Category: Staff Articles

Writing advice and insights from the staff of Indies Unlimited.

It’s Too Dark in Here!

Ok, guys. Now you all already know funny is not my forte, right?

Sometimes I don’t even get it when I read it –well mostly I do, but some of the text shortcuts go over my old head. What? Stop Laughing. I am SO that old. Under this red coif is a full head of white hair. “Oh,” bat, bat, “you don’t think I look my age. Aw, you’re so sweet. It’s nice to humour the elderly … But don’t think I don’t see through you, flatterer. So stop patronizing me.”

“But you’re throwing me off my game, here. Thought you could distract me from my ‘seriousness’, eh? Well I’m not senile yet. So listen up.”

Continue reading “It’s Too Dark in Here!”

To Whom it May Concern, by Carol Wyer

Author Carol Wyer

Mini Skirts and Laughter Lines recently won a Reviewers Choice Award from Readers Views. A large certificate and shiny new stickers are headed in my direction and my book will proudly display this new accolade. I can call myself an award-winning author which of course, does wonders for my publicity. I have sent out a whole new batch of emails to local press telling them about the next J.K. Rowling who is under their noses.

It’s a difficult job though getting your emails read and picked up by a reporter or show producer. I found most of my emails were going directly into people’s trash. Reporters aren’t too keen on receiving emails from authors shouting about their latest work, even if it has won an award. Continue reading “To Whom it May Concern, by Carol Wyer”

Authors and the visual arts

Writing classes often advise emerging authors to give a lot of attention to all the senses. ‘Include smells,’ they say. ‘Include textures and sounds. Mention the taste of things.’ These tutors are right. Humans have five senses, and use them constantly, whether they are aware of the fact or not. Writing needs to suggest real life.

Beginning writers need to be very cautious with this aspect of writing, however: bombarding the reader with every single sensory notion in every scene, or giving too much information about a character’s experience of one, can have an off-putting effect. Are you sure your reader wants to know what every scene smells or sounds like? It can be over-kill to compare noises and aromas continually. It is much more effective to mention these things occasionally, and with a lot of thought and planning. Continue reading “Authors and the visual arts”

Department of Justice v. How we make a living

I’m shifting gears a bit today. This has been bugging me for awhile. You see, I’m a #1 Bestselling Author on Amazon. Who am I? Nobody really—but that’s the point. Less than a year ago, nobody knew who I was, who Van Stone is or had never heard of The Card. Actually, to be honest, I had not heard of The Card yet either, because I hadn’t come up with the title yet.

How can that happen, you ask? Simple. The world of eBooks has allowed thousands of writers publish their material and either sink or swim in the big world of bookselling. Believe it or not—that may all be about to change. Continue reading “Department of Justice v. How we make a living”