Dogs really can talk! Today’s video proves it.
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People Over Platform: The Heartbeat of Authentic Authorship
Let’s talk about something that’s been the elephant in the room for many of us–the dreaded “P” word: platform. In the realm of publishing, it seems like everyone is fixated on the numbers: how many followers you have, the size of your email list, or the reach of your social-media presence. But what if I told you there’s a more authentic and meaningful approach …
Successful Authors Know a Thing or Two
Becoming an author is like starting your own business. And, like any business, entrepreneurs research and familiarize themselves with the business environment for the category they work in. Furthermore, successful businesspeople never stop learning about the category in which they work. It’s a lifelong pursuit. Or at least until they move on to something else to focus on and become an expert in …
Book Launch Secrets – Free Webinar, March 7
Thomas Umstattd, Jr. and I have frequently made this presentation. I don’t want you to miss out. The first 30 days your book is for sale sets the tone for the lifetime of your book. Many physical stores stock new releases for fewer than 90 days. If they don’t sell, they return them to the publisher. If they sell out, the bookstores order more. The online store algorithms show books …
Fun Fridays – March 1, 2024
Contracts can be confusing. Enjoy this wisdom from Chico and Groucho Marx (from their movie made in 1935; some things never change):
Is Your Book a Book?
When I first began writing for publication, back when Gutenberg was a pup, publishing a book was the goal, the prize, the pinnacle of success. Nowadays, though, with the Internet and blogs and print-on-demand and Amazon, anyone can publish a book. And pretty much anyone does. Just browse a bit, you’ll see what I mean. Sheesh. If your definition of success is simply to publish a book, you’re at …
Gentle Criticism
First, let me point out how much I appreciate the respect shown by the commenters on my last blog post, “The Difference We Offer.” I appreciate the healthy dialogue and always look forward to reading comments on my posts. If only everyone could be so open-minded and cordial! One of our family stories is about a relative turning up her nose at a sushi plate, declaring, “I don’t like sushi.” “Have …
Story Structure Part #7
Welcome back to Story Structure. We’re still using the story we’re creating with Oliver and Sophia, and we’ve come to Plot Point #2. Plot Point #2 comes after the dark moment (that I talked about last time) and just before the climax. Plot Point #2, according to Larry Brooks, is defined as “the final injection of new information into the story, after which no new expository information may …
Only the Rich Get Published (?)
The title of today’s blog came in a question that was much less confrontational but significant nonetheless. In the context of describing the extremely limited amount of money they could spend on writers conferences, online classes, training materials, etc., the writer summarized by asking, “How can an unknown writer with very limited resources expect to get their writing published?” This is a …
Fun Fridays – February 23, 2024
You can write today’s date as 2, 23, 24 … Two. Two three. Two Four. It’s almost like a countdown to a song, which brings me to today’s “fun.” This week, I was talking with a friend about a book title that describes so much of our Christian life. It is titled My Almost for His Highest (a satire on the famous Oswald Chambers book). Then, she sent a list of …