3 Essential Editing Tips: Beta Readers (Pt 3) by @BethBarany
Turn to early readers or beta readers to let you know if they think the book is ready to be published. This post shares how to find and work with them. *** (You can...
Turn to early readers or beta readers to let you know if they think the book is ready to be published. This post shares how to find and work with them. *** (You can...
by Beth Barany · Published September 16, 2015 · Last modified September 13, 2015
If you’re considering joining us for our Plan Your Novel course that starts Oct. 1st, then register now! WHO THIS COURSE IS FOR For: Beginning writers and experienced writers who want to plan their novel in an organic or...
Have you ever felt it? The burning shame of knowing that you haven’t blogged in ages. When you look in your bag and your notebook is staring at you, all wounded and bereft because you haven’t opened it in a while. You WIP’s protagonist, who you once knew better than you know yourself, is now a distant stranger. You watch wistfully, and with more than a smidgeon of envy, the Facebook posts of writers who are blogging, editing and publishing like the wind. If you have felt such things, then you know what it is to feel it. The shame of the writer, who is not writing.
When you try really, really hard to be funny, it inevitably won’t work. Like when my mother tells a joke. She always forgets some critical piece in the set up that, if forgotten, renders the punch line unintelligible. Which, as she backtracks and says, Oh, I forgot to tell you about the bath tub, is funny, but not the way she intended.
Many writers I know use Tarot as writing prompts and creativity sparks. I do! So when I saw that my colleague had released her own Tarot deck, I was excited and wanted to share...
Courses + Workshops / Writing Craft
by Beth Barany · Published September 12, 2015 · Last modified September 13, 2015
Today I’m sharing about my friend and colleague’s wonderful newly updated course on the craft and business of writing children’s picture books. If you: Have always wanted to illustrate children’s books and were too...
Beautifully crafted holiday romance stories have always been my favourite novels to read: not only during the holiday season, but all year round. I’ve discovered that I’m not alone. Readers worldwide enjoy ‘love under the mistletoe’ stories that evoke sincere emotions and reflect family, heart and home. As writers, we play a part in enhancing the holidays for our readers by taking elements that may not be as magical in real life and making them sparkle on the pages.
Today I gave my classes an assignment: write about a story or event that is significant to you and why it’s significant or memorable. I haven’t seen their papers yet but some of the students told me what they had chosen to write about and these stories were very meaningful to them for various reasons. This just proves what I heard one of my writing heroes, Garrison Keillor, say on the radio show, A Prairie Home Companion years ago: telling a story and figuring out the best way to tell it is “always worth the effort.”
Please welcome Denis Ledoux with his guest post on writing your memoir. He’s also sharing about his upcoming “Write Your First Memoir Draft Tele-course” starting soon. Enjoy! And let us know what you think about writing...
book marketing / Events / Webinar / Writing Tips
by Beth Barany · Published September 9, 2015 · Last modified December 15, 2015
To begin, let’s define some terms. You’re an author who needs to market. Marketing is about connecting with potential readers and sharing with them about your book. Let’s talk about mindset. Another word for...
In this post, part 2 on 3 Essential Editing Tips I talk about getting feedback. You can read Part 1 here. *** Getting Feedback When I finish a story, I don’t know if it’s any...
Often times, you may hear that to be successful in your creative endeavors you need to “think outside the box”. This is sound advice. There is nothing more infinite than what is outside the conventional. There is also nothing more boundless than the blank page. Sometimes, creativity may need to be reined in so as not to be overwhelmed. What better place than a box to give your inspiration some form? A small box.
I read this post earlier today and really enjoyed it. Jason underscores the importance of being your own hero, and that totally vibes with my message in my self-coaching guide for writers, The Writer’s...
October 2015 Plan Your Novel, 30-Day Writing Challenge Link: http://30daywritingchallengefornovelists.bethbarany.com/ A Facebook post to adapt: Thanks! Plan your novel with a course designed for the writer with a life. This course is co-taught by...
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Creativity Coach for Writers, NLP Master Practitioner, and Master Teacher, Beth Barany has been there and knows how hard it can be to take your idea and turn it into a real book, that people will actually be interested, and even yearning, to read.
She walks the talk, as her clients like to say. She is the author of the 2012 award-winning young adult fantasy novel Henrietta The Dragon Slayer, as well as the author of the bestselling nonfiction books for authors and aspiring authors.
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