• 7 Stages Most Books Are Stuck in

    1. The Dream Stage. You have a dream of writing and becoming an author, but you just don’t know where to begin. 2. The Idea Stage. You actually have a really good idea–and other people tell you it is–but you’re not sure how to develop it. 3. The Message Stage. You just taught an incredible message and you can’t help but think, “This would make a great book, but how do I develop this message into a book?” 4. The Journal/Notes Stage. For years you’ve written in a notebook or journal. You have pages and pages of great writing, but…

  • Finding the Balance Between Working and Writing

    Take a moment and think of your favorite author. Without even knowing who you selected, I can say with 95% confidence that they had to work a full-time job while writing his or her first or first few books. Writing begins as a passion project for almost all of us and learning how to balance it with all of our other responsibilities is one of the most challenging aspects of writing. Think about it. If we had all day to sit around and write—no work or family responsibilities—we’d be able to crank out at least two books a year. In…

  • The Art of Fast-Drafting Your Novel

    Writers tend to fall into two camps regarding how much time it takes to finish drafting a book. There are those who can take upwards of 10 years to write their manuscripts. Then, there are those who fast-draft their manuscripts in as little as 14 days. While no clear-cut rules exist for fast-drafting a manuscript, writers who use the technique know what it takes to get as many words on paper in as little time as possible. What is the secret sauce to churning out a fast-drafted manuscript in less than one month? Aside from proactive preparation and a well-planned…

  • Press Releases: Everything You Should Know

    As an author, a great way to generate interest in your new book is through a press release. If you are unaware of what press releases are, why they are important, what goes into them, or are unsure of the best possible way to approach them, spend a few moments here learning about their function. What is a press release? A press release is a great way to appeal to a broad audience through media outlets. It’s a message written with the intention of getting information circulating about your book. As an author, a press release is a great way…