Category: Books

Seeking Beta Readers

Woman Reading Book While Sitting
I am seeking Beta Readers for my WIP. It is going through the second round of edits. The story is an emotional roller coaster of a young woman’s journey, trying to find herself. Below is a blurb.
     Reeling from the rejection of her father and later the death of her mother, Amelia Carr flees home to escape a complicated relationship with her stepfather. Enticed by the glamorous life of her cousin Charlotte, Amelia finds herself drawn into a world of men and sex. Trapped in a hotel room one day, with an angry wife threatening to kill her, Amelia must face reality. She is determined to leave the past behind and embark on a different path. Amelia becomes a nurse, and she has found the love of her life, a dashing young doctor who adores her. However, Chad knows nothing about her secret past, and she is scared she will lose him if he finds out. Can Amelia find lasting happiness or will the past come back to haunt her.

The importance of Grammar in Writing

Blank paper with pen and coffee cup on wood table

Good grammar is the foundation of any written work, whether it is a book, an essay, a newspaper article, poetry… and the list goes on. Grammar helps the reader to understand what you are trying to say. It is is important to ensure of effective communication. Improper grammar can throw the reader off.

It is important to pay attention to the sentence structure. Your subject and verb should match. Pay attention to your commas, a misplaced comma can change the entire meaning of a sentence. Look at these two sentences for example: “Jane, said Tommy, is smart” and “Jane said Tommy is smart.” The use of the comma determines who is smart. Good luck and happy writing.

 

Your Story is What Holds the Readers Attention

Woman Wearing Blue Denim Jeans Holding Book Sitting on Gray Concrete at Daytime

You might have a great book cover. You may have written a good blurb. But it is the story that makes the reader want to keep turning the pages. Readers love a story that is believable. They love a story they can relate. It is therefore important to write a story that will resonate with your readers. Good luck and happy writing.

Write Erase Rewrite

No one is perfect. That is why pencils have erasers

Choosing Which Tense to Write in

Open Book Pages on Surface

One of errors writers sometimes make is switching back and forth between tense. You must decide whether you will write in the present tense or past tense and stick to one.  Past tense is the most widely used. However, some authors prefer to write in present tense. When in doubt, write in the tense you are more comfortable writing in. Good luck and happy writing.

Proofread your Book

Person Holding Orange Pen

Proofreading is the last aspect of the writing process before your book gets in the hands of readers. Proofing is necessary no matter what you intend to publish. It is a painstaking process where the text is scrutinized to find errors. Every aspect of the book must undergo this process. This include the cover. No matter how great your story is, your readers will get turned off if your book is riddled with errors. It is always a good idea to have someone proofread your book. A pair of fresh eyes will often catch the errors you missed. Good luck and happy writing.

Write a Good Blurb

Woman Writing on a Notebook Beside Teacup and Tablet Computer

Perhaps you have written a great book, but like me you struggle with writing a good blurb that will catch the eyes of readers. This is something that you have to work on. Some people believe the focus should be on the cover and while the cover can draw the attention of readers, it is the blurb that usually gets my attention and help me decide whether I want to read the book. Practice writing a good blurb. Good luck and happy writing.

Freebie Monday

Hi guys I am doing a book promotion. You can download these books free on Amazon while the promotion lasts. They are Fifty Shades of Grey hot! So be warned! If you love hot romance, you will love these.

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For Daisy’s Secret: click Here

For Mistress of Sullivan Lodge: click Here

Writing Tips

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  1. Be disciplined in your writing. What this means is that you have to make time for writing. Write until writing becomes a habit.
  2. Connect with other writers. Two popular mediums are Goodreads and Facebook writing groups. I have found Facebook writing groups to be a good place to connect with other writers and get feed back. Both Facebook and Goodreads provide opportunities for you to get Beta readers for your book
  3. Write, read and rewrite if necessary. To create a good book takes patience and dedication to your work. Revision is your best friend. You will find yourself doing a lot of it. After all you want your book to be a masterpiece that everyone wants to read. Good luck and happy writing.

Tips for Self-published Authors

More and more people are taking the plunge into the world of writing. Many no longer wait, hoping a publisher will give them a chance and have taken the bold move to self-publish. However, because you are self-publishing that does not mean the quality of your work should not be on par with traditionally published authors.

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Here are a few tips as you embark on your journey to self-publishing.

  1. Do not become disillusioned if your first book does not amass the number of readers you envisioned. It takes time, effort and a lot of patience to make it as a writer so not despair.
  2. Keep writing even if that first book did not get a lot of sales. The more books you have, the more the potential to get readers who might want to purchase.
  3. Get feedback on your writing. Remember the main goal in writing is to create something that others will want to read. There is no point in writing if no one is reading it. Getting feedback is important. You get the chance to find out what others think about your work. The feedback you get can help you decide whether to continue in the same tone you are writing or if you need to make changes. Good luck and happy writing.