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Backward Engineering a Story From the End to Overcome Writer’s Block

Sara Anne Fox

Writer's block is a common challenge and there are all sorts of tricks and tools that writers use to try to overcome it. But what works for one writer may not work for all. For author and editor Sara Anne Fox, looking at a story out of sequence is...
- over 7 years ago
- Managing Your Writing Life
- Writer's Block
The Fundamental Differences Between Short Fiction and Long Fiction

Ken Liu

Award-winning author Ken Liu has published over one-hundred short stories, novelettes and novellas in his career and two full-length novels. While short fiction and long fiction formats have some fundamental differences, there are some elements that...
- over 8 years ago
- Fiction
- Plot Planning
Looking Inward to Find Your Voice as a Writer

Michael Tabb

For screenwriter, author, and MFA educator Michael Tabb, the most important thing when starting a new story or screenplay is figuring out what to say. To do this effectively, Tabb looks inward. While looking outside of yourself for ideas can broaden...
- over 8 years ago
- Fiction
- Finding Your Voice
Finding Enjoyment in the Editing and Revision Process - podcast

Bryan Beach

For author Bryan Beach, the editing process is the most important and the most enjoyable part of a writing project. He feels a great sense of accomplishment when that first draft is complete and recommends to other writers they put the initial draft...
- over 9 years ago
- Basic Editing
- Proofreading
Finding Enjoyment in the Editing and Revision Process - video

Bryan Beach

For author Bryan Beach, the editing process is the most important and the most enjoyable part of a writing project. He feels a great sense of accomplishment when that first draft is complete and recommends to other writers they put the initial draft...
- over 9 years ago
- Basic Editing
- Proofreading
An Eye for the Weird: Finding the Extraordinary within the Ordinary - recorded webinar

Sarah Gerkensmeyer

How can the strange, the uncanny, and the unordinary help give us more direct access to our characters’ ordinary, human experiences? This webinar will explore how some “weird” writers, like our presenter Sarah Gerkensmeyer, work with a careful balance...
- over 9 years ago
- Fiction
- Finding Your Voice
Where can I find a professional book cover designer?

Author Learning Center

Question: Where can I find a professional book cover designer? Answer: Authors are tasked with making many important marketing decisions throughout the writing and publishing process. One of the more critical marketing decisions is the design of...
- over 3 years ago
- Author Learning Center
- Ask Keith
Why You Should Give Your Book Away - article

Michael Esser

When developing your book’s marketing strategy, there are several factors to consider. Social media campaigns, press releases, blog tours, mini-book tours, author readings, and signings are some of the elements of a good marketing strategy. Each of...
- over 9 years ago
- Events
- Giveaways
The E-book as a Starting Point to Print Publishing? - article

Molly Blaisdell

Many authors see an e-book as a starting place for their publishing dreams. Their ultimate goal is to publish their book as a print book. This is certainly possible, as illustrated by the story of Amanda Hocking’s self-published e-books that caught fire...
- over 9 years ago
- Formats
- eBooks
What is Print-on-Demand (POD) and what are the benefits of this printing method when compared to offset printing?

Author Learning Center

Question: What is Print-on-Demand (POD) and what are the benefits of this printing method when compared to offset printing? Answer: As with most industries, technological advancements have brought about new opportunities and efficiencies for authors...
- 5 months ago
- Author Learning Center
- Ask Keith