Writing Break

Whether or not you seek to avoid conflict in real life, avoiding conflict in your writing will make for a boring book. For the first half of this season we are covering conflict as a literary device and taking a close look at the seven different types. I’ll offer examples, I’ll discuss how conflict should guide your story, and I’ll explain how more than of these conflicts can be at play within you...

I discuss the new format for the show moving forward and how I talk myself out of having imposter syndrome. More Writing Tips Free Style Sheet Templates Music licensed from Storyblocks

Thank you to everyone who filled out the Listener Feedback Survey . I am in the process of reviewing and revising the show’s format accordingly, but there is still a little bit of time to complete our survey and tell me what to do. Check the show notes for a link to the survey, and remember that all responses are anonymous and highly appreciated. For now, it’s review time again. More Writing Tips...

Today we are wrapping up our series on how to write better than AI and insisting on our cup of stars. Please remember to fill out the Writing Break survey . The feedback we're receiving is changing the format of the show. Thank you! More Writing Tips Association of American Literary Agents - Association of American Literary Agents K-lytics Fantasy Romance Report and Market Seminar Video Warner Mus...

We have a Listener Feedback Survey for you today in addition to our usual publishing news and writing tips. We appreciate you taking a minute to complete the survey. More Writing Tips Writing Break Listener Feedback Survey - Please complete this survey. Bloomberg - Are you a robot? Farshore Annual Review Judge a Book by its Edges | Barnes & Noble How to get kids to read for fun: People who work on...

It’s break time, writers. We have a lot of publishing news to get through today, and we’re continuing with our four-part series on how to write better than AI. More Writing Tips 10 Things Author-Publishers Should Know About Amazon Advantage AI book publishing platform Spines raises $6.5M to disrupt centuries-old industry - SiliconANGLE Fake AI law firms are sending fake DMCA threats to generate fa...

Since the release of ChatGPT, the number of freelance writing jobs is shrinking. Can writers even compete? I hope so, which is why today we are beginning a four-part series that will highlight several writing techniques that elevate any work, be it fiction or nonfiction. Let’s see how many of them you already incorporate into your work. More Writing Tips The Forgotten Painting: A Historical Myster...

Today we are looking at innovations in book publishing and discussing subtitles. The Writing Break cafe is open, and we have a lot of publishing news to get through today, so let’s grab a drink and a snack before settling in at our usual table. More Writing Tips The Art of the Mini Sales Pitch: How to Subtitle Your Book So People Will Read It ‹ Literary Hub The Art of the Mini Sales Pitch: How to...

As an editor, my authors’ late-night, semi-coherent correspondence, choppy first drafts, and deepest darkest secrets die with me. However, today I am sharing an email exchange between an author and myself, with the author’s permission, of course. More Writing Tips The Touch of Her Voice by Sara Scott - Featured Author Blush Bookstore, Wichita, Kansas - Featured Bookstore Why romance novels are hav...

In this episode, we are discussing book awards, book marketing, and the bit of writing advice Neil Gaiman gave out this week. More Writing Tips Science fiction authors were excluded from awards for fear of offending China Author J.D Barker Apologizes, Dropped by Agent After 'Creepy' BookTok Request GUNGNIR: tales for the dreamers & thinkers Book Sales in France National Book Awards Expand Eligibil...

Tune in for wall-to-wall writing and publishing tips for authors. More Writing Tips Start Here: How to Write a Book Proposal + Book Proposal Template | Jane Friedman Free Style Sheet Templates Music licensed from Storyblocks

In the last episode we discussed what makes a good opening line in fiction, and in this episode we’re doing the same with nonfiction, some of which overlaps with fiction. I also share some examples of good opening lines from nonfiction. More Writing Tips Fit for the Throne: The Trial of Ten Kindle Edition by S. McPherson - Featured Author Lost Books, Montrose, CA - Featured Bookstore Big Five Domi...

This week we begin a two-part series on writing memorable opening lines. Today we’re discussing fiction, and in the next episode we’ll be covering nonfiction. More Writing Tips Hay Festival Cartagena 2024 Ábaco, Cartagena, Colombia - Featured Bookstore Public Domain Day 2024 | Duke University School of Law Judge Blocks Key Provisions of Iowa Book Banning Law The New York Times Complaint Against Mi...

