In today’s blog, Dienece would like to share her experience with launching a second book. Launching your second book might not go like the first one did. It might do better, or it might be worse. I ended up making more money off my second book, but I didn’t sell as many books. The lack …
Category Archives: Writing Tips
The Middle Voice
Most writers have heard of the active voice and the passive voice. But have you heard of the middle voice? I hadn’t until a couple of weeks ago, when my pastor mentioned it in his sermon. It was just a throwaway line, about how he’s currently studying Biblical Greek and not looking forward to next …
Writer’s Life | The Inspiration of Imperfection
By Louise Crossley It is the happiest of times. It is the saddest of times. It Is a period of genius. It is a period of ignorance. We are the epitome of empathy. We are a disgrace of indifference. It is a decade of growth. It is a time of regression. We are the enforcers …
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Writers Life | Karma Chameleon
By Louise Crossley The unlikely inspiration for my blog this quarter is my teenage crush, Boy George. I’m sure you’re baffled and wondering, dear writers, what on earth a left-of-centre singer of the 80’s has to do with Christian writing. Let me tell you. What’s in a Title? But first, allow me to fill you …
Throwback Thursday | When is a Game Not a Game?
… when it’s an illegal lottery. This post is a revision and update of a 2018 post, How to Conduct an Online Giveaway. Note: This is not legal advice. I am not lawyer and am not qualified or licenced to give legal advice in New Zealand or anywhere else. If you want legal advice, you …
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How to make your story’s setting feel real
Characters, setting, plot―these are the three main building blocks of a great story. In my last blog post here, I shared how I find the characters for my next story. Today, I’d like to share some things I do to create memorable settings for my historical novels. Some of these tips could work just as …
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Writing the next story: how to choose the right characters
Does anything satisfy more than writing “The End”? In my case, it’s writing “Finis” for my Roman-era stories. It’s time for a celebratory cup of tea, a special dinner, a relaxing stroll…and planning the next story. How do we know what that next story should be? The characters, the setting, the plot, the theme…how do …
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Adding Front and Back Matter to Give Our Readers More
When we create a novel for our readers to enjoy, we might start with the first sentence of chapter one, but we shouldn’t consider it finished when we type “The End” after the last sentence of the story. It’s time to write the front and back matter to give our readers more. We can add …
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How to Design Covers Both Men and Women Love
For a man to check out a book online or in a store, the cover must hold the promise of a story men would enjoy. Historical novels where romance isn’t the most important plot focus are often enjoyed by both men and women. So, how can our choice of cover let men know our story …
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Narrated by the Author: Five questions to ask yourself before you record your own audiobook
By Jen Richards Audiobooks are big business. According to some they are ‘the new reading’. Whether or not they are going to take over from traditional written books remains to be seen. But the trajectory of growth is undeniable, with the Audio Publishers Association recently revealing double digit growth in audiobook sales for the tenth …