In between the second and third Lexy Cooper books I did a crowdfunding campaign to fund a research trip. The trip wasn't critical to my book; I had already budgeted money for the cover, editing, and proofreading. I didn't have to travel to Roswell, but believed the book would be more authentic if I had... Continue Reading →
When to release and promote your books
There are those who say that authors should release a book simultaneously in digital and paper form. Their argument being that everyone who wants to read your book should be able to. If they want to give you money, why make them wait? Well, I’ll tell you. Every new format is a chance to promote your... Continue Reading →
Backstory: Don’t Blow Your Load
I’ve seen some writing advice that suggests would-be writers know their characters as well as they know themselves. To come up with a complete dossier on their background including their family tree, the name of their first pet, favorite color, college minor, and blood type. Bullshit. That may be a fun exercise, but it’s a... Continue Reading →
Writing Tools – In Praise of the Humble Index Card
I always have a stack of index cards close to hand. They are useful for writing down phone numbers, grocery lists, character names, brilliant ideas, quick notes, or possible book titles. You can even use them to get something out of your teeth or provide a nasty paper cut. With a blank wall, a stack... Continue Reading →
Ten Questions to Ask Yourself Before Writing a Sequel
Is your book a one-off, or the start of a series? Ask yourself these questions... 1) Can your protagonist carry a series? Is he interesting and relatable enough to headline more stories? What do your reviews tell you about your main characters? 2) Will book two take place immediately after book one with book three... Continue Reading →
5 Tips for Free Book Promos
1) Be strategic about the timing. Link your free promo to an event like Mardi Gras, the Daytona 500, Pi Day or whatever makes sense for your book and genre. 2) Give yourself ample promotion time. Set the dates a month or more in advance so you can pitch your promotion to free book sites.... Continue Reading →
Researching the Novel – Crowdsourcing
When doing research for your book (and I'm talking strictly about fiction), you basically have three choices: Do it yourself, outsource it or crowdsource it. Crowdsourcing is putting a question to a crowd and collecting the answers. It’s best for single questions and not subject matter braindumps. I have solved many technical issues in my... Continue Reading →
B.Y.O.P – Be Your Own Publisher
I've been blogging about my trials and errors in this writing thing for a couple years now. From a post about discovering Kindle Direct Publishing and unearthing a long-lost novel, to crowdfunding a research trip, I've shared the journey with my blog readers. If you've found my writing tips interesting or helpful, I'm collecting them... Continue Reading →
