You should never quit your day job, but your ultimate goal should be to quit your day job. It's an endless, confusing, and often controversial conversation that, despite our bare-it-all culture, still remains taboo. In Scratch, Manjula Martin has gathered interviews and essays from established and rising authors to confront the age-old question: how do creative people make money? As contributors including Jonathan Franzen, Cheryl Strayed, Roxane Gay, Nick Hornby, Susan Orlean, Alexander Chee, Daniel Jose Older, Jennifer Weiner, and Yiyun Li candidly and emotionally discuss money, MFA programs, teaching fellowships, finally getting published, and what success really means to them, Scratch honestly addresses the tensions between writing and money, work and life, literature and commerce. The result is an entertaining and inspiring book that helps readers and writers understand what it's really like to make art in a world that runs on money-and why it matters.

    An imprisoned man receives an unexpected caller, after which "everything changed..."And the reader is hooked. But whether or not readers will stay on for the entire wild ride will depend on how well the writer structures the story, scene by scene.This book is your game plan for success. Using dozens of examples from his own work - including "Dropshot," "Tiebreaker" and other popular novels - Jack M. Bickham will guide you in building a sturdy framework for your novel, whatever its form or length. You'll learn how to: -"worry" your readers into following your story to the end -prolong your main character's struggle while moving the story ahead -juggle cause and effect to serve your story action As you work on crafting compelling scenes that move the reader, moment by moment, toward the story's resolution, you'll see why believable fiction must make more sense than real life. Every scene should end in disastersome scenes should be condensed, and others built big. Whatever your story, this book can help you arrive at a happy ending in the company of satisfied readers.

    They have the pedal pressed to the floor when they shouldn't have gotten in the ride at all, sort of speak. In "Slow Your Prose: 25 Tips On How New Authors Can Improve Their Craft," we go back to the basics.Showing vs. telling, passive/active voice, point-of-views ... many writers confuse these key elements for writing a good story. Before rushing a book to market, it's more important to write the best book possible first. But why do so many authors skip this step? As a bonus, you'll find three proven query letters that have led to deals with a literary agent, a magazine and popular anthology by a New York Times best-selling author.

    <br> <br><h2>DISCOVER: Launching and Pricing Strategies That Work in 2013</h2><br>Kindle publishing offers a rare opportunity to make money with your words. Simply write a good book and you'll tap into the world's largest online store. But it's not the utopian business model that some Internet gurus claim. You have to work hard and you have to constantly adapt your marketing strategies if you want to be successful. <br><br>One tactic in particular that doesn't work like it once did is the "free day promotion" that Amazon provides through the KDP Select program. In the past, you could give away a book and see an immediate bump in sales. Moreover, many authors were able to launch their book for free and see it climb the charts once it switched to paid. Unfortunately, recent changes to Amazon's algorithm has led to diminished success with this strategy. Some people are even saying, "KDP Select is dead."<br><br>The question is, if KDP Select no longer works, what can an author do to launch or increase sales? <br><br>A possible solution is the "$.99 pricing" strategy." Rather than giving away a book, some people market it at a discounted rate (usually $.99), which ultimately leads to lots of sales at a higher price. <br><br>These two choices leave many authors confused. Do the free days still work? Or should an author use the $.99 pricing strategy? In other words, is $.99 the new free? <br><br>With the booklet, "<b>Is $.99 the New Free</b>" you'll get a detailed case study of the launching and pricing techniques that <i>actually</i> drive sales on Amazon.com. <br><br><h2>INSIDE:: Is $.99 the New Free? - The Truth About Launching and Pricing Your Kindle Books</h2><br><br>Inside "<b>Is $.99 the New Free</b>" you'll get short and actionable content that answers the following questions:<br><ul><li><b>Why is it important to track your Kindle book sales?</b></li><br><li>What authors benefit best from offering free books through KDP Select?</li><br><li><b>Is it better to launch a book for free or sell it at $.99?</b></li><br><li>How does "visibility" work on Amazon?</li><br><li><b>How can you make a book permanently free on Amazon?</b></li><br><li>When should you move a book to other platforms?</li><br><li><b>How can you build an author platform?</b></li></ul><br>Kindle publishing is constantly evolving. What you need is a strategy guide to keep up with these changes. <br><br><h2>Would You Like To Know More?</h2><br>Download now and start getting results with the projects you delegate.<br><br>Scroll to the top of the page and select the <i>buy</i> button.

