Authors face a competitive market and a platform will give them a competitive edge. It won’t, however, guarantee a successful book, though. Conversely, it’s not absolutely necessary to have a platform for a book to be successful. A platform will create...

Simply put, sub-plots make books more interesting. Although creating sub-plots adds a challenge to the writing process, they are an indispensable ingredient in great storytelling. Sometimes they are not interwoven into the main story, but most of the...

When you have a story to tell that draws on your own experience, do you write it as a memoir or as fiction? The best memoirs read like fiction, and the best fiction feels as real and true as if it actually happened. In this webinar, two authors share...

Nothing is more annoying than a character that has red hair in one chapter and brown hair twenty chapters later. It’s important to keep track of characters, so logical problems don’t bog down your storytelling. Characters need to be multidimensional...

Writing is typically done in solitary spaces, but it doesn’t have to be a lonely process. Inviting other people into your work can spark creativity, prompt motivation, and create comradery. The internet is, of course, a fantastic way to connect with...

Gaining exposure and building credibility are a vital part of any author’s career. Tony N. Todaro, author, Executive Director of WC2 (West Coast Writers Conferences), and President of GLAWS (Greater Los Angeles Writers Society), explains how to build...

In today’s society it’s common knowledge that Twitter is an enormously successful social medium. Honing one’s ability to function on that platform is becoming increasingly important, as its use expands. For an author, the ability to use tweets to increase...

I’ve always welcomed self-published books. I’m always looking for the next big thing, a new writer who no one else has discovered yet. These days, that often means a self-published author. The community of self-published authors is a treasure trove of...

It doesn't get more satisfying than selling your book in person directly to a reader. You make a connection, leave an impression, and walk away with a little more money in your pocket. But for new authors, selling your book in person presents a new set...