As I mentioned in my last post, I recently did a huge website overhaul to make sure my blog was appropriate for a fancy author sort of person. Also, since a lot of you seem to like my blog post about author business card designs, it seems that sharing a few tips from my research […]
If you need some inspiration to help you create your platform as a self-published author, check out these 15 author websites for ideas and motivation.
Here are the 7 necessary pages and features you should focus on including on your author website whether you have a published book or not.
I know it’s been a while but I am finally back with another article on my World Builder Series. Catch up on earlier articles in the above link. So let’s get on to today’s topic …
Writing teacher and author Darcy Pattison blogs about the writing process, with tips on how to write stronger novels and picture books.
These 5 infographics for writing a fiction book can fix your plot, teach you about foreshadowing, and show you how to write a story!
I’ve been asked by a lot of people to do a post on this topic. It’s interesting because for a long time, I didn’t like using Patreon for my books. I have recently redone my own author Patreon and tied it into...READ MORE
So today I want to talk about dealing with a massive cast of character. I am talking about main and secondary characters (not the odd village baker passing through a random scene never to be heard…
A bunch of months ago, a bookstagrammer made a cool photo challenge that revolved around author life. I absolutely loved the idea, but that particular challenge didn’t show off the kind of st…
These sites can provide inspiration for any authors or publishers looking to launch or redesign an author website.
Unlock the potential of Amazon Kindle Direct Publishing with this in-depth guide. Learn about the platform, types of content books, and strategic tips to maximize your publishing success.
The Four Trees Story, written by Dhamma Tāpasā is a original Spiritual story of how we can all begin to live more contently in life.
Have you always wanted an author or illustrator to visit your school? Finding an author to visit your school may be easier than you think! The following list contains the steps that I followed for our author visit. It may look like a lot, but it's really just broken down into small, manageable steps. 1. Start by Googling children's authors in your area. Make a list of possible visitors. Searching out of the area is fine too. Some may travel. 2. Narrow down your search to a few that appear to be grade-level appropriate. 3. Go to the local library or bookstore to browse the authors' books. Keep the authors on your list who appear to be a good match. 4. Contact the author(s) directly by email or phone to get details about price and availability. (Those in your area may provide a discount because no travel is involved.) 5. Discuss your plan with your administrator. It's always good to keep him/her in the loop! 6. Arrange to obtain funding. I applied for a grant from our Educational Foundation and won! You can also check with your PTA or local American Legion to see if they would be able to help. 7. Once you have funding, set the date for the visit. The hardest part is over! 8. Order some books by the author if funds are available. 9. Email the staff a Save the Date for the visit. You know we are planners and like to know everything ahead of time! I simply sent out a brief email stating that an author would be visiting and approximately how much time should be allotted for their students' experience. 10. If you order books, distribute them to classes when they arrive so that teachers and students have access to them prior to the visit. 11. Make a schedule. I grouped grade levels together in 3 meet and greet sessions. Plan what works for your school and the author's schedule. 12. Plan details. Our author/illustrator offered to sketch 10 reluctant readers/writers between sessions and to have lunch with 10 other reluctant readers/writers. I had each grade level chose students to participate, and had the names emailed to me. I then made a master list for the sketches and the lunch. 13. Contact the author three to four weeks prior to the visit, and finalize details such as equipment needed. 14. Secure the equipment and facilities needed within your building. 15. Send out final schedules to the staff one to two weeks prior to the visit. 16. Confirm with the author one week prior. Go over any last-minute details. 17. On the day of the visit, greet the author. You may want to have a few students with you for this greeting! 18. Have fun and take pictures! *Some authors may provide order forms for signed copies of books that students may purchase. Here is author/illustrator Michael Dooling. He visited our school this past spring, and the reviews from both staff and students were two thumbs up! We all learned about the process he follows when he writes and/or illustrates a book. Would you believe that he begins the process in an actual library?! He makes sure the kids know that it is okay to make mistakes. The experience was a huge hit. He is local to my area, but I believe he travels! Here is a picture that one of my students helped Mr. Dooling draw: Didn't she do an awesome job?! Check out his site HERE. Are you a subscriber yet? FREE Activity for new subscribers: Sign up for the Fourth Grade Frenzy newsletter!
