Whatever your practice, creativity is essential in the writing and publishing profession. Aren’t we always searching for a new way to creatively tell a story? In a world where everyone has a platform and everyone is a storyteller, it is more important than ever to ensure you are able to articulate your craft in a…
The Decision to Become an Author – Anthony Sciarratta | Guest Post
Every person faces a time in their life when they decide whether or not to pursue their dream. The fear of failure can consume one’s soul, but the amount of pain felt after giving up on your dream would be greater. I made my decision in August of 2017, while vacationing in Mexico. It was…
Writing and Reading for Pleasure (June 2019): Douglas Burcham
Douglas writes his first post for 2019 in his “Writing and Reading for Pleasure” series detailing how grieving for a sentimental attachment from childhood has kept him busy writing differently since February 2019. Sunday 1st June 2019 marks the same date nine years ago when I started writing. A few weeks ago I reviewed the…
Writing Fiction? These 5 Contemporary Short Stories Will Inspire You – Emily Marchant | Guest Post
As an aspiring writer, or even one who has successfully had work published, you are constantly on the search for inspiration for that next story, and inspiration can be drawn from a multitude of eclectic sources. Nothing should be considered off-limits in that, if your voice is genuine, the original source of the story, as…
Simple Guide to the Legal Issues of Self-Publishing – Joseph McLean | Guest Post
Ever since the first third-party publisher book was released, most authors didn’t have to worry about legal issues. The publisher was responsible for taking care of all copyright, and the editors would probably sniff out any legal issues before the book went into print. With the rising popularity of self-publishing in the 21st century, a…
How to Keep Your Legal Rights as a Self-Published Author – Lauren Adley | Guest Post
Under the copyright laws in the U.S. and any other country in the world, a writer has authorship rights to their original work. If someone wrote a book too similar to yours after you publish your work, you would be protected by copyright law. Published authors usually have legal representatives. The publisher takes care of…
12 Female Literary Characters Who Are Total Role Model Material – Hannah Chamberlain | Guest Post
Whether they’re delivering sick burns to unwanted suitors, surviving unbearable conditions against all odds, sticking to their values in the face of harsh opposition, or smashing the patriarchy with their legit goddess powers, it seems like there’s nothing these female literary characters can’t do. And, because life is like that, you can bet these literary…
Self-Publishing: Book Cover Design Mistakes to Watch Out For – Lauren Adley | Guest Post
There are quite a few things to do before you self-publish a book, and most writers know that this list includes steps like thoroughly checking the manuscript and writing an engaging book description. However, many of them forget an aspect that’s an equally essential part of the process: designing an attractive book cover to represent…
5 Psychological Benefits of Writing by Hand – Josh Carlyle | Guest Post
Not so long ago, people were inseparable from paper and pencil. This clerical couple helped them literally in everything: keep a budget and arrange business correspondence, take notes and save cooking recipes, congratulate loved ones on holidays and in many other things. Today, for these purposes, we use electronic documents, press the share button on…
The Process of Book Editing: 10 Ways to Save Your Nerves – Jennifer Pauli | Guest Post
Finally, your dream came true: after long months of writing, your book is done. The next step is finding a professional editor to give your masterpiece a final review before it gets to the bookstore shelves. Even if this is not your first book, it is natural to feel nervous about shipping your dearest offspring…