Is there anything as exciting as starting work on a new book? The beginning of a book project is an entirely blank slate. You have complete freedom to dream big and write whatever moves you. The [...]
One of the keys to success as an indie author is never standing still. The self-publishing world is a rapidly shifting landscape, so it’s vital to stay abreast of changes and adapt to them [...]
2020 has been one of the strangest years ever. I’ll never forget the feeling at the start of the year. The decade seemed like an entirely blank slate, ripe with possibility. Plenty of [...]
There’s nothing worse than getting through a good novel that fizzles out or doesn’t go anywhere. Many authors can create an intriguing first few chapters, but fail with a weak final [...]
A great novel has two parts: 1. story – what happens 2. drama – why it matters. Far too many authors screw this up in the beginning with boring backstory and information, which takes [...]
Update: you can now download this in-depth plotting template in Word, Google docs or Scrivener. There’s also an advanced video walkthrough. Check it out here (free download). [...]
This video is an introduction to my 8 point “plot dot” guide to outlining your novel. These are the 8 major turning points that keep momentum, suspense and tension. Without them, your [...]
Every time I help a new author edit their book I comment on the same issues. And even though I’ve spent years talking about book marketing and publishing, recently I’ve been [...]