    “In the spirit of Annie Dillard's The Writing Life, Friedman...gives heartfelt counsel to those who need to be coaxed into the creative process."—Washington PostAn indispensable guide for writers that explores the emotional side of writing and offers insightful advice on overcoming writer’s block, procrastination, guilt, and more. Charting the emotional side of the writer's life, Writing Past Dark is a writing companion to reach for when you feel lost and want to regain access to the memories, images, and the ideas inside you that are the fuel of strong writing.Combining personal narrative and other writers' experiences, Bonnie Friedman explores a whole array of emotions and dilemmas writers face—envy, distraction, guilt, and writer's block—and shares the clues that can set you free so that you can write the book you’ve always dreamed of writing.Supportive, intimate, and reflective, Writing Past Dark is a comfort and resource for all writers.

    At once a memoir, meditation on the artistic process, and advice on craft, Still Writing is an intimate and eloquent companion to living a creative life.Through a blend of deeply personal stories about what formed her as a writer, tales from other authors, and a searching look at her own creative process, Shapiro offers her gift to writers everywhere: an elegant guide of hard-won wisdom and advice for staying the course. "The writer's life requires courage, patience, empathy, openness. It requires the ability to be alone with oneself. Gentle with oneself. To be disciplined, and at the same time, take risks." Writers--and anyone with an artistic temperament--will find inspiration and comfort in these pages. Offering lessons learned over twenty years of teaching and writing, Shapiro brings her own revealing insights to weave an indispensable almanac for modern writers.Like Anne Lamott's Bird by Bird, Virginia Woolf's A Writer's Diary, and Stephen King's On Writing, Dani Shapiro's Still Writing is a lodestar for aspiring scribes and an eloquent memoir of the writing life.

    Here's the book writers have been waiting for! Covering every aspect of the creative journey, The Novel Writer's Toolkit shows readers how to: - Develop salable ideas- Set a writing schedule and stick to it- Develop compelling characters and plot- Find an agent or an editor who will help publish their work- Understand the submission and publishing process- Write dialogue that sounds real and engaging- Dissect bestsellers in order to discover what makes them work- Stay alive and inspired through it all- Turn ideas into stories- Conduct accurate research- Promote their work

    Most of my methods are for nonfiction, but many examples and ideas work well for fiction books, too. Learn how to be profitable writing a book a week for Kindle. The process is a true test of discipline and character. I share ideas that work for writing under this model and the motivation and mindset it takes to succeed.

    In this new edition, author Theodore Cheney offers 39 targeted ways you can improve your writing, including how to:create smooth transitions between paragraphscorrect the invisible faults of inconsistency, incoherence, and imbalanceovercome problems of shifting point of view and styleexpress your ideas clearly by trimming away weak or extra wordsYou'll strengthen existing pieces and every future work by applying the three simple principles--reduce, rearrange, and reword. Once the secrets of revision are yours, you'll be able to follow Hemingway's lead--and get the words right!

