This is probably one of the most popular questions I get as authors are starting to plan their publishing journey. Like most things, there is no right or wrong answer. It really just depends on what you prefer and what is best for you.

Whether you’re going the traditional route or self-publishing, you’re probably going to run into book advances either on your book contract or on third party contracts. So here are the bare bones of terms so you can make the best decision for your publishing journey!

When putting the final touches on your story, most people focus on the font for the cover–which is really important! But what about the internal book font?

Today we’re going to talk about creating a cover design brief for your book! The goal of a cover is to catch the readers’ eye and give them an instant feel or idea for the type of story. Download my free workbook template for everything you should include in your brief.

Most of your goals are most likely about writing or finishing a book. Which is an amazing goal. And a big goal. But it can be daunting, especially once the newness of the goal or the book idea wears off.

So the biggest thing you want to keep in mind is why you want to do it. What is driving you to write a book? Why that story?

If you are a fan of this channel, you’ll know we talk a lot about identifying your story genre, being familiar with it so you can either follow or bend genre expectations. Making sure you are giving the reader what they want and able to market your story correctly to get your book to those demanding eyes and ears.

But within this, there is a new term on the rise — Microgenres. 

Previously a popular term mostly in the music and movie community, the book world is now adapting it for their purposes as well. So what is a microgenre?

Let’s discuss!

We’re quickly coming up on the new year—a fresh start and a time when everyone is excited to plan new goals, new habits, and make next year the best year yet.

But to start 2022 off right, you first want to take a look back at 2021.

So this is going to be a two part post: this week, we’ll talk about how to evaluate your previous year, what to look at, what to consider, and then next week will be all about taking that information and making realistic, achievable goals.

So let’s take a look at your 2021! And as an added bonus, if you are curious, at the end of the video, I’ll go over some of what I found out in the review of my 2021. Including how many books I read, which is always a big question I get asked.

So let’s dive in!

Dialogue is an ongoing conversation (Ba-dum-dum) between authors and editors because it is one of the trickiest aspects of writing.

These are my top 10 rules for writing great dialogue – the code I live by when I do my editing, when talking with my authors, and even on the odd occasion I find myself needing to write dialogue.

In honor of the recent New Year, let’s talk writing goals. Specifically, creating realistic and achievable writing goals.

How much should you aim to write in one day? How often should you write? What happens when you fall behind? Below I’ve outlined the steps on not only how to create achievable 2021 writing goals, but how to build healthy writing habits for years to come!

Happy December, ladies and gentlemen! I know many of you may have a #Nanowrimo hangover, but it is a new month and an opportunity to start fresh! Whether you need a break from your current work in progress or you finished you novel last month, check out this week’s Wild News Wednesday to spark a new idea or just to explore the crazy and awesome the world has to offer.

See those two awesome nerds right there? I’m the one taking the awkward selfie in public and the other, who is actually focused on what she should be doing, is my sister. We get together to work on Saturday mornings whenever possible, and even though we are technically on opposite ends of the content spectrum — an author frantically trying to put down words, and an editor gleefully cutting them out — it’s still incredible how much she pushes me to do better, be better.

Happy November everybody!

For some, November brings to mind hot cider, cold days (snow!), and celebrating Thanksgiving with family and wayyyy too much food.

For those of us in the publishing industry, it is a time of innovation, creativity, stress, frustration, and a labor of love.

Happy #NaNoWriMo2019!

Whenever I tell someone I’m an editor, nine out of ten times the reaction I get is, “Ugh, grammar.” And when I explain my developmental editing focus, it is quickly followed by a “Huh?” 

For those not familiar with the publishing process, the concept of a developmental edit can seem foreign. Most are used to thinking of editing only the copyediting sense.

Editing is so much more than just that! As a developmental editor, I get to dive into the heart of your novel and help you clarify your vision for readers. Best. Job. Ever. But what is a developmental edit?