The Motivational Editor

Helping Writers Go from Unpublished to Published

Writing Skills

8 Simple and Creative Blog Post Ideas for Fiction Authors

by

book cover Blogging for Authors by Rebecca LivermorePlease welcome bestselling author and blogger Rebecca Livermore to the blog today.

8 Simple and Creative Blog Post Ideas for Fiction Authors

As the author of Blogging for Authors, it should come as no surprise that I’m a fan of blogging. I see blogging as a great way for authors to build their platform. However, this is easier said than done, particularly for fiction authors. Some of the difficulty is due to the challenging nature of coming up with blog post ideas. Sure, nonfiction authors have an abundance of things to blog about, but coming up with blog post ideas for fiction authors is a bit more challenging.

If you’re a fiction author and you’ve ever struggled with knowing what to blog about, keep reading to discover eight blog post ideas for fiction authors.

[Read more…] about 8 Simple and Creative Blog Post Ideas for Fiction Authors

What are today’s publishing options and which is best for me?

by

A lot of publishing options for getting your book baby out into the world exist in today’s market.

  • What are those options?
  • How does one learn about all the ins and outs?
  • How does one decide which option is best?

Finding the answers can be time-consuming, confusing, and paralyzing. To help you navigate these troublesome currents, I created [Read more…] about What are today’s publishing options and which is best for me?

For a Stronger Story, Seek and Delete Redundancies in Your Writing

by

nuclear mushroom cloud seek and delete redundanciesI’m as guilty as the next writer in that I include redundancies in my draft manuscript. When I’m writing my draft, I focus on getting the story out of my head and into the computer.

I look for redundancies when I revise my story. And I revise it more times than I want to count! Below is a list [Read more…] about For a Stronger Story, Seek and Delete Redundancies in Your Writing

What Books Have Impacted Your Life?

by

My 8 recommended books on writingMost writers are also avid readers. It’s a part of how we learn the craft of writing. For me it’s also a part of how I enjoy life.

Right now I’ve got 6 books going, 4 nonfiction, and 2 fiction. The fiction are strictly for entertainment. The nonfiction for my own education—for my business and personally. The books in the picture above are among the many I recommend to writers.

Most of the time, I discover new books because someone else told me about them—the best advertising there is!

Today, I’m turning the blog over to you, dear readers. Post in the comments one or two books you recommend and why.

The 4 Most Important Elements in Fiction Writing

by

Space Shuttle launch. Essential elements of fiction writing.

All great fiction writing has more than 4 important elements; however, in my opinion, there are 4 that are the driving force behind your story.

Any avid reader can quickly identify when a book is going to be great or not. They may not be able to tell you the elements that are or aren’t there, but they’ve learned to recognize what a story needs for it to be a page turner.

Today’s post looks at those 4 foundational building blocks of fiction writing. [Read more…] about The 4 Most Important Elements in Fiction Writing

Formatting Your Manuscript for Publisher Submission

by

Lately, I’ve gotten a lot of manuscripts to edit with incorrect formatting.

Using the standard format for your manuscript for submission to a publisher or freelance editor is important. Do it incorrectly and you immediately tell that publisher you’re an amateur.

Yes, we all start at the beginning, but there’s no need to let the publisher know you’re new at this. You can submit like a pro the first time! [Read more…] about Formatting Your Manuscript for Publisher Submission

The Ns and Outs of Writing for Kids

by

children's author Ramona Woodby Ramona Wood

Children’s book author Ramona Wood’s maxim is “Never stop learning.” Wood is a member of the SCBWI and has written and illustrated five children’s books that can be seen at Amazon.com and RamonaWoodBooks.com. Her latest, Manners & Tips for Caring Kids, has just gone live as her first print-on-demand publication.

The Ns and Outs of Writing for Kids

Give your kids’ book a fighting chance from the start! Consider these four Ns before you get too far along:

NEED—Learn what the market needs and what is selling. How? [Read more…] about The Ns and Outs of Writing for Kids

I have a message to share, but where do I start?

by

Getting your message organizedMany of us write because we believe we have a message God wants us to share. In fact, our first book is often about lessons learned from a personal experience that we believe will help others. We want to convey information that will help others navigate and conquer a similar problem.

That was certainly the case for my first book, Help! My Husband Has Sexually Abused Our Daughter (updated, revised, and retitled Carried by Grace in 2014). [Read more…] about I have a message to share, but where do I start?