Category Archives: Publishing

Steps for Writing a Book

Posted on by
1

I’ve written three books now and am negotiating with myself on what No. 4 should be about.

If you are curious about what that involves, or perhaps you’re planning to engage in this insanity yourself, I recommend two primers to get your started.

Melissa Donovan, writing on the Writing Forward blog, identifies these 10 steps is a brief, succinct post.

Stefanie Newell, over on The Write One Blog, rounds up nine steps but provides more depth and detail in her All The Necessary Steps To Write A Book For Newbies!

There is obviously overlap.

And for the record, I’m still looking to publish any of the first three. Just wanted to be clear that writing, as satisfying as that can be, is not publishing, which I suspect is thoroughly unsatisfying until it happens.

ThrillerFest: Where I’ve Been All Week

Posted on by
Reply

Back from ThrillerFest 2014 in New York late Saturday night, made later by Virginia DOT’s decision to allow milling and paving on I-395 South that reduced traffic to one lane.

My overriding impression was that it was overwhelming. Established authors hobnobbing with aspiring writers in sessions, during book signings, over dinner and at the bar.

Substantive sessions on technicalities (guns, ballistics and bombs), techniques (first person vs. third person) and how-tos. (Fifty agents did speed dating with 400 wannabe-published writers in a chaotic three-and-a-half hour, four-room dance.)

Here are some links to media coverage:

WHAT IT’S LIKE TO PITCH YOUR NOVEL TO 50 AGENTS IN 3 HOURS. Adrienne Crezo in Writer’s Digest.

Visions of Rambo and Bourne Dancing in Their Heads. Dan Slater in The New York Times.

ThrillerFest IX: A Writer’s Paradise. Michael Cavacini on his eponymous blog. (I had lunch with Michael; he’s a voice to watch.)

All in the Family: ThrillerFest Celebrates ITW’s First Decade. Lenny Picker in Publisher’s Weekly.

ThrillerFest IX: terrific gathering of star writers & fans. Joe Myers of the Connecticut News-Times.

 

 

 

 

Free Digital Books on July 14

Posted on by
1

Keep books alive! Keep reading alive! Keep authors alive!

In the wake of the passing of World Book Night in the U.S. for lack of funding, a group of authors led by bestseller C.J. Lyons has declared Monday, July 14, as Digital Book Day.

The concept is simple: Authors and publishers make digital versions of their books free for one day.

Readers win because – the books are free and you can explore new writers with no (financial) risk.

Authors win because they have the opportunity to attract new followers.

Be a winner. One day only. July 14. Tell others. It’s free.