Writing: Musings from a Hybrid Author of Jane Austen Fan Fiction
In honour of the birthday this week of one of the most famous self-published authors of all time, Jane Austen, British historical novelist Jean Burnett, who recently self-published her second sequel to...
View ArticleWriting: What Author-Publishers Can Learn from Their Mistakes
In a brave post to kick off our Writing posts for 2015, US indie author Samantha Warren recounts her experience of learning from her self-publishing mistakes and the highs and lows of her journey so...
View ArticleWhat Makes a Writer – Nature or Nurture?
In this pensive post sharing insights into his own journey to become a self-published author of creative non-fiction, Paul Murphy heralds the start of a year that will bring greater opportunities for...
View ArticleOpinion: The Most Valuable Lesson for an Author
British indie author John Lynch generously shares the best writing advice he ever received, learned at the outset of his self-publishing journey: the importance of learning how to write succinctly. 33...
View ArticleOpinion: Are New Self-Publishing Platforms Killing the Editing Process?
Are traditional editing services an endangered species, or do we bypass them at our peril? Indie author Yen Ooi debates whether modern self-publishing platforms killing the editing process or are...
View ArticleWriting: How to Share Your Manuscripts with Your Partner
Following a lively conversation on our members-only Facebook page about whether and how to share your writing with your partner before publication, Canadian novelist Francis Guenette, who has a degree...
View ArticleWriting for an Audience
As an independent author, you have the right to write for whoever you like, and one of the chief joys of self-publishing is that the choice is all yours. But is it smart to disregard your audience and...
View ArticleWriting: On Coming Out as a Writer
When Mari Howard performed this poem at the recent Hawkesbury Upton Literature Festival, it immediately chimed with the other authors in the room and elicited sympathetic but kindly laughter from the...
View ArticleWriting: When to Use First Person
Self-publishing brings many benefits, including the freedom to write your book in first person, third person, or whatever style or voice you choose. Tales abound of authors whose books have been...
View ArticleWriting: How Illness Turned me into an Indie Author
An inspiring post about how self-publishing her novels has given British indie author Nelly Harper a new lease of life after contracting a chronic and debilitating illness. Going indie has not only...
View ArticleWriting Research – How to Do It & How to Use It
Every novelist undertakes some degree of research, some do more than others. How do you to turn that research into fiction without wearing the ‘hey, look at me, I did loads of research about this...
View ArticleWriting: How Authors Can Find Answers to Tricky Questions
With 20 self-published books to her name, US indie fantasy writer Samantha Warren was familiar with the problem of struggling to find answers to the kind of tricky questions that many authors face –...
View ArticleOpinion: Why Writing is Like Jewellery Making
We’re kicking off this week with a succinct post about one self-published author’s approach to her writing. When Scottish novelist Fiona Cameron drew an analogy between writing and jewellery making on...
View ArticleHow I Do It: Indie Authors Share the Secrets of Their Success – This Week:...
Want more success? Write more books. Our interview with the lovely US indie and trade-published author Marie Force makes refreshing reading for all those jaded with the constant pressure of marketing....
View ArticleWriting: Why You Should Write What You Know – Yes, Really!
“Write what you know” is a classic piece of writing advice that authors – especially indie ones – love to debate. Wouldn’t it be better to write about what interests and excites you? Or what you’d like...
View ArticleWriting and Editing Tools for Self-publishing Indie Authors
Welsh indie author Karl Drinkwater shares his thoughts and recommendations on the many writing and editing apps and tools available to help self-published writers make their work the best they can be....
View ArticleHow Nanowrimo Changed my Writing Habits
As it’s currently late April, and therefore about as far as it’s possible to be from NaNoWriMo’s November event, now’s a good time to consider whether to take part, rather than rushing in to meet the...
View ArticleWriting: The Role of Writing Role Models in Your Self-publishing Career
For #WritersWednesday, here’s a question that’s a starting point for a conversation, rather than defining an answer: when writing and promoting your work, should you compare yourself to other authors?...
View ArticleOpinion: How to Despatch the Doubt Demons
We’ve all heard of writer’s block, but what about writer’s doubt? What can we do about those questions and criticisms that beset you after you’ve written those glorious words, ‘The End'”? As an editor,...
View ArticleWriting: 9 Rookie Errors to Avoid When Plotting Your Self-Published Novel
Author, ghost-writer and writing coach Roz Morris provides a handy checklist to help you make sure you’re not making classic novice errors when planning the plot of your novel. Far-fetched or trite...
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