Helping authors to make their stories shine … Editing Services for fiction and memoir
Today marks a year since I posted my first blog, so it’s time to review progress. In my first year, I wrote 42 posts and nearly 30,000 words. Here are some highlights from The Winding Narrative: I celebrated a win in my writing journey when I signed with Michael Cybulski of NAC, see Five Reasons to … Continue reading The Winding Narrative Turns One
One of the joys of writing this blog is the opportunity to meet inspiring people who have fascinating real-life stories. Not only is Kirsten Alexander an accomplished novelist, but she is the instigator of Storymart, a unique short story subscription site which offers readers a source of great material and writers an paid opportunity to … Continue reading Kirsten Alexander, Novelist and Founder of Storymart
This week, I had the pleasure of chatting with Kate Forster, best-selling novelist (women’s fiction and young adult romance) and founder of The Ladybirds—Women Who Write Helping Other Women Who Write, a support network for female writers on Facebook, now over 1,500 members strong. Kate charmed me with her honesty, grounded approach and a genuine … Continue reading Kate Forster, Novelist and Founder of Ladybirds
This post is for my long-suffering non-writer friends who have endured my detailed explanations about the book publishing process. It is also for my writer friends who want to show their circle why they still haven’t published their book or why it took so long to get there. In brief, the process is: write and … Continue reading The Book Publishing Flowchart
As you may know, Barto and have a country escape near Mansfield. Barto is in big-kid heaven there with grown-up Tonka toys such as a tractor, ride-on mower and log splitter, while I’ve become chief gardener. The previous owners planted a garden across the length of the house with 45 roses. Last autumn and winter, … Continue reading The Case of the Mysterious Rose Saboteur
Over one million new titles are released each year in the US alone. Authors strive to make their books stand out by attending book launches, book clubs, book readings and other functions. They also aim to get book reviews on sites such as Amazon and Goodreads, as that improves the visibility of their books. Here’s how to help your favorite authors. Continue reading How to Write a Book Review
Last week, I discussed websites and blogs for writers. This week, my focus is on social media. Beyond personal use, authors can use social media to promote their writing and to connect with the writing community. There are a myriad of different apps available, each with a slightly different focus, so where should you start? … Continue reading A Beginner’s Guide to Social Media for Writers
Tweets, blogs, posts, comments … social media can become overwhelming. But writers, whether they like it or not, are in the business of book sales, and few businesses can thrive without an online presence. Social media apps are more than a means to connect with friends, they’re a valuable marketing tool. I’ve heard unpublished writers … Continue reading A Beginner’s Guide to Websites and Blogs for Writers
It’s important to understand the difference between an agent and a publisher. The publisher edits, produces and distributes the book. An agent finds a publisher and manages the author’s career. Some authors deal directly with their publisher (more common in Australia than the USA or UK), but many prefer to have a middleman. Continue reading Five Reasons to Sign With a Literary Agent
(Photo of dancer Ukalina, Lilian and Zara.) Continued from Malaria, Kidnapping, Jewels … The day before I moved from Lagos to Houston, Buddy came to say goodbye. There was a very real possibility I’d never see him again. It was different with our expat friends—we’d likely meet up again somewhere on the international circuit—but this felt permanent. … Continue reading A Week in Lagos
Brightside Story Studio 