Category: Guest Posts

What Does the Perfect Literary Hero Look Like?

freelancer Stephanie NormanGuest Post
by Stephanie Norman

If you ask a sentimental woman who the perfect hero in fiction is, you’ll instantly hear the name Mr. Darcy. Most men, on the other hand, would choose Tyler Durden as the character who gets close to the perfect hero. These are two extreme choices, but they have something in common: they are imperfect. Mr. Darcy is really proud; he is a character who would annoy most women in reality. Durden is far from perfect, too. He is mysterious and weird, but incredibly charismatic at the same time.

There is only one conclusion we can draw when analyzing the most notable heroes from literary fiction: they are not a reflection of our idea of the ideal human being. Keeping that in mind, here are some important hints that tell you what readers want in their “perfect” fictional hero: Continue reading “What Does the Perfect Literary Hero Look Like?”

My Not-So-Spiritual Journey of Self-Publishing

This would be paradiseGuest Post
by N. D. Iverson

I am one of many (read: more than the entire population of Canada) self-published authors out there. We are legion, for we are many…or however that goes. In today’s eMarkets, anyone with Microsoft Word can type out a manuscript and upload it for sale via eBook retailers like Amazon and Kobo. But this is no guarantee for success, no matter how amazing and wonderful your book is (according to your mother, anyways). The big publishers have the moolah and resources that we little ol’ wannabe authors don’t, so very, very few indie authors find independent success. I am here today to share my tale of woe (and a few triumphs) on the matter. Continue reading “My Not-So-Spiritual Journey of Self-Publishing”

Sizing Up Book Giveaway Programs

Author Bruce FottlerGuest Post
by Bruce Fottler

Part of an indie author’s quest to obtain reviews (and gain general exposure) will likely include book giveaways. But where do you find them and how do they compare? While I don’t profess to be an expert, I’d like to share my experiences from two (free) sites.

1.  Goodreads is the undisputed king of “social cataloging” sites, with over 40 million members worldwide. They sponsor a giveaway program limited to print books only. There’s no charge for this service, but all expenses associated with it (cost of books, postage, etc.) are your responsibility. I’ve run ten giveaways since 2013 (with one currently running) which offered two or three copies per giveaway. None of my giveaways were promoted and didn’t exceed thirty days in length. My shortest giveaway was ten days.

Results: Continue reading “Sizing Up Book Giveaway Programs”

What Is Fanfiction and Can I Write Some?

fanfictionGuest Post
by Kat Cantwell

Fanfiction is one of those words you’ve very like heard before, as it’s becoming increasingly popular, but you might find yourself asking, “What is fanfiction, really, and why do I care about it, as a (self-)published author?”

Fanfiction is pretty much exactly what it says on the tin: It’s a piece of fiction, written by a fan of a particular work (or real person or historical event), about that work. It may be an attempt to further explore a character or a relationship between characters – romantic or platonic – or it may be a sort of ‘what-if’ scenario. Or it could be the urge to throw the characters into a different setting – like a coffee shop, university, or different time period – or into a different creator’s world entirely. Sometimes, it’s a way for the fanfiction author to interact with the characters themselves, by inserting a(n often idealised) version of themselves into that world. Continue reading “What Is Fanfiction and Can I Write Some?”