Writing Break

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...

Today we're talking about what happens after you've signed a contract with a publishing house. I'm also asking if you're a plotter or a pantser. More Writing Tips Rahva Raamat bookstore in Viru Keskus, Estonia - Featured Bookstore Death in Tallinn by Allan Martin - Featured Author Looking Glass Literary & Media Management Literary — Triangle House WattPad Introduces Scheduling Feature Introducing...

We’ve talked this season, and since the inception of this show, about the challenges of landing a literary agent. Today I’m offering 7 practical and actionable tips to help you land an agent. More Writing Tips Freakshow Summer by Anthony Bartley - Featured author St Rita’s Amazing Traveling Bookstore, Tobacco Valley, Montana - Featured bookstore Hiring - Editorial Freelancers Association Query Sha...

I hope you enjoy this bonus episode. Next week, we’re on summer break. Do something fun. The week after that, we’ll be continuing on with season 4.  Thank you so much for listening. As always, you deserved this break.  More Writing Tips AG Recommends Clause in Publishing and Distribution Agreements Prohibiting AI Training Uses - The Authors Guild Free Style Sheet Templates

Join me on the Overthinking Couch in the Writing Break cafe for what I hope to be a useful overview of artificial intelligence in book publishing today. More Writing Tips AG Recommends Clause in Publishing and Distribution Agreements Prohibiting AI Training Uses - The Authors Guild ChatGPT Secret Training Data: the Top 50 Books AI Bots Are Reading Those Fancy Large Language Models Were Trained On...

We are California dreaming today. As usual, I’m bringing you the latest publishing news. Plus, I’m also sharing 3 ways to know that you are ready to seek out an editor, a literary agent, or beta readers. More Writing Tips The Only Black Girls in Town by Brandy Colbert - Featured Author The Salt Eaters Bookshop, Inglewood, CA - Featured Bookstore CCBC Releases Statistics Regarding Diversity in Chil...

The road to publishing is not as narrow as it used to be, and today we’re reviewing evidence of that, and we have publishing news to discuss, of course. More Writing Tips Antigone Books, Tucson, Arizona - Featured Bookstore GLITCH: Book I of the Static Series by Erin Zak and Jackie D - Featured Authors Cormac McCarthy, ‘No Country for Old Men’ author, dies at 89 Mobius to Publish Actor Michael Cai...

We have a lot of news to get through today, including insider information about what makes a bestseller, a review of Amazon KDP’s recent changes, and more. As promised, we’re also discussing literary agents today, the good, the bad, and the ugly.  More Writing Tips Authors Guild Issues Update on New Leaf Authors Authors Guild Statement on New Leaf Literary Letting Authors Go Without Warning -...

If traditional publishing and self-publishing don't feel quite right for you, this episode presents a third option: hybrid publishing. We also learn about a new subscription platform for writers, rising POD costs, and more. All this while slowly making our way to the beach. More Writing Tips Something Like Summer by Jay Bell - Featured Author Hello Again Books, Cocoa Village, FL - Featured Booksto...

The theme for this episode is thrillers. We are also discussing traditional publishing versus self-publishing. Which publishing model is the better choice for authors today? More Writing Tips Weepers by Nick Chiakras The Mysterious Bookshop, New York City - Featured Bookstore Otto Penzler Sets Up Shop at ThrillerFest ThrillerFest Returns to New York City Spotlight on YA Thrillers The Bookseller -...