YA fiction vs. adult fiction: what’s the difference?
It’s hard to imagine a time when YA literature wasn’t dominating the bookshelves, and yet it’s a relatively new phenomenon. First coined in the 1960s, Young Adult fiction has grown exponentially — between 1997 and 2009, the number of YA titles being published grew...
The best books on writing every writer should read
We all know how important it is to read like a writer. Read in your genre, outside your genre, read stories and essays and poems to develop your narrative voice. But reading isn’t just for absorbing the language of prose; there are also some great craft books out...
What is social proof? (and how you can use it to sell more books!)
How did you last decide to pick up a book? Did you skim the reviews on Goodreads? Were you convinced by a quote from your favourite author gracing the cover? Or maybe it caught your eye because it was placed front and centre on a bookshop’s “Staff Picks” shelf. If any...
Traditional vs. self-publishing – which should you choose?
Once you’ve written your book, and you’ve gone through the necessary rounds of editing and beta reading, you’ll inevitably find yourself standing at a crossroads. A sign pointing down one road reads ‘traditional publishing,’ and the other says ‘self publishing’. Which...
Should you use an editor or beta readers?
Typing the words ‘The End’ at the bottom of your manuscript is always an emotional moment. It’s a bit like the feeling when you reach the summit of a long hike: you might be tired, a little cranky, and ready to pass out, but you’re also relieved, proud, and feel a...
Do you need an author website? Tips and mistakes to avoid
If you’re getting serious about your writing career, you may be thinking about whether or not to launch your own personal website. After all, it seems like everyone and their cat has a dedicated website these days. But at the same time, they’re an investment of time,...
Should authors be worried about generative AI?
You’re an author. You’ve worked on your manuscript for months. Years. A lifetime, even. But one day, you check the news, and a chill rushes through you. The Writer’s Guild of America has just announced that they’re going on indefinite strike. And one of the union’s...
10 ways to increase productivity as an author
Stop me if you’ve heard this one: a writer walks into a bar and says, “Oh, me? I’m a novelist!” In response, a well-intentioned piece of smarm who’s had a bit too much to drink says, “Ah well, anyone can write a novel, can’t they? I’d do it myself if I only had the...