The Challenge of Sensational Story Openings
Who, what, when, where, why and how: An effective opening doesn’t necessarily address them all, but presents the best ones to serve the reader on a particular journey.
SPA Girls – EP203 – How to Fail to Succeed
Do you feel like your writing career is filled with mistakes? Failures? Problems?
Good!
That means you’re putting yourself out there, trying new things, and moving in a positive direction in your writing career.
If you’re not doing any of the above…start right now!
Why, you ask, in horror?
Because having a pile of failures next to your name means that you’re getting out there and doing things in your author business.
If you talk to the most successful entrepreneurs in the world, they’ll all tell you stories of the times they failed, the businesses that didn’t quite go as expected, and the problems they had to overcome.
And that’s okay, because learning how to fail is integral to succeeding.
It teaches us resilience, determination, and persistence. It shows us that we’re human, and that it’s okay to make mistakes, as long as we keep going.
On the flip side, if you aren’t doing anything, you won’t fail.
Guaranteed.
Which would you prefer?
How to Build a Compelling Narrative Arc for Your Memoir
There’s a big difference between writing a book for ourselves and writing one for the reader. In this guest post, nonfiction coach and memoirist Tanja Pajevic offers five steps to keep in mind when crafting your story.
The Birth of a Book of Visionary Fiction – Guest Post – Barbara Ann Briggs
When my feet first touched Indian soil in 1986, I felt as if I had finally found my home. Since that time, my destiny has led me back to India time and time again, first to study sitar in Shimla, then to study Sanskrit in Varanasi and then to live here…
If you fail to plan…
Lately everyone around me is talking about how quickly this year seems to be speeding by. I must admit, it certainly feels that way to me as well. But just because time seems to be zooming by doesn’t mean we can’t squeeze in all the things we’d like to accomplish in the limited time we […]
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SPA Girls Podcast – EP202 – Bookbub Ads With Melissa Storm
If you’ve been thinking about trying out Bookbub ads, then this is the episode for you!
Melissa Storm was at the RWNZ conference in Christchurch with us, and we stole her away and made her tell us all about Bookbub ads just for you, our lovely listeners…
From what Bookbub ads actually are, to what you’ll need to set one up, and all the tips and tricks in between, Melissa gives us everything you’ll need to be successful.
Don’t miss this episode, it’s a doozy!
How To Review Your Writing Progress
If you are a freelance writer, one of the joys you no doubt are thankful for is that you don’t have to answer to anyone but yourself. Long gone are the days of one to ones with your boss or nerve-racking meetings where you are fearful you’ll be told your job is no more. Saying […]
How to Get Out of the Writing Doldrums
When stuck in the doldrums, writing coach Mathina Calliope recommends “writer candy”—literary distractions that nourish the muse.
Copyediting Jobs: How to Estimate Hours and Pricing
Copy editors are known for perfectionism. But while there’s no end to the fussing you can do, there’s a limit to what someone will pay you to do it. In this guest post, CMOS contributing editor Carol Saller explains how to determine what your time is worth.
SPA Girls Podcast – EP201 – How To Avoid Saggy Middles
We’ve all had experience with saggy middles… (And no, we’re not talking about our stomachs…)
Have you ever gotten to the middle of your manuscript and wondered what on earth you’re doing? Do you end up cleaning the whole house instead of getting back to your daily word count? Does it feel like you’re typing through concrete, and you couldn’t concentrate on getting more words down for the life of you?
This is the episode for you!
We talk about the middle of our books, what they should have in them, and how you can get over that terrible saggy story that sometimes emerges. We also discuss getting over your blocks, fixing what might be wrong, and how to set yourself up for success.
This episode is all about how to survive when you’ve moved past the exciting beginning, and are still miles from that thrilling ending…