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How to do book research using Google online forms to gather information

May 17, 2013 by Atilla Vekony, Publishing Information Manager

“Content is king.” The statement has been used so much it’s become cliché. Nevertheless, it is still true and creating valuable content means you provide information not available anywhere else.

One way to do this is to do your own research. Collect data online by asking a group of people to provide responses to a question or a series of questions. The information that you collect is uniquely yours so it can be a big selling point for making your book stand out authoritatively.

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13 tips to stay focused on your writing project

May 16, 2013 by Grael Norton, Acquisitions Manager

Avoiding the “shiny-object syndrome” is hard for any writer, but particularly so for new writers. Not having a finished book in their arsenal, the reward is just a possible dream and keeping on task to get there is difficult.

Still, the only way to “git ‘er done” is to stay committed to writing. Every author must create their own set of rules to follow what works for them. The following are thirteen ideas you might adopt to help you get there. Pick a few that feel the most doable and actionable.

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3 writing blogs to follow for authors

May 06, 2013 by Sam Henrie, President

As an author you write to inspire, educate, or entertain others. Always having something valuable to share requires that you dip into other wells just to keep your own creativity at a higher level.

The following list of three writing blogs (taken from Write to Done’s Top 10 Blogs for Writers 2012) are suggested to get you started in your search. Depending on the type of writing you do, fiction, nonfiction, research, etc., these blogs will send you off finding your own writing gurus to check out whenever your inspiration for writing starts to dry up.

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Is procrastination stopping you from writing a book?

May 02, 2013 by Grael Norton, Acquisitions Manager

Is procrastination stopping you from writing a book?

The answer is no.

Fear is what’s stopping you from writing a book.

Fear disguised with a mask and a cap and a loaded gun aimed at your heart.

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How to build a Pinterest research board for your book

May 01, 2013 by Atilla Vekony, Publishing Information Manager

Whether your book is fiction or nonfiction, you can use Pinterest to create a better book by creating research boards.

What is a “research board”?

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Six power affirmations for authors

April 29, 2013 by Grael Norton, Acquisitions Manager

Feeling stuck?

Take a few minutes to switch gears in your brain by repeating one or more of these powerful affirmations for writers.

1. What I write today doesn’t have to be good but I do need to be good and write. Perfectionism is the biggest inhibitor for writers. It makes the blank page win every time. Slay that dragon by setting the timer and start writing.

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A quick tip to mentally reprogram your brain to write better in ten minutes

April 16, 2013 by Grael Norton, Acquisitions Manager

Chapter One:

It was a dark and stormy night…

Stuck in a rut? Can’t figure out how to get started with a bang for your opening chapter?

Try this copy-and-paste method:

Find an opening paragraph of a book that you like.

Copy it.

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Write your book in 15 minutes a day

April 15, 2013 by Grael Norton, Acquisitions Manager

Have you ever dreamed of writing a book?

Have you started it?

Did you finish it?

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Six blogging tips for fiction authors

April 08, 2013 by Grael Norton, Acquisitions Manager

Today’s author must spend as much time building their author platform as they do writing their book. Or more.

While there are a number of different ways to spread the word about your books, at the core of every promotional effort you want to get readers to sign up for your email list.

An author blog is usually the best way to start. It’s the home base for everything you write. The place where you have the sign-up for your newsletter, the “about me” page that gives readers a behind-the-scenes look at their new favorite author, a place to showcase all your books both old and new and a possibly even a place to buy your books and get them autographed.

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A novel solution to writer’s block

April 04, 2013 by Grael Norton, Acquisitions Manager

Natasa Lekic from the site Write to Done has an amazing post to break through writer’s block with a map that works through a series of yes and no questions.

If yes, go this way.

If no, take this route.

It’s an out-of-the-box formula to get you out of the box with your writing. The map is for fiction writers though you could adjust it to nonfiction writing as well.

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