“Change the use of the word THERAPY and instead use the word TORTURE”. (Source: https://www.nashvillescene.com) Fair warning, this is going to be a bit of a rant but I have to put these thoughts down into some kind of coherent message. But before I go down that winding route, I first want to give a huge shout out to Senator Fintan Warfield (Sinn Fein) who this week has introduced a bill to prohibit conversion therapy, as a deceptive and harmful act or practice against a person’s sexual orientation, gender identity and, or gender expression. It also aims to stop people being brought out of the state for such therapies. (proposed legislation HERE) If you believe the Earth is flat, that God created the World in 7 days (a few thousand years ago), that dinosaurs are not real and that it is possible to Pray the Gay away...well by all means keep your opinion but you can stop reading now. If however you are a person of strong faith and believe in the love and understanding of your God(s) stay with me. Put it this way, I can respect you have a strong faith if you can respect the knowledge, study and opinion of medical professionals, or, look at it another way, if you need a heart transplant, you and your family and friends will probably say a prayer to God to keep an eye on you but you will still go to the heart surgeon for the operation. Any-who... I want to talk about gay conversion therapy and why it should be banned in Ireland. I ask everyone to pester their elected representatives and ask them to support this new bill. Even using the term THERAPY is misleading. According to OED, therapy has two definitions: 1. Treatment intended to relieve or heal a disorder. Example: “a course of antibiotic therapy” & 2. The treatment of mental or psychological disorders by psychological means. Example: “he is currently in therapy” Being gay is not a disorder. When discussing this barbaric practice we should change the use of the word THERAPY and instead use the word TORTURE. Across Europe and the World, medical professionals are condemning the use of conversion (therapy) torture. Malta became the first country in Europe to ban these therapies (You cannot switch being gay on and off.) In the EU’s latest report on Fundamental Rights, there are many statements about the rights and freedoms of LGBT people (including Trans people being allowed to officially change their gender) and the Intergroup’s Sirpa Pietikäinen (MEP) says “The UN Committee Against Torture, the Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women and the Human Rights Committee have already condemned the practice of conversion therapy in several countries.” In the UK, medical bodies including the NHS have signed a voluntary Memorandum of Understanding that disavows gay cure therapy. British health minister Jackie Doyle-Price said “The Government rejects utterly the notion that sexuality is something to be cured, and condemns gay conversion therapy. It has been condemned in the US by groups such as the American Psychological Association and the American Medical Association. At home in Ireland, the practice of conversion therapy has also been condemned and discredited by the Irish Council for Psychotherapy. (Irish National LGBT Federation) The National LGBT Federation (NXF) Board Member Adam Long commented: “The National LGBT Federation is very pleased to be working with Senator Warfield to ensure that harmful and abusive so-called gay ‘conversion therapy’ is prohibited in Ireland. A ban is all the more pressing in light of comments by Mary McAleese recently, which highlighted the prevalence of this practice in Ireland, and also the very firm resolution passed by the European Parliament last week calling on all member states to implement a ban. We therefore call on all parties and members of the Oireachtas to support Senator Warfield’s legislation.” The NXF also says: "This so-called 'therapy', which has been condemned by all reputable health organisations, is not only ineffective but deeply harmful to LGBT individuals subjected to such 'treatment'. It is rooted in homophobic assumptions and ideologies and has no place in any civilised society”. So, I hope you are still with me. Summary so far, it is not therapy, it is torture and many professionals around the World condemn the use of such “therapy”. A complete list of professional opinion is here. Ok, so we can agree this (therapy) torture never did and never will work. There is nothing medically wrong with not falling into a hetronormative role and there is nothing to be cured. There is no medical evidence to back up the practice of such therapies. But, you think, sure this isn’t happening in Ireland so it doesn’t matter... Oh, darling you are so wrong. I heard it was happening a few years ago – back in 2010 Cormac O’Brien investigated and reported in GCN about it - https://gcn.ie/gay-conversion-therapy-brand-new-ireland/ In December 2017, Hot Press did a similar expose - http://www.hotpress.com/features/reports/Exclusive-Report-The-Shocking-Truth-About-Gay-Conversion-Therapy-in-Ireland/21558195.html And now former President Mary McAleese revealed that an international Catholic group run by Courage was operating a chapel in Dublin where priests sought to help “persons who experience SSA [same-sex attraction] to grow into their true identities”. So this is happening in Ireland. HERE and NOW. Leo Varadkar is visiting Mike Pence this morning and he says he hopes there will be time to discuss gay rights. However, Pence has barred the press from the meeting and I can only imagine how "unfortunately" there will not be time to discuss these issues. Of course we already know that Pence is an advocate of such therapy. In reality, Varadkar probably cannot sway either Trump or Pence’s opinion anyway. But here’s what we can do, we can keep tweeting and posting about the issue. We can keep asking our elected officials their opinion & educate them about the damage these therapies do. We can ask them to support this new bill. We the people are the only ones that can make a difference. Love is Love. John The Captain Ryan
See how to cite a website with no author in APA. With our examples & explanations, you'll be creating reference list citations & in-text citations easily.