This final episode for 2023 is a short one but a juicy one. We are looking at corporations behaving badly, authors behaving badly, and readers behaving well. Because we know readers can do no wrong. More Writing Tips Cait Corrain Goodreads Controversy Explained Author Apologizes After Review Bombing Books on Goodreads | TIME The Bookseller - News - Tolkien estate wins two lawsuits against author o...

In this holiday episode I share new book trends on Amazon, new publishing awards, and the latest publishing news. More Writing Tips First Year in Estonia Kindle Edition by Pynchon Woo - Featured Author Rüütel & Matilda, Tallinn, Estonia - Featured Bookstore The Paranormal Romance eBook Market The Fantasy Romance Book Market Screen Door Press - The University Press of Kentucky The Yale Review | The...

We are continuing our foreshadowing discussion today, and I might say something about genres that you will not like. More Writing Tips Depot Café and Bookstore, Mill Valley, CA - Featured Bookstore Salt by Liz Shipton (Adult Version) - Featured Author Salt Paperback (YA Edition) - Featured Author 57 Writing Contests in December Workers at Two More B&N Stores Vote to Unionize Circana BookScan: US P...

We are beginning our discussion on foreshadowing today, in both fiction and nonfiction. More Writing Tips Amazon Sues Publishing Fraudsters The 'Wall Street Journal' Drops Its Bestseller Lists Free Style Sheet Templates Music licensed from Storyblocks: “More Jam Please” by Raighes Factory "Calm and Cozy: Lo-fi Vibes" by The Turquoise Moon “Little Noir Night” by Humans Win

Happy Halloween. In this episode, we’re talking about book proposals, how much writers make, and other such spooky things. More Writing Tips The Ghost of Lilly Pilly Creek by Abbie L. Martin - Featured Author Hutchinson Public Library, Hutchinson, Kansas - Featured Library Start Here: How to Write a Book Proposal + Book Proposal Template | Jane Friedman Writing Books Remains a Tough Way to Make a...

Let's review some of this season's publishing tips. More Writing Tips Free Style Sheet Templates Music licensed from Storyblocks: “More Jam Please” by Raighes Factory

Today we are catching up on quite a bit of publishing news, including the new Amazon upload limits and book category changes. I’m also sharing what I think is the most important thing to do while marketing your book.  More Writing Tips These 183,000 Books Are Fueling the Biggest Fight in Publishing and Tech - The Atlantic Spotify will use AI to Replicate and Translate Podcasts ‘Harry Potter’...

Today we are talking about what wholesale discounts mean for authors, free audiobooks from Spotify, Amazon’s new policy regarding AI-generated books, and a bit more. More Writing Tips Autumn’s Game by Mary Stone - Featured Author The Montague Bookmill, Montague, MA, USA - Featured Bookstore Book Profit Calculator KDP Royalty Calculator Spotify to Offer Paying Subscribers Free Audiobook Trial - WSJ...

In this episode, we’re talking about a predatory publisher. We’re also discussing the difference between a good editor, a great editor, and your ideal editor. More Writing Tips U.S. Book Show: B&N CEO Says Chain Is in Midst of Significant Change Membership - The Authors Guild Amazon's Kindle Rewards Beta Program Adelaide Continues to Ignore Author Complaints Judge Blocks Texas Book Ban Law Free St...

Today I’m taking my own advice, plus we’re working on building your publishing team. We’re also learning of a good reason to make sure your print books are also available as ebooks. More Writing Tips Pan Bookstore & Cafe, Izmir, Turkey - Featured Bookstore The Izmir Situation: Book 4 of the Sauwa Catcher Series by J.E. Higgins - Featured Author Otto Penzler Announces New True Crime Imprint Crime I...

Today we are talking about new imprints, working with beta readers and editors, and hiding your expertise. More Writing Tips Hiring - Editorial Freelancers Association Marilynne Bradley - Featured Author & Illustrator The Novel Neighbor, St. Louis, Missouri - Featured Bookstore The Booker Prize 2023 | The Booker Prizes Hardie Grant Publishing Baker & Taylor Opens a New Chapter with Paw Prints Ten...

We will be talking about is your book’s BISAC categories, the average advance for nonfiction authors, and how to transition from being your book’s author to your book’s publisher.  More Writing Tips FREE Complete BISAC Subject Headings List - Book Industry Study Group DonorsChoose: Support a classroom. Build a future. Charity Ratings and Donor Resources | Charity Navigator Seeing Novels from...