurants, and delivery services. Reality TV show contestants duke it out for prize money, prestige, and in some cases (ugh) roses. And our favorite retail … [Read more...] about Authors Are Assets, Not Competition
8 Steps from Amateur to Pro Writer
Every author starts out as a hobbyist. We write as kids, for fun. As we get older, we write when we have free time or the fit takes us. For many, that’s as far as it goes, and there’s value in that. But for others, over time, our writing passion grows. Chances are, if you’re reading this blog, … [Read more...] about 8 Steps from Amateur to Pro Writer
Five Top Tips To Smash Your Writing Goals
The start of a new year is a great time to put plans in place to ensure a terrific writing year. So to help you get your writing in this next year, here are five essential things to consider ... 1) Establish a Writing Routine To hit your goals, it will be crucial for you to establish … [Read more...] about Five Top Tips To Smash Your Writing Goals
Character Type and Trope Thesaurus Entry: Creator
In 1959, Carl Jung first popularized the idea of archetypes—"universal images that have existed since the remotest times." He posited that every person is a blend of these 12 basic personalities. Ever since then, authors have been applying this idea to fictional characters, combining the different … [Read more...] about Character Type and Trope Thesaurus Entry: Creator
Selling a Million Books: What Worked for Us (and Can Work for You, Too)
As you may know, Angela and I have recently reached the unbelievable milestone of having sold a million books. I say “unbelievable” because this was never in our sights. We started out as two writers with no formal education in the field. We had no publishing experience. What did a couple of … [Read more...] about Selling a Million Books: What Worked for Us (and Can Work for You, Too)
Need Organization Help? Try Trello
Staying organized as a writer can be a huge challenge. We all have other responsibilities, and the crazier life gets, the easier it is for stuff to fall between the cracks—important stuff we can’t afford to forget. Angela and I are constantly juggling a thousand things, so organization is kind of … [Read more...] about Need Organization Help? Try Trello
The Business of Writing
When we first start down the writing path, our minds are full of story. We focus on characters, their worlds, and the inner and outer journeys taken. We read, write, study, and hone our skills. Our goal is to become strong storytellers who can one day lay claim to that special, coveted title: … [Read more...] about The Business of Writing
5 Reasons to Consider Translating Your Work
Happy to welcome Savannah Cardova from Reedsy who has some good information to share on book translations. As many of you know, we have a foreign rights agent and have sold rights to publishers in different countries. While some books are better suited for translation than others, it's worthwhile … [Read more...] about 5 Reasons to Consider Translating Your Work
Conflict Thesaurus Entry: Having to Work with an Enemy
Conflict is very often the magic sauce for generating tension and turning a ho-hum story into one that rivets readers. As such, every scene should contain a struggle of some kind. Maybe it's an internal tug-of-war having to do with difficult decisions, morals, or temptations. Or it possibly could … [Read more...] about Conflict Thesaurus Entry: Having to Work with an Enemy