Marketing
Build Your Author Platform: 7 Manageable Ways to Start From Scratch
By now we’ve all heard about author platform, even if we’re not entirely sure how to build or maintain one.
But in my everyday work with authors, I’ve noticed many writers aren’t sure how exactly to get started. What should you focus on when you’re being pointed in 20 different directions, and all roads are potentially huge time sucks?
Author Platform: Here’s What All the Fuss Is About
If you’re an aspiring author who doesn’t know what an author platform is, you might be the very definition of ignorant bliss.
I say this with love, maybe even a little envy, because author platform has taken on an astoundingly important role when it comes to whether or not a writer will get a traditional publishing contract — and it’s equally important to self-published authors who are serious about their writing careers.
The rise of the author platform as an industry obsession is a relatively new phenomenon. While industry folks may argue that platform has always mattered, today it’s more important than ever before.
Freelancing
6 Money Habits Freelance Writers Should Adopt This Year
When you first start a freelance writing business, the goal is simple: earn enough money to stay afloat while doing work you enjoy.
But as time goes on, most of us want to do better. We want to earn more for ourselves and our family.
With success, however, comes financial housekeeping. Even when you do your best to keep things simple, you’ll need to take on some financial chores to keep your business in good standing.
Why Recurring Revenue is the Key to a Stable Freelance Writing Career
Whether you found yourself choosing the freelance life or getting forced into it, you probably had big visions. Being your own boss! Creating your own schedule! Earning money doing what you love!
Only… a few months into it, freelancers sometimes find reality looks nothing like that picture. In reality, it can be hard to find clients, especially good ones. And earning enough money to live comfortably can be a big stressor when you’re getting started.
If this sounds familiar, listen up: we’re about to let you in on a solid way to get yourself off the feast-or-famine freelance treadmill.
Blogging
How to Start a Blog: A Simple, Step-by-Step Guide for Writers
Have you always wanted to start a blog?
If you’re a writer, it makes perfect sense: You can use a blog to serve as your author platform, market your work or find new freelance writing clients. Blogging is also a great way to experiment with your writing style.
If you’re searching for a good way to share your thoughts, feelings and expertise, now is a great time to start a blog.
(And no, there aren’t too many blogs out there already!)
This is the age of content — people are always looking for more to absorb, and your unique voice has a place on the vast, limitless interwebs, too.
Best Laptops for Writers in 2020: The Write Life’s Top Picks
It may be fun to wax nostalgic about the days of click-clacking away at a typewriter or scrawling your novel into a leather-bound journal, but those romantic ideals are impractical for the modern-day writer.
Nowadays, a writer’s laptop is her best friend.
Like any best friend, a good laptop should be there for you through thick and thin, from bustling airports to cozy coffee shops, from the triumph of a strong WiFi signal to the heartbreak of no available outlets.
A reliable laptop lets you take your writing anywhere, whether you’re researching a freelance article or drafting your latest novel idea.
Publishing
Get Your Book on Kindle: Everything You Need to Know About Amazon Self-Publishing
When I started writing my first book, I knew it was destined for Amazon self-publishing.
I had been working as a developmental editor for years at that point, so I had a pretty good understanding of the industry and the various publishing options available to me. The book I was writing was very niche, and I didn’t have any desire to commercialize it. I just wanted to write the book I wanted to write and make it available to people who would appreciate it for what it was.
So at that stage in my career and with that particular book, self-publishing on Amazon was undoubtedly the way to go.
Of course, even with my experience and the years I had spent helping other authors navigate both the self-publishing and traditional publishing paths, I still found myself feeling completely overwhelmed when it came time to put my book out into the world.
How to Write a Synopsis for Your Book: A Guide for Fiction and Nonfiction Writers
If you plan to publish a work of fiction or non-fiction, writing a synopsis that summarizes the scope of your manuscript is inevitable.
Consider the typical submission process: First you write a query letter to agents or editors, and hopefully someone requests sample chapters along with a synopsis. Usually only after this step will authors be asked to submit the full manuscript.
Craft
How to Track Changes in Google Docs: Using the Suggest Edits Feature
Do you do most of your writing in Google Docs?
From collaboration to easily checking word count in Google docs to its Suggest Edits feature, many writers rave about this free word processing software. (Here at The Write Life, we’re big fans of Google docs!)
Since its emergence in 2014, Google Docs’ Suggest Edits feature has had editors everywhere rejoicing because of its almost-seamless ability to make content collaboration a whole lot easier.
That wasn’t the case at first, though. Initially, Google Docs dropped a track changes add-on that came with a few quirks and kinks that needed to be ironed out, making the editing process more clunky than desired.
Get Your Writing Life in Order With These 8 Google Docs Add-Ons
Google’s G Suite is filled with products and tools that are used by large and small organizations across a range of industries.
But for writers, Google Docs reigns supreme, especially as the product continues to be upgraded with easy-to-use features that support better, more efficient writing processes.
In the past, we’ve explained how to see your word count in Google Docs and even how to track your changes in Google Docs — but what about add-ons?
The stocked Google Doc menu bar lets you access useful features like voice typing, translation, special formatting options and more.
Tools of the Trade
The Art of the Frame Story
What Is a Frame Story? As the name suggests, a frame story is a narrative in which one story fits outside another. Another colloquial term is "a story within a story." Generally speaking, frame stories begin their first act with a larger narrative, then shift to a second act concerning a distinct yet related story, and conclude by returning to the larger narrative. Think of a frame around a painting.
12 Great Websites for Writers
As a writer, it’s important to have a toolkit that goes beyond pen and paper.
Whether you’re looking for some inspirational prompts for your next creative writing project or a go-to resource for checking your grammar, the wonderful thing about the internet is there truly is a website for every possible writing need.