Exploring religion in fiction and how indies can push the envelope
This is a post by Pavarti K Tyler Religion and literature have long been intertwined. Some of the best writing and poetry exists within religious texts. From the poetry of the Bible’s book of Psalms to the lyrical cadence of the Qu’ran’s surahs, the beauty and power of words is one religious writers have honed. But what is the place of religion within works of fiction? Sci-fi authors have long known that the way to create depth and meaning for their fiction is to layer in religious themes. From Frank Hubert’s epic...
read moreAhh, research: Don’t skimp on the details, but don’t overwhelm your reader either!
This is a guest post by D.K. LeVick As the saying goes “the devil’s in the details.” When writers of historical fiction put words to paper, they bear the responsibility to transpose their readers to the time period of their story. This doesn’t mean telling them it’s 1776 – it means transporting them to 1776, making them feel it, live it, and be a part of it – having them jump up and march along with the fife and drum. If this is only done on the macro level, the characters are superficial and transparent. The reader sees through...
read moreA slap in the face: Cold hard truths for new writers and some go-get-’em advice
This is a guest post by Laurance Kitts First of all, many of you may be new—or only think you’re not new—to writing. There are some cold hard truths you must face if you want to make it as a writer. I plan to smack you in the face with many of those truths right now. When you have finished reading them, read them again and again until you can look in the mirror and state without a doubt that this is what you want to do with your life. Otherwise get out while the going is good. The untold truth about becoming an author 1. Writing a...
read morePut your ego aside, and hire a professional editor: A sci-fi specific example
This is a guest post by Dr. George H. Elder I love Lord of the Rings’s story line, but many literary professionals feel that the work needed a bit of editing. The same could be said of any number of Sci-Fi texts, including some of the classics. Of course, Sci-Fi has changed a great deal over the years, and the often gaudy literary style that typified early books are now seen as gouache. Yes, woe is unto the writer who uses too many “ly” words or adjectives. We now call such writing “pulpy,” as in the excess paper that is needed to...
read moreIn support of the first-time writer: 4 how-to’s, 5 how-not-to’s, and a word of encouragement
This is a guest post by Nick Thacker I just finished writing my first novel. Wait let me rephrase that–I just finished writing the first piece of fiction I’ve ever written. That’s right–I went for broke and decided, “hey–why not? I’ll just write a whole book!” No English degree, no creative writing courses, nothing. And it was awesome. I’m definitely a “newbie” when it comes to writing fiction. I’ve written for numerous blogs, so I guess I have my “nonfiction”...
read moreAsk the Editor: How can I cut back on the abundance of pronouns in my writing?
This is a column by Novel Publicity’s Editorial Lead, Kira McFadden Hannah asks: How do you think it’s best to avoid ‘she’, ‘he’, ‘they’ from sounding repetitive and overused without doing the same with character names? Kira answers: Pronouns substitute a noun, or noun phrase, and are a pro-form (a type of function word or expression that stands in for another word, phrase, clause or sentence where the meaning is understood via the context). Words such as it, she, he, and they are examples of...
read moreAnd they lived happily ever after: How to satisfy the reader with your story’s conclusion
This is a guest post by Marie Harbon Does a great book always need a happy ending? We all know the proverbial scenario; girl falls in love with boy, cowboy rides off into the sunset and the bad guy is defeated, followed by much rejoicing in the land. But is a happy ending an essential ingredient for a great book or movie? Lindsay Doran, film producer and missionary for mood-elevating movies got to the heart of that question in a recently published article. Many of her conclusions relate to the world of books as well as movies. While she...
read moreAsk the Editor: What is the difference between a gerund and a present participle, and how do I punctuate each correctly?
This is a column by Novel Publicity’s Editorial Lead, Kira McFadden Emlyn Chand asks: When it comes to commas, I’m pretty good. However, there is one comma rule that has always managed to elude my understanding. Gerunds—that is “-ing” phrases. I’m always so confused about whether they’re needed, so I usually just end up doing it (or not doing it) on a whim. What are the rules for commas and “-ing” phrases? Example: I say, twisting a strand of hair around my finger, or, She weighed the options in...
read moreWriters deserve to be paid for their products: How to kindly turn down requests for freebies
This is a guest post by Suzanne Gochenouer In a conversation recently, an author friend revealed how hard it is to realize even a couple dollars profit on the hardback version of her novel when readers, family, and friends continually request free copies. I cringed, because I’ve been there. It’s painful to hear people ask around to find someone with a copy of your book, only to say, “Well, I’ll just read yours so I don’t have to buy it.” She confessed to feeling bad when mentioning the price of the book and in asking for shipping...
read moreAsk the Editor: Lie, lay, lying, laid–which do I use when?
This is a column by Novel Publicity’s Editorial Lead, Kira McFadden Di Castle asks: I tend to get stuck on lie and lay. I am okay with, “he lay down on the bed,” and, “the chickens are laying well,” but at other times I am unsure. When should I use “lie,” and when should I use “lay”? Kira answers: These two words are very commonly misused and I’ve received a few inquiries regarding their difference, so I thought I’d go ahead and blog about lie vs. lay this week. Lay is a transitive verb, and it means to put or place...
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