Tag: Writing

Build Your Backlist by Christine Nolfi

Author Christine Nolfi

We’ve all heard stories of Indie Authors who’ve shot through the roof and earned oodles of cash seemingly overnight. They appear to possess a magic elixir that, once ingested, promises to turn any hardworking writer into a publishing sensation. Does the elixir exist? You bet: Build your backlist.

Avid readers aren’t drawn to “one book wonders.” They’re itching to download your debut novel with the knowledge that once they fall in love with your inimitable voice, you’ll lavish upon them a cornucopia of other literary delights. Don’t be fooled. Secretly they view your debut as a tasty appetizer meant to leave them hungry. It’s your job to cook up a main course of novel after novel you’ll gladly serve with gusto. Continue reading “Build Your Backlist by Christine Nolfi”

Most Common Manuscript Mistakes

Author K. S. Brooks
Author K. S. Brooks

I’ve been honored a number of times to participate in a Novel Writing Contest as a Top Tier Judge. During those contests, I’ve seen a lot of manuscripts. Some showed good promise and strong writing skills. Others made me want to stab myself repeatedly rather than read further. In most cases, these authors all made the same mistakes, the most common of which I’ve listed below.

A good editor would pick up on these bad habits. If you don’t have the luxury of hiring an editor, then you should pay special care to avoiding the list below. (Even if you do hire an editor, avoiding these pitfalls will make their job easier.) And now, in no particular order, I present to you the “Most Common Manuscript Mistakes.” Continue reading “Most Common Manuscript Mistakes”

Book Unfound by Stephen Hise

In the study of logic, there are a number of fallacies one must understand. The purpose of these exercises is to strengthen the mind against flawed reasoning and rhetoric. One of the well-known logical fallacies is called post hoc ergo propter hoc. This Latin term means after this, therefore because of this. In this particular type of logical fallacy, it is assumed that because one action or event follows another that the preceding action or event caused the subsequent one.

Although all logical fallacies are troubling, this one is particularly so because it gives rise to convenient scapegoats. It distracts from, diverts, delays, or prevents getting to the real issues. Continue reading “Book Unfound by Stephen Hise”

To outline, or not to outline – by Dean Lappi

Author Dean Lappi

To outline, or not to outline, that is the question

When I’ve been interviewed, one of the common questions I get is – what type of writer am I? When starting a new book, do I plan it out with a full outline or do I just let it flow to see where the story takes me.

I think most writers fall into one of these two categories. For my first novel, I definitely was the second type. I came up with the basic idea of my fantasy novel Black Numbers, which was – what if magic was created through advanced mathematics instead of spells? I started writing and the book came to life as I wrote each chapter. I just seemed to be along for the ride. Continue reading “To outline, or not to outline – by Dean Lappi”