You need an editor to make your writing shine, and the first red pen that touches your draft should be your own. Learn how to revise, and especially, learn how to delete. Read Strunk & White’s Elements of Style or some other book that shows you how to strip verbiage, and then apply what you’ve learned to your manuscript.
I was cleaning off all my emails the other day when I was suddenly struck with the number of emails I receive from my favorite writing gurus and educators. I subscribed to a variety of them and the glut of email messages they send me on any given day is overwhelming.
To make a big splash in today’s literary world, genre mixing is essential to a writer. Like a chemist, contrarian writers must mix many story elements to produce a powerful and fresh literary work. Premise and POV (point of view) must be chosen first, but then another critical choice awaits the writer.
You managed to find your way through the battlefield of plot, claw your way free of character motivation, and rejoiced as you conquered the unsurmountable ending of happiness. Behold the miracle, you have emerged triumphant with a COMPLETE BOOK.
by Beth Barany · Published November 11, 2015 · Last modified April 27, 2016
Thank you for being a subscriber to the #askaWritingCoach live chats for novelists. Click here to see a list of our past chats. Click here to jump to the latest chat. If you’d like...
As a book publicist I am here to inform you that yes, they absolutely do matter! In fact, one of my clients won the prestigious Los Angeles Book Festival award. That then led to a flurry of media interest, which subsequently led to a major New York agent deciding to represent the book and pitch it to all the major publishing houses. This author, needless to say, was happy he decided to enter.
As a book publicist I am always on the lookout for effective inexpensive ways to reach book buyers. One way is to tap into the power of Amazon by using Listmania lists. How?
Overview: Fan Fiction is a great way for aspiring authors to hone their craft. Amanda Hocking started out writing fan fiction and she was signed to a multimillion dollar book deal. Fifty Shades of Grey author E. L. James started writing fan fiction after she finished reading the Twilight saga, and hasn’t stopped since. Here’s a list of 21 Fan Fiction sites for authors to consider.
Today we welcome back our adventurous novelist, Carol Malone. She’ll be telling us about her “Ah-Ha” moment and give us tips on how to find what workshops stimulate the writing process, and what books...
You want readers, fans, and your potential audience to enjoy your book’s title. Alliteration can help that title roll off the tongue nicely. If your book’s title is memorable and fun or easy to say, people will talk about it.
Each year hordes of guidebooks are released from traditional and indie publishers alike, not to mention all of the self-published titles out there, and it can be difficult to sort through for the ones that are really worth your time. If 2013 raced by too quickly for you to catch them all, never fear—I’ve done the legwork for you. Below is my list of favorite writing-oriented guidebooks released last year.
Whether you hire an attorney (one who does publishing contracts regularly) or decide you are intelligently qualified to make some appropriate legal amendments, I suggest you BEST BEWARE the clause in your contract about Future Technology.
If you’ve ever tried to write a book in a short amount of time, you know what a daunting task it can be. But you don’t have to stumble through the process alone.
Guest Columnists / Writing Tips
by Beth Barany · Published June 4, 2013 · Last modified June 3, 2013
Finding a good writing critique group can play a critical role in getting your book ready for publication as well as in front of a reputable publisher.
Subscribe here to get notified each time we publish a post.
Welcome to the Writer’s Fun Zone, a blog for creative writers by Beth Barany, fiction writing teacher and novelist.
Articles by creative writers like you.
Check out the How To Write The Future podcast.
Subscribe to Writer's Fun Zone blog for resources, inspiration, and free resources:
Get these goodies:BONUS
As a bonus, you will also be subscribed to the CreativitySparks (tm) newsletter, full of tips and tools for novelists building a successful career. (Sent 1-2 times per week) By Beth Barany, Editor and Publisher of the Writer's Fun Zone, and a Creativity Coaching for Writers, and a novelist herself.
Beth Barany helps authors get their books completed and out into the world, into the hands of their readers.
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.
Ready to finish your book but not sure how?
Hire Beth to help you or take a class at Barany School of Fiction. Or join her Group Coaching Program.
Still have questions? Email Beth.
Recent Comments