You’ve done it: you just finished the first draft of your manuscript! Once that adrenaline-surging moment of completing such a monumental task has passed, you can’t wait to have someone else take a look at your work…and, okay, you’re probably a little nervous about it, too. Will readers “get” it? Does the development and flow […]
The greatest writers in the world had to start somewhere. Stephen King wasn’t born famous, nor was Ernest Hemingway, Mark Twain, or George Orwell. Gaining the attention of the masses is the dream of many writers. The task of attracting readers is not easy, but it can be very rewarding. In order to gain the […]
This is not a Nonfiction Authors Association event, but we think it looks like a great time and we’re fans of host Melinda Copp. Check it out: Do you know you have a good story to tell, but you’re not sure how to write it in a compelling and engaging way? Have you always wanted […]
1. Commitment to Marketing –Unfortunately, simply having your book available on Amazon is not enough to inspire sales when there are millions of titles competing for the attention of readers. Books don’t sell without marketing. Book marketing requires consistent, on-going effort. Successful authors do something every day to promote their books. 2. Willing to Invest – […]
Name: Melinda Copp Website URL: http://www.writerssherpablog.com Social Media Links: http://www.facebook/thewriterssherpa Describe what you do as a ghostwriter: I help people write the books that they can’t write themselves. How did you come to do what you’re doing today? My first job out of college was working as an editorial assistant at a self-publishing company, and […]
Having a passion The most essential and important attribute in writing is to have an interest and passion. Writers should first have an interest in what they write because this is what will drive them to the most. As a writer, having a passion for what you write brings out the originality and creativity in […]
Every successful nonfiction author must answer one critical question: “How do you find the time to write a book?” Time is precious for all authors. Nonfiction authors often face a conundrum: the same work that develops their expertise steals time from writing. Many people write from a position of authority earned while conducting their careers […]
You can create a self-portrait of the author you want to be by summing up your short- and long-term literary and publishing goals and how you will achieve them by answering these sixteen questions. When possible, start your answers with the word “I.” Why do you want to write? What do you want to write–novels, […]
Back-of-the-book indexes can have an air of mystery that I would like to dispel by providing answers to some basic questions: Does your book need an index? Should you index your own book? Can a computer write an index? What does the indexer need from you? How much does an index cost? Does your book […]
As a writer, you may find yourself pressured to create a coherent and inspiring piece, the best anyone’s ever read. Unfortunately, there are some realities that we need to face, and deadlines are one of the harshest realities out there. Envision a Structure Do this before you even start. This gives you a clear direction […]
Maximizing the Value of Your Book Before You Sell or Publish It by Michael Larsen
Visibility is Salability: Making the World Ready for Your Book * Register your name as your website asap. If your name is taken, tweak it by, for example, adding your middle initial. * Use your name for your email address: [your first name]@[your first name followed by your last name].com. Keep your address clear, simple, […]
Techniques of How to Gather Information for Your Next Piece by Olivia Ryan
All nonfiction writers have to go through a writer’s block at some point of their career. This block may include struggles with ideas or the writing part, but the most common struggle is based on gathering information. After all, the information you will gather will influence the choice of topic, story, and even type of […]
What’s in It for You? Setting Your Literary and Publishing Goals by Michael Larsen
Create a portrait of the writer you want to be by describing your short- and long-term personal, literary and publishing goals and how you will achieve them by answering these questions. When possible, start your answers with the word “I.” Why do you want to write? What do you want to write–novels, nonfiction, children’s, MG […]
Name: Carolyn Glenn Brewer Book Title: Changing the Tune, the Kansas City Women’s Jazz Festival, 1978-1985 Your book’s Amazon purchase link: https://www.amazon.com/Carolyn-Glenn-Brewer/e/B006EQYDV What is your book about? The Kansas City Women’s Jazz Festival was the first jazz festival run by women. It challenged the pervasive attitude that jazz was a boys’ club by focusing on […]
Maximizing the Value of Your Book Before You Sell or Publish It by Michael Larsen
Visibility is Salability: Making the World Ready for Your Book * Register your name as your website asap. If your name is taken, tweak it by, for example, adding your middle initial. * Use your name for your email address: [your first name]@[your first name followed by your last name].com. Keep your address clear, simple, […]
Techniques of How to Gather Information for Your Next Piece by Olivia Ryan
All nonfiction writers have to go through a writer’s block at some point of their career. This block may include struggles with ideas or the writing part, but the most common struggle is based on gathering information. After all, the information you will gather will influence the choice of topic, story, and even type of […]
What’s in It for You? Setting Your Literary and Publishing Goals by Michael Larsen
Create a portrait of the writer you want to be by describing your short- and long-term personal, literary and publishing goals and how you will achieve them by answering these questions. When possible, start your answers with the word “I.” Why do you want to write? What do you want to write–novels, nonfiction, children’s, MG […]
Writing and Sharing Your Work as Labors of Love by Michael Larsen
The only way to do great work is to love what you do. – Steve Jobs Pour your time and passion into what brings you the most joy, your mission in life. –Marie Kondo, the life-changing magic of tidying up At their best, reading, writing, agenting, editing, publishing, reviewing, and bookselling are labors of love. […]
What Corporate Sponsors Want from Authors
While you may think that these corporate sponsorships are few and far between, I can assure you that they are easier to get than you might think. Corporations aren’t looking for a bargain. First, you should know that big companies have equally big budgets. On average they allocate 10% to 15% of profits toward marketing […]
(NOTE: This post is a companion piece to Peter Bowerman’s NFAA teleseminar on the subject to be posted on 8/17/17.) In late 2009, I released my fourth self-published book, the updated edition of my first, The Well-Fed Writer (TWFW), an award-winning how-to about my chosen field (since 1994) of lucrative “commercial” writing – freelancing for […]
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