Understanding and Utilizing Conflict to Create Engaging Works
by Debra H. Goldstein Writers are told conflict is essential to stories or novels. That conflict is the catalyst compelling movement of the plot or in the characters’ lives by…
The Latest From WPN
Reviews matter, and then they don’t.
by Gabriel Valjan, first published on Criminal Minds blog, reprinted with permission. Question: I found out Publishers Weekly let go of some its reviewers and is reviewing fewer mysteries. PW is…
[VIDEO] Authors Beware: Scammers Are Targeting You
Have you been approached about turning your novel into a movie? Solicited by a literary agent? Had your Facebook page duplicated? Scammers disguising themselves as reputable firms and people, taking…
Two Nonprofits Merge with Writers & Publishers Network
The Writers & Publishers Network (WPN), a national literary nonprofit, is merging the Independent Writers of Southern California (IWOSC) and the Publishers Association of Los Angeles (PALA) into its organization.…
Book marketing overwhelm: How to avoid being crushed
by Sandra Beckwith January 31, 2024 Reprinted with permission It’s easy to see why so many authors suffer from book marketing overwhelm. There’s so much to do! Here’s how to…
How Should I Publish My Short Stories?
by Lisa Tener, Reprinted with permission In my most recent post, I answered a soon-to-be-published author’s questions about distribution for a traditionally published book; today, I answer their second question:…
You Want It All, But You Can’t Have It: Parenting. Work. Travel. Success. Impossible?
By Zibby Owens, Reprinted with permission It’s 11:00 p.m. and I’m still sitting on my son’s bed after I put him to bed. I’m in the dark, the only sound…
Authors, you need to have the original files for your book
By Kathleen Kaiser One of the biggest mistakes I’ve found when working with self-published authors is that they don’t have the original high-resolution PDF for their book’s interior or the…
Why You Should Pitch Your Book Before, During, and After You Write It
by Korina Moss After finishing my first cozy mystery manuscript I attended a library event with three established cozy authors. When they opened up for questions from the audience, I…
The Logistics of Touring Part IV–A Day in the Life
by Mark Parsons Click here if you missed Part III. There is the theory of and the planning of, but sooner or later you face the doing of. A typical…