    For many, they make the difference between a writing dream and a writing career.” Zoe York/Ainsley Booth, USA Today and New York Times bestselling author For the first time ever in print, Zoe York breaks down how she plans a series—something she has done ten times over. Romance Your Brand is an adaptation of an intensive four-week course, now available to authors everywhere. This book covers:
 • high-concept pitches 
• world-building 
• taglines and blurbs 
• building a cast of characters
 • writing the first book in a series 
• finding comparable series 
• covers 
• how to write towards future marketing 
• and why ALL OF THE ABOVE should be considered before you write a single word

    It just gave me the validation as a writer that I've never had before. Seldom do I run across other writers in person and so reading Mark's book really was a confidence booster. I recommend this book to all writers especially those who are new. It's the added boost we all need to see our little "babies" rise from the literary crib to adulthood."~ 5-star Review by: Kathleen Morris on Sep. 27, 2012 at SmashwordsLearn the 30 secrets of the bestselling self-published ebook authors. Learn how to make your book more discoverable and more desirable to readers. Learn how to reach readers around the globe at Amazon and other major retailers.This updated 2013 edition of The Secrets to Ebook Publishing Success has already helped tens of thousands of self-published ebook authors publish more professionally and with greater success.This ebook is a must-read for every writer, author, publisher and literary agent. Whether you're considering publishing a book for the first time, or you're a long-time veteran, this book will help you take your self-publishing to the next level.Includes a comprehensive glossary of e-publishing terms. No technical experience necessary!A great companion to Mark Coker's other popular e-publishing guides, The Smashwords Style Guide (how to format and publish an ebook) and The Smashwords Book Marketing Guide (how to market any book for free).Share the secrets. Enjoy!Table of ContentsPrefaceIntroductionThe SecretsSecret 1: Write a great bookSecret 2: Pinch your penniesSecret 3: Create a great ebook coverSecret 4: Practice metadata magicSecret 5: Write another great bookSecret 6: Build reader trustSecret 7: Embrace your obscuritySecret 8: Spend your time wiselySecret 9: Maximize distributionSecret 10: Avoid exclusivitySecret 11: Give (some of) your books away for FREESecret 12: Understand the algorithmSecret 13: How retailers select titles for feature promotionSecret 14: Patience paysSecret 15: How books develop (the four behaviors)Secret 16: Trust your customers and supply chain partnersSecret 17: Platform building starts yesterdaySecret 18: Architect for viralitySecret 19: Tweak your viral catalystsSecret 20: Optimize discovery touch pointsSecret 21: Practice the never-ending book launchSecret 22: Think globallySecret 23: Study the bestsellersSecret 24: Develop a thick skinSecret 25: Think beyond priceSecret 26: Pricing Strategy: Unit volume is a lever for successSecret 27: Ebook publishing is easy, writing is difficultSecret 28: Define your own successSecret 29: Leverage preorders to increase salesSecret 30: Share your secretsAppendix I – Glossary of E-Publishing TermsAppendix II – Special acknowledgements for beta readersAppendix III – CreditsAppendix IV – Reproduction rights (how to distribute this book freely)

    William Faulkner wrote As I Lay Dying in six weeks. Joyce Carol Oates often cranks out two or three books a year. Stephen King believes first drafts should take no more than three months to complete. So, what's the trick? Novel writing isn't about inspiration. It's about the time, energy, and discipline to see the project to its finish.With 90 Days To Your Novel at your side, now is the time. This inspiring guide will be your push, your deadline, and your spark to finally, without excuses, and in three short months, nail that first draft of your novel.The difference between wanna-be writers and real writers is the difference between talk and work. If you commit to the schedule and the techniques within 90 Days to Your Novel and invest two to three hours a day for twelve weeks, you will complete your book. An outline will appear. Characters will take shape. A plot will emerge. Scenes will come together and form a story worth reading. And then the talking can begin!This helpful guide provides:Instruction that distills the elements of the novel - from crafting your outline to developing intriguing characters and believable plotsStrategies for gaining support from your family and friendsMotivating insights about writing and writers to minimize your inevitable moments of doubtA schedule to keep you in the writing zone and keep you focused, creative, and workingWhether you're writing your first novel or your third, this guide provides the coaching, the planning, and the writerly commiseration to help get your book written.

