When Writing Isn’t the Source of Your Authority as an Author
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October 25, 2013

Writing is not easy. As a developmental editor I have had the pleasure of working with fine artists, storytellers, public speakers, radio journalists, scientists, and college professors on book projects.For many, their authority as an author is based on skills and talents other than writing. Here are some tips I gathered from other professionals that may help others stand on their authority based on expertise… [Read More]

What does Friday mean to an aspiring author?
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October 1, 2013

While the rest of the working world looks forward to Fridays, if you are an author whose proposal and/or manuscript is under review with a publisher there may be dread for this day of the week. Rejection letters are often sent out on Fridays. You might wonder why Friday. Rejection letters are never welcomed and often unintentionally inflict emotional injuries. The urge to respond and… [Read More]

Ten tips for building an audience platform
by,
September 14, 2013

Spend more time on writing and less on social media. There. I said it. I mean it. Facebook,Twitter, Pinterest, LinkedIn, and Google + can suck your precious time. I see many authors use these social media platforms like megaphones to shout out into the wilderness “Buy my book!” One author, who shall remain nameless to protect his guilt, spent four hours one evening spitting out such… [Read More]

Think, Write. Again!
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August 31, 2013
Jenna Goodman provides editorial services for Swenson Book Development, LLC

Your laptop is charged, you sip a steaming cup of Zen tea and Lyle Lovett and His Large Band rocks your iTunes. You’re ready to work on your newest project, hoping to rack up a thousand words before dinner. The problem: your dog is whining for a walk, the dishwasher needs to be unloaded, and you’re reasonably sure that the lawn isn’t going to mow… [Read More]

Pathways to Publishing
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August 27, 2013
The convention floor at Book Expo America - photo by Ashley Grill

The business of publishing continues to evolve and new finance models have emerged offering authors more than the option to self-publish or go the traditional route. Between the five big commercial trade presses – Penguin Random House, Hatchette Book Group, Harper Collins, Macmillan, and Simon & Schuster – and self-publishing with Blurb, or Smashwords, there are new routes for writers to consider in their pursuit… [Read More]

What kind of editor do you need?
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June 18, 2013
Memoir Writing Workshop

It’s important for an author to know the differences between the various kinds of editing, and understand what professional services an editor may or may not provide. When you work with an editor, find one with whom you can clearly communicate your needs, expectations and working style.  Not all editors are the same. Copyeditors read your document and look for errors in punctuation, spelling, grammar,… [Read More]

Using Citation Machine to Credit Information for your Non-Fiction Manuscript
by,
May 28, 2013
Using Citation Machine for Citations in Non-Fiction Manuscripts - Project Gutenberg Image

You may think you left citations behind when you finished writing college papers, but if you are writing non-fiction these little footprints of authority are more important than ever. In school, your references to others’ work is a matter of intellectual honesty and under Fair Use of the Copyright Act, attribution of the source is sufficient. When you are writing a book that will be… [Read More]

What’s the premise of your book?
by,
May 11, 2013

When you write a book, it needs to be about something. When someone asks what your book is about, how do respond? Do you stumble over your words trying to describe your book? Time to pin down your premise. Premise: The central idea, situation, or set-up which provides the foundation and pushes the narrative forward. What happens as a result of actions is another way… [Read More]

In Search of Structure: Finding Your Non-Fiction Narrative Arc
by,
May 7, 2013

Do you have a non-fiction work-in-progress? Are you in search of structure to your manuscript? The organization and order of information in a non-fiction book is every bit as important as plot is to fiction. Immersing yourself in the subject matter is no guarantee that the structure of a book will reveal itself as self-evident. So how does a writer of non-fiction move from the… [Read More]

Enter “Nook Press”, Barnes & Nobels’ Self-Publishing Platform
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April 30, 2013
Nook Press, Barnes and Nobels newest self-publication platform, offers tools for easy self publication.

Not content to let Amazon’s Kindle Direct Publishing be the powerhouse of the self-publishing world, Nook Media (a subsidiary of Barnes & Noble) is rolling out Nook Press, its own self-publishing platform for eBooks. What completely sets Nook Press apart from Kindle Direct Publishing is the integrated feature of composing, editing and formatting your book within the platform instead of uploading and converting a file… [Read More]