5 Common Questions Authors Ask
I do a lot of one-on-one author coaching, especially around conference season. And in the decade or so that I’ve been chatting with new, incoming, and will-be authors, there are certain recurring questions that I get asked. Most could be boiled down to “How do I sell…
Why Every Author Needs a “Commonplace Book”
I do a lot of research. A lot. When you think of “research,” particularly as it relates to writing, you probably think of a beleaguered author, hunched over stacks of books and notebooks, pouring over passages about this topic or that subject until their eyes nearly…
Zero to Indie Author: Creating a Daily Writing Habit
Stop me if this sounds familiar. You wake up one day and realize that, although you still think of yourself as a writer, you aren’t actually doing much writing to speak of. Sure, you might get in a groove for a few days or even weeks. But ultimately, life gets…
Choosing a Title that Hooks Your Reader
Choosing a title is an art. It’s a bit like being able to write poetry, or to paint as an impressionist. A good title is also a paradox. You’re aiming to convey something a bit esoteric and ineffable with your title, and yet it needs to give your potential reader a…
Consistency is a Super Power
If you follow bloggers, YouTubers, and social media influencers for long enough they’ll inevitably provide you with some insight and tips about how they’ve achieved the success they’ve achieved. I follow hundreds of these folks, and often their advice is profound….
Characterization Growth Hack: Make Characters “Personable”
Characterization that captures the reader’s attention comes down to something I’ve learned from (of all things) marketing: Make the character personable. From a strictly dictionary definition, personable means having a pleasant appearance and manner (definition from…
