Founding a (fictional) town? Here are the details you need to have

Posted on October 26, 2022 at 9:00 AM by Sadye Scott-Hainchek

One of my favorite activities as a child was creating a "town" in the basement, where all of my various...

Categories: Behind the scenes

Tagged As: Setting, Writer's Digest, Writing advice

What authors should know about book cover design (after hiring a pro)

Posted on October 25, 2022 at 3:00 PM by Sadye Scott-Hainchek

Yes, the first tip on the list for sales-boosting book cover design is to hire a professional. That said, the...

Categories: Behind the scenes

Tagged As: Cover design, Penny Sansevieri

Ways to start a novel strong and capture readers' attention

Posted on October 25, 2022 at 10:09 AM by Sadye Scott-Hainchek

Like many people, Shane Millar wrote a novel ... and shoved it in a drawer, rarely to be seen again....

Categories: Behind the scenes

Tagged As: First lines and first chapters, Joanna Penn, Writing advice

Writer Beware digs deep into The BookWalker

Posted on October 24, 2022 at 2:43 PM by Sadye Scott-Hainchek

Victoria Strauss has gotten just one complaint, dating back to a 2019 transaction, about The BookWalker. But that said, she...

Categories: Behind the scenes

Tagged As: Writer Beware / scams

Tough love: How your romance novel can also handle tough topics

Posted on October 24, 2022 at 9:46 AM by Sadye Scott-Hainchek

Anyone who follows publishing news doesn’t need to be told that there is definitely a market segment for romance novels...

Categories: Behind the scenes

Tagged As: Romance, Writer's Digest, Writing advice

Quiz yourself on your book branding and marketing skills

Posted on October 21, 2022 at 3:00 PM by Sadye Scott-Hainchek

Authors are always encouraged to take an honest look at their marketing efforts.  Penny Sansevieri is repeating that call, but...

Categories: Behind the scenes

Tagged As: Marketing / promotion, Penny Sansevieri

What to know if you're writing collaboratively

Posted on October 21, 2022 at 10:47 AM by Sadye Scott-Hainchek

The three authors who co-wrote a recent post for Writer's Digest agree that writing is, rightly, often seen as a...

Categories: Behind the scenes

Tagged As: Writer's Digest, Writing advice

ALLi: Yes, Audible's return policy is changing ... but only slightly

Posted on October 20, 2022 at 4:00 PM by Sadye Scott-Hainchek

When Amazon announced the changes to its ebook return policy, many minds likely turned to the audiobook world. After all,...

Categories: Behind the scenes

Tagged As: ALLi (Alliance of Independent Authors), Amazon, Audiobook

More nonfiction pet peeves from editors

Posted on October 20, 2022 at 10:30 AM by Sadye Scott-Hainchek

Sandra Wendel has shared some of her least-favorite things to see in the nonfiction she's working on. But there are...

Categories: Behind the scenes

Tagged As: Nonfiction, Sandra Wendel, Writing advice

If you have a good idea for a story, don't overthink it

Posted on October 19, 2022 at 12:00 PM by Sadye Scott-Hainchek

Those who enjoy a little levity with their writing advice are in luck today. Jane Friedman has an excerpt from...

Categories: Behind the scenes

Tagged As: First lines and first chapters, Jane Friedman, Writer's block / writing prompts, Writing advice