    You need a System. Step-By-Step - Amazon's Paperback and E-Book Publishing Systems Explained In CreateSpace and Kindle Self-Publishing Masterclass, top-selling independent author Rick Smith demonstrates a logical, step-by-step system which new Authors can use to succeed. This book will fast-track you through the Jungle! Writing, Publishing, and Marketing Your Books Here you'll find the truth about what to write and how to get it finished. You'll learn the 16 Golden Rules for Successful Amazon Authors. You'll be shown the important things that must be done correctly, and the other stuff which just slows you down. Why you should publish both Paperback and Kindle formats Why you should always do Createspace first What are the best software tools for organisation, creativity, and productivity How to create or source amazing low-cost Covers that drive your sales How to build world-class Sales Pages on Amazon's storefront, with no technical skills required In fact, everything you'll need to take your book to market. Marketing 101 for New Independent Authors You’ll also discover the right moves to achieve commercial success for your book; Where to find your first willing customers who'll kick-off your sales The importance of Reviews and how to get genuine customers to write them Using the right Keyword tactics to get your book onto Page 1 in Amazon's Category Search How to price, track, and promote your book, and when to write the next one Brand New Chapters on Kindle Unlimited, Countdown Deals, and Pre-Order, the powerful new Amazon Marketing Programs As you follow these step-by-step instructions you'll quickly learn everything you need to know in order to start a new career as an Independent Self-Published Author. Along the way, you'll acquire a few Secret Weapons that could propel your book to it's Category's Top-Row, where every author wants to be and every potential buyer can see you. Publishing your first book is the ride of your life; get it right first time!Rick Smith is an independent Author and Publisher on Amazon, with multiple Top-Ten books in their categories, and numerous Best Seller badges. Click on “Look Inside” to Find Out Much More!

    There's not a writer alive, novice or master, who will not benefit from this book and fall in love with it. Cover to cover, this wise little book is riveting and delightful. Readers will turn to The Mindful Writer again and again as a source inspiration, guidance, and support.

    And if you've already written one, you can write an even better one. Author and former literary agent Nathan Bransford shares his secrets for creating killer plots, fleshing out your first ideas, crafting compelling characters, and staying sane in the process. Read the guide that New York Times bestselling author Ransom Riggs called “The best how-to-write-a-novel book I've read.” MORE PRAISE FOR 'HOW TO WRITE A NOVEL' "In his 47 brilliant rules, Nathan Bransford has nailed everything I've always wanted to tell people about writing a book but never knew how. Wonderfully thought out with lots of practical examples, this is a must-read for anyone brave enough to try their hand at a novel. It's also a great review for experienced writers. Highly recommended." - James Dashner, New York Times bestselling author of THE MAZE RUNNER "Nathan Bransford's primer is full of thoughtful, time-proven advice on how to write a novel. Nathan can sound both like a reassuring friend and a tough, no-nonsense coach. Whatever kind of novel you're writing, Nathan's insights will make you think about your process and help you find your own way to success." - Jeff Abbott, New York Times bestselling author of DOWNFALL "Nathan Bransford is sharp, thoughtful, and a must-read for all aspiring authors. His advice is not only funny and insightful, it's essential for writers at any stage in their careers." - Tahereh Mafi, New York Times bestselling author of SHATTER ME "Nathan Bransford's book on how to write a novel is smart, generous and funny as hell. Read it. No matter where you are in your writing life, whether you're on your first book or are a grizzled, multi published veteran, you'll find practical advice to help you through the process -- and plenty of wisdom to inspire you along the journey." - Lisa Brackmann, author of ROCK PAPER TIGER "Equal parts encouraging and butt-kicking, hilarious and wise, Nathan Bransford's no-nonsense manifesto talks you through the process of getting the book of your dreams out of your head and onto the page. Whether you've been writing for five minutes or fifty years, this is the guide for you." - Sarah McCarry, author of ALL OUR PRETTY SONGS