A Conversational Style [Author Post]
When I gave out a list of rules for writing most kinds of text, I left one out: write in a conversational style. …
tips
Write Something. Write Anything [Author Post]
Have you ever sat there, thinking “I wish I could write?” Not “I wish I could write like [Joe Schmo]” or anyone in particular, just “I wish I could write.” I think you can. I don’t mean ‘the one novel that’s in all of us.’ Believe me, not everyone has a novel in them. Just write something. Write anything. …
Working with Kindle Create
Amazon’s MOBI format for Kindle is strictly proscribed and validated whenever a file is uploaded to Amazon. Working with Kindle Create software should be the best route to a valid e-book file. But unless your book is the simplest, text-only layout, Kindle Create is a struggle. …
The Art of the Good Cover: the Re-design
Back to where we started. Earlier this year we revamped The Art of Foil Fencing with a new cover because the original was, well, terrible. …
The Art of the Good Cover: Rules for good covers
Earlier this year we revamped The Art of Foil Fencing with a new cover because the original was, well, terrible. So what are the ‘rules’ for good covers?
…
The Art of the Good Cover
You should never judge a book by it’s cover. But that’s exactly what we all do. The book stores are full of fantastic books with terrible covers that are never read. And also full of amazing covers selling terrible books that only disappoint.
Which is why you have to create the best cover you can just to draw readers to open the first page. It is the most important selling tool you have. …
Editing tips
Everyone teaches Creative Writing these days, but it often looks like no one teaches Precise Editing. We’re all led to believe that creative writing flows effortlessly from our finger tips in an unbroken stream of consciousness. It doesn’t. Good writing is hard work; good, finished writing is down to good, solid editing.
Few texts can fail to be improved by several rounds of re-reading and re-editing, cutting and honing until the best possible version is achieved.
And how do you edit, exactly? Here’s a basic tool set. …