Pinterest has emerged as a powerful online channel that authors can use to to build an author brand, attract new email list subscribers and sell books.
How To Get ARC Copies of Books From Your Favorite Authors - Are you having trouble finding ARC copies of books. My list ill show you where you can find them
Have you created your own fantasy world for your novel? Here are a few things to consider when creating your world’s economy.
Are you struggling to think of new AuthorTube video ideas for your channel? In this video, get my master list of over 30 video ideas and topics! I hope they help inspire you!30+ VIDEO IDEAS for AuthorTube ChannelsWATCH VIDEO ON YOUTUBE// Links Mentioned in this Video //Get this "30+ Video Idea List" Printable when you become a Patron!Top 10 AuthorTube Tips VideoAuthor Website Boot CampLIKE THIS POST?Share the link on your social media or pin the image below to your Pinterest board!
Here's a Scrivener template for my Master Beat Sheet, which combines the Save the Cat Beat Sheet and my Story Engineering Beat Sheet.
This study guide and infographic for Charles Dickens's A Christmas Carol offer summary and analysis on themes, symbols, and other literary devices found in the text. Explore Course Hero's library of literature materials, including documents and Q&A pairs.
Over the last six years since founding Smashwords, I've witnessed a dramatic change in attitudes regarding self publishing. I'm pleased that much of this transformation has been led by the professional example of Smashwords authors. Where once self publishing was viewed as the option of last resort - the option for failed writers and an option marked by stigma and shame - self publishing is increasingly viewed as the option of first choice for many writers. Over the next couple years I think we'll reach a point where more first-time writers aspire to indie-publish than traditionally publish. Indie authors are the cool kids club. All writers possess unrealized potential, and indie authors understand that. Ebook self publishing provides the mechanism by which every writer's true potential can be realized. At writers conferences I've met numerous Smashwords authors who are moved to happy tears when they describe how self publishing has transformed their lives. I've lost track of the number of times I've felt a lump grow in my throat as I hear their inspiring stories. These encounters are deeply moving to me, and I trust that you too have experienced the same. Outside observers might counter that of course the bestsellers feel this way. Yes, that's true, but as any indie author will tell you, the joy of self publishing cannot be distilled to dollar metrics alone. How does one describe the importance of independence, freedom and self-determination? Critics say self publishing is causing a tsunami of drek that will destroy book culture and render the best books undiscoverable. Not true. Yes, self publishing will enable more horrible books to be published than ever before, but it will also enable more better books to be published, discoverable and enjoyable than ever before. There's a yin and yang to this. It's not an exaggeration to describe the indie author revolution as a global cultural movement. I think we're witnessing something profound here as we transition from a publisher-centric world to an author-centric world. The rise of indie authorship as a global cultural movement is driven by profound changes in social norms, ethical values, customs, belief systems, technology and business practices. With this radical change in mind, today I attempt to describe the movement and motivations of its drivers - the indie authors - in the form of my Indie Author Manifesto. I attempt to answer a simple question: What does it mean to be an indie author? I've distilled the movement down to ten principles that I think capture the mindset of indie authors. I tip my hat to the many great manifestos that have come before my own meager attempt, including the US Declaration of Independence, the 10 Commandments and Martin Luther's 95 Thesis among others. THE INDIE AUTHOR MANIFESTO We indie authors believe all writers are created equal, that all writers are endowed with natural creative potential, and that writers have an unalienable right to exercise, explore and realize their potential through the freedom of publication. I hold these truths to be self-evident: I am an indie author I have experienced the pleasure and satisfaction that comes from self-publishing I have a right to publish My creative control is important to me. I decide when, where and how my writing graduates to become a published book. Indie does not mean “alone.” I choose my partners. I shall not bow beholden or subservient to any publisher. In my business relationships, I seek partnership, fairness, equity and mutually aligned interests. We indie authors comprise diverse writers unified by a common purpose to advance, empower and celebrate writers everywhere. I am a professional. I take pride in my work, and I strive to improve my craft to better serve my readers, myself, my fellow indie authors and the culture of books My writing is valuable and important. This value and importance cannot be measured by commercial sales alone. I celebrate the success of my fellow indie authors, for their success is mine, and mine theirs. Together we are pioneering a better future for books marked by greater quality, creativity, diversity, choice, availability, affordability and accessibility. Derek Murphy (@creativindie / www.creativindie.com www.creativindiecovers.com) graciously created this infographic of the manifesto. Click to download, print or share! I also wrote a version of the Indie Author Manifesto over at the Huffington Post.
