What Do Publishers Do?
The next several blogs will be dedicated to what a publisher does and carries you though the complete process. This article comes out of the University of Chicago. I hope you enjoy reading it. Shirley...
View ArticleWhat Does A Publisher Do? Part 3
Here is the third installment of what a publisher does. Since I launched Dobyns Chronicles in May marketing has been where I have spent the majority of my time. At times it feels like a daunting task...
View ArticleTamie Dearen
Hello Everyone, welcome to my Shirley McLain blog. I’d like to intoduce you to my guest author today, Tammi Dearen. Tami is in the midst of doing a blog tour for her book,”Alora.” I just completed...
View ArticleThe Writer’s Platform
When most of us dream about being writers, we imagine sitting at a desk or in a padded chair overlooking the ocean, writing a novel, and then kicking back as a publisher discovers it and makes it a New...
View ArticleCross Promotion
I have to start out telling you the inspiration behind this blog. Yesterday I agreed to cross promote my book, “Dobyns Chronicles”, with a gentleman I’ve never met who has written a book called “Alter...
View ArticleLetting Characters Off Too Easily
People show the stuff they’re made of when they’re put under stress. Sometimes they rise to the occasion and become heroic. Other times they run. Part of why war stories are so compelling is because...
View ArticleNot Wanting To Make Things Up
Almost all of us draw on autobiographical material when writing. This leads to a lot of powerful prose, and probably saves a ton of money in psychiatric bills. But it can also cause major problems with...
View ArticleTips for Writing Amazon Reviews
This article was originally published by Neal Wooten Writer, artist and standup comedian; author, ‘Reternity’ and ‘The Balance. Some people really have a knack for writing great book reviews and...
View ArticleHow to Finally Finish Your Writings
I found this article by Kellie McGann over a subject I’m very familiar with, not finishing a writing project. I thought it was worth passing on to you. Enjoy On my computer I actually have a folder...
View ArticleFive Steps to a Great Book Contract
Some writers have been fortunate enough to land book contracts, but unfortunately for the majority of writers that’s not the case. Ryan Van Cleave says, “reach beyond the obvious to achieve success.”...
View ArticleThe 5 C’s of Writing a Great Thriller Novel
This article by James Scott Bell was first published in the Writer’s Digest. I read it this morning on Books Go Social Authors Group ( https://www.facebook.com/groups/booksgosocialauthors/?fref=nf )...
View ArticleThe Heat Monster
This blog was originally published in Southern Living and was written by Rick Bragg who is a Pulitzer Prize- Winning writer and author of several best selling books. I identified with it so much I...
View ArticleWriting Fiction? 10 Common Writing Errors That Make You Look Like a Newbie
This is an article by Sarah White that I thought I would share with you. It’s always a good thing to read advice that can help improve our writing. Shirley You’re about to work on your first big...
View ArticleSix Common Writing Mistakes and How To Fix Them
We all made mistakes as beginner writers and I still do even though I’ve been writing a number of years now. It’s always nice to get reminders of what type of mistakes top writers and editors find...
View ArticlePractical Tips on Writing a Book from 23 Brilliant Authors
We are always wanting to glean what other authors know about writing. This blog by Steve Silberman gathers together authors and has them give suggestions on how to improve your writing and make your...
View ArticleManuscript to Ebook: A Cleaning Guide
Hi Everyone, today I’m sharing a repost of a repost on cleaning up your manuscript. It is full of wonderful information that we all need. Have a blessed day. Shirley by JOEL FRIEDLANDER on SEPTEMBER...
View ArticleIt was Adam
Why does life have to seem so hard? It appears, we go from one battle to another. I can’t say life is bad because it isn’t. It is just a struggle, more at times than other times. I know it is not...
View ArticleThe Market (Flash Fiction)
This is a flash fiction that is based on a picture taken by Mathew Wright for a challenge he does weekly. I decided to try my hand at it this week. This is the address to his blog if you would like to...
View ArticleDetermining What to Write About
One of the first and most important decisions for every writer is determining what to write about. Making this decision can feel overwhelming often because of long-held notions we have about what it...
View ArticleThis is Blatant Advertising
How do you feel about authors advertising their books any and everywhere they can? I am one of those people. I’m an author, and I try to take advantage of every opportunity I come across to tell...
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