• Author Inspiration: Writing Prompts for Autobiographies and Memoirs

    Jump-starting the writing process can be difficult sometimes, which is why writing prompts are so popular. They give spark to the imagination, and provide the starting point to a story road map that only you, the author, can finish drawing out. But did you know that writing exercises can help by providing a jumping off point? Whether you simply use them to get your creative juices going, or the prompt triggers a memory which would serve as a perfect beginning, a little help with your writing topics might be just what the doctor ordered! Check out the prompts below, and then…

  • The Newest App for Readers and Authors: The Litsy App!

    What’s the latest buzz amongst readers and writers alike? The Litsy app! Readers use it to find recommendations on the best books to add to their Amazon carts; writers and publishers can use it to connect with fans and each other. Publisher’s Weekly calls it “Instagram for books”, and BookRiot says it’s like “Instagram and GoodReads had a perfect baby.” Of course, we had to find out why it’s one of the fastest-growing literary apps around (and what that could mean for our authors) so Xulon Press sat down with one of the app’s creators, Todd Lawton, to chat about…

  • Gather Ye Rosebuds: What Stubborn Weeds and Good Writing Have in Common

    Many authors believe that only bad writers need editing and revision. I can assure you, that idea is false. Every author needs editing; savvy writers actually get it. Here’s why: The process of writing is quite a bit like having a big backyard. I can plant beautiful, bountiful blooms. I can water them. I can watch with delight as those seedlings break ground into grand, gorgeous displays. But around those blooming plants leaves will fall from the trees above. Naughty weeds will sprout in and try to camouflage themselves as if they belong amongst my flowers. Birds will drop twigs, rabbits will…