2021-02-15 16:30
If you’ve used Google Docs for school or writing blog posts, you know it’s versatile, intuitive, and free to use.
So, while it may not be the first word-processing tool you t… Read More
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Authority Self-publishing Blog
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Learn to write a self-published book and tips on building a business around writing.
2021-02-12 19:00
Describing a person as “quirky” is often a compliment, but not always.
If you have any quirks that make you stand out in some way, you know what I mean.
They’re a mi… Read More
2021-01-26 21:09
Think of a story you’ve read that you keep going back to.
We bet if we asked you, “Why that book?” you’d tell us it’s because of how the book makes you feel… Read More
2021-01-22 15:00
You vaguely remember the satirical novels your English teachers compelled you to read.
Some stand out more than others — either because they were more fun to read or because their… Read More
2021-01-15 13:00
Writing a good story is hard enough without having to worry about your dialogue punctuation.
Our goal in this post is to answer any questions you might have about punctuating dialogue… Read More
2021-01-07 17:45
After all the work you’ve done on your new children’s book, you’d like to publish it.
And you want to know how to publish a children’s book without an agent. &hell…Read More
2020-12-17 15:25
Sometimes, when it comes to writing prompts, less is more.
Otherwise, why would you be here looking for one-word topics to write about?
One solitary word can contain a universe… Read More
2020-12-14 13:00
To annotate any text is to make it your own. With annotating, you engage with the writing and its author. You turn it into a conversation.
You’re not just reading the words an… Read More
2020-12-01 19:18
Angst — that feeling of anxiety, inner pain, and deep dread. Whatever your experience with angst, you know it’s not just for teenagers.
It’s a whole mood that saturates… Read More
2020-11-30 06:00
From the time you learn how to talk, you have stories to tell.
Faced with a classroom writing assignment, though, you can feel the fog rolling in, hiding all your best personal narrative… Read More
2020-11-25 13:00
Whether you’re writing a poem for your own collection or a significant other, you’re here with one question in mind: “How do I get ideas to write a poem?”
This isn… Read More
2020-11-23 14:04
With fanfiction, the writer of a movie, TV series, or book has already done the character building.
As the fanfic writer, you get to throw your favorite characters into different “… Read More
2020-11-19 14:00
When you’re a writer, you need to know the best strategies to get your reader’s attention and hold onto it.
The goal is to get them hooked on your content, so they’ll w… Read More
2020-11-17 14:00
You’re a huge fan of riveting mystery plots.
You’ve read some of the best mystery fiction ever written (some well-known, some not), and you just know you could create a myste… Read More
2020-11-09 13:00
Poetry is a skill that every writer should at least dabble in. Rhymed or not, poetry writing is a chance to express what you’re feeling or sensing in the most potent way possible. &hell…Read More
2020-11-02 19:38
Do you dread taking the time to write an outline for a book? Would you rather just put pen to paper and start to write and see where it takes you?
Does it feel like a waste of time to beg… Read More
2020-10-08 15:14
You’re starting a sentence with and, and your detail-oriented friend suddenly erupts with “Pssh! You can’t start a sentence with a conjunction!”
Strange. You… Read More
2020-10-02 13:56
Your antagonist is such a jerk! You just know your readers will classify this person as one of the worst fictional people ever created.
You’re so proud.
If you need to des… Read More
2020-09-30 17:36
You’re staring at the sentence, but the answer isn’t coming to you. “Is it whose or who’s?”
You know this one. Or you’re sure you knew it at some point… Read More
2020-09-23 13:38
If this post’s title brought back memories of heated arguments over the Oxford comma, no worries. This is a comma-friendly space.
Commas make whatever you write easier to read… Read More
2020-09-18 14:18
Think of your favorite TV series — specifically an episode that began with a heart-pumping scene that led to a cliffhanger. And suddenly, you see a caption with something like “7… Read More
2020-09-17 12:00
As a writer, you want your characters (especially your protagonist) to resonate with your readers. They should be larger than life but still believable. And over centuries of storytelling, a… Read More
2020-09-08 12:00
When was the last time you were reading a novel and learned about a hobby you shared with one of your favorite characters?
Just like that, you feel more connected to them.
And h… Read More
2020-09-04 12:00
Sometimes the best way to get a story started is with a stirring piece of dialogue. I’m talking about the kind of conversation that draw us right in and make us wonder what’s goi… Read More
2020-09-02 18:48
You’ve been thinking about it — moving to a place that inspires you in your writing. Even better if the city is full of bookstores and has an active writing community.
You&rsq&hell…Read More
2020-08-26 12:00
So you want to write a nonfiction book. Good for you! What are you going to write about?
I know. That question stumps most everyone.
What indeed? Coming up with creative nonfiction id… Read More
2020-08-24 13:15
Your favorite science fiction series (or movie) has got you thinking of writing a sci-fi novel.
This is the world you live in, after all (at least part-time). It makes sense you’d… Read More
2020-08-14 12:00
You’re looking for some creative story ideas for teenagers, maybe because you want to write YA fiction, or maybe because you know someone else who does.
Welcome to our inspired coll… Read More
2020-08-11 15:00
Psychological thrillers are hot right now.
You’ve seen the titles turned into movies. You’ve probably read and watched plenty yourself.
They’re addictive. … Read More
2020-08-11 14:31
What separates the casual fiction writer from the professional one is the commitment to daily writing. But sometimes it’s more of a challenge to get the words flowing.
If nothing tr… Read More
2020-08-10 12:00
You have an excellent idea for a suspense novel.
But getting that story onto the page and keeping your readers at the edge of their seats is more challenging than you thought.
I… Read More
2020-08-05 11:29
You’re looking for historical fiction ideas, and most of the ones you’ve come across are either too detailed and specific or too vague — at least for you.
History… Read More
2020-08-03 15:30
What kind of person is your main character?
Maybe you’ve started to hear their voice in your head, but they just haven’t been very talkative.
What can you do to… Read More
2020-07-27 15:40
You’re writing a memoir. But you’re not sure what questions or life lessons you want to focus on.
Even if only family members and friends will read the finished book, you wan… Read More
2020-07-24 15:57
How much do you know about the different stages of the writing process? Even if you’ve been writing for years, your understanding of the processes of writing may be limited to writing… Read More
2020-07-14 12:00
Welcome to the Authority Pub guide on how to write good erotica.
And by “good erotica,” I mean erotic fiction that pulls your readers in, gives them what they want, and… Read More
2020-07-14 12:00
You’ve written a novel or nonfiction book for a young adult audience. Or you have a fantastic idea for one.
The problem? You keep finding links to YA publishers who either don… Read More
2020-07-13 00:48
You’re ready to interview an author for your blog. Or maybe you’ve started a podcast and are wondering how to interview an author for it?
We’re here to help &mdash&hell…Read More
2020-07-09 13:15
Your book is ready for beta readers. And, whether it’s your first book or not, this is a big deal!
You’re wondering, though, where to find these beta readers, how many you nee… Read More
2020-07-07 12:00
You already know, as a writer, that your choice of words conveys more than the literal meaning. But what are tone words, and what do they add to your writing?
Tone words in literatu… Read More
2020-06-24 13:00
You have a great book idea, and you know that, with a little help, you could create something that would entertain your readers or help them with something.
And you’re thinking, &ld&hell…Read More
2020-06-23 12:00
You’ve heard about government grants for writers, but you don’t know where to find them or whether you even qualify for any of them.
True, some of them are for residents… Read More
2020-06-19 13:00
When it comes to first-person vs. third-person, some writers choose their “person” based on the books they’ve read.
After all, if Harper Lee and J.D. Salinger can… Read More
2020-06-16 14:20
What comes to mind when you think “interesting character flaws”?
Because some flaws are more compelling than others. And some are easier to forgive. Some, on the other h… Read More
2020-06-12 19:27
You’re looking for remote creative writing jobs — and not just because you’re an introvert with a knack for writing.
You have an independent spirit, and you can th… Read More
2020-06-10 17:40
If you’ve hit a wall with your latest story, sometimes all you need is to get better acquainted with your characters. The more you know them, the more they talk to you.
The mo… Read More
2020-06-07 17:31
Every fiction writer knows that one of your most important characters is your story’s setting.
For fantasy and science fiction writers, that setting is usually a fictional world no… Read More
2020-06-01 18:52
Since the beginning of the self-publishing industry, Amazon and other indie publishing platforms have made it progressively easier for authors to get their work onto the market.
Yes… Read More
2020-05-31 14:00
You’ve written a book or story you’re proud of. And your beta readers have nothing but good things to say about it. You can’t wait to find an agent and collect a hefty adva… Read More
2020-05-26 13:11
Do you know a dangling modifier when you see it?
And do you know what to say when someone asks, “So, what’s the difference between a dangling modifier and misplaced modifier?… Read More
2020-05-26 12:19
The best, most enjoyable writing is clear, simple, and elegant.
But when one of your modifiers is misplaced, clarity goes out the window. And so does the reader’s enjoyment.
But… Read More
2020-05-25 17:00
If you are a writer and you don’t have a good keyboard, you probably end up in pain at the end of each day.
The fact of the matter is that many keyboards just are not designed for… Read More
2020-05-25 12:00
Throw out the term “thesaurus words,” and you’ll probably get some side-eye from writers who see the thesaurus as a crutch for amateur writers trying to make their writing… Read More
2020-05-18 12:00
While most writers prefer a full-size keyboard for their day-to-day work, that’s no reason why a writer needs to sacrifice the portability and convenience of a tablet.
In fact, for… Read More
2020-05-12 12:00
As a writer, you know how important it is to choose the right word for the meaning you’re trying to convey.
And part of that is knowing what tone words are and which one to use in… Read More
2020-05-06 12:30
When was the last time a reader asked you about the diction you’re using in your current work in progress?
Yeah, me neither.
Most people ask about the characters, the… Read More
2020-04-30 13:00
You’re shopping for a writing laptop. And the options… let’s just say they’re overwhelming. And that’s just for the ones you can afford.
Computers for… Read More
2020-04-28 14:00
You’ve heard about Kindle Unlimited, and you see references to it whenever you’re book-shopping on Amazon.
But what does it actually do? And does it make sense for you to joi… Read More
2020-04-23 12:26
While many professions require being on a computer all day, writers have a specific set of needs.
Because they type all day, every day, their keyboards need to be particularly functional… Read More
2020-04-20 14:00
If you’ve written 30-100 poems — and I mean at least 25 to 30 you consider some of your best work — why not learn how to publish a poetry book of your own?
How you go ab… Read More
2020-04-19 17:25
What was the last essay you’ve read? Can you remember how the beginning made you want to keep reading?
Every unforgettable essay needs an effective hook at the beginning. Othe… Read More
2020-04-14 14:00
You just finished reading a fantasy series that has left you reeling.
You’re satisfied with the way things turned out, but the thought of saying goodbye to those characters just hur… Read More
2020-04-08 14:00
You feel it when you see others struggling as you have — the burden of knowledge and experience that could benefit them.
And the frustration of keeping that buried treasure to yours… Read More
2020-04-06 20:29
If you’re new to working with poetry publishers, and you’d like to publish a book of your own, you need to know your options.
Different poetry publishers are looking for diffe… Read More
2020-03-25 12:00
You just found a mistake in something you’ve published — something you swore you’d double-, triple-, and even quadruple-checked. And it hurts.
But aside from your… Read More
2020-03-24 13:14
You know what a metaphor is. But when someone asks you, “What literary devices do you use the most in your writing?” you’re not sure how to answer.
What exactly is… Read More
2020-03-20 12:00
As a writer, you know the importance of creativity. It’s what keeps your brain alive and opens it to new possibilities.
It leads you into the world beyond your limited experience… Read More
2020-03-17 12:00
It’s not so simple a question, after all.
Genre norms do provide some clues for your novel’s word count. But when you’re writing a novel, you need more than that.
You… Read More
2020-03-12 12:00
Congratulations! You’ve picked one of the reading world’s all-time favorite genres. And with all the subgenres, you have loads of opportunities and choices when writing a murder… Read More
2020-03-09 11:36
“How much do authors make?” We hear that a lot, don’t we?
And we can’t help but want to hear the answer in case the news gets better than it was the last time we h… Read More
2020-03-03 12:00
What better way to encourage young writers than to provide creative inspiration and the time to follow it?
That’s exactly why we’ve created this list of writing prompts for ki… Read More
2020-02-24 14:00
You’ve decided on an author career.
Of all the things you could do full-time (and then some) to earn an income, you’ve chosen to write books for publication.
And after hea… Read More
2020-02-20 16:13
What’s so important about knowing the genres of books?
Well, if you’re an author with a work in progress, you’ll want to know its genre to ensure your ideal readers find… Read More
2020-02-12 17:48
If you’re a self-published author, you may be wondering whether you could start a publishing company of your own.
It’s not crazy. And you wouldn’t be the first.
In fa… Read More
2020-02-04 16:50
You’re reading a new story, and you’ve just hit the first bit of dialogue between two characters.
The problem? You’re too busy thinking, “What was the author think… Read More
2020-02-03 17:08
You keep running into microfiction stories in your social media feeds. Some of them are really good, too.
And you’re thinking, “I bet I could write something like that.&rdquo&hell…Read More
2020-01-28 15:20
Writing flash fiction, as any writer of short stories can tell you, isn’t easy.
Not only do you face the challenge of writing within the flash fiction word count, but also your stor… Read More
2020-01-24 19:59
You’ve just finished reading a fantasy novel, and while you hate that there’s no more to read, you’re so in love with the story and its characters, you marvel at the author… Read More
2020-01-21 10:27
You have an eye for detail — and a love of good writing. Friends who write know they can count on you to help them polish their books, articles, and reports.
Maybe folks have even s… Read More
2020-01-16 11:53
When you’re looking for information on the best online learning platforms, you’re likely to find reviews on both Thinkific and Teachable — as well as comparisons of the two… Read More
2020-01-09 18:25
Do you know the essential parts of a story — or why they’re essential?
Think back to the last story you read (or listened to) that captured your imagination and held onto it t… Read More
2019-12-27 14:16
Looking for some scary story ideas for your next writing project?
Sometimes, a good scary prompt idea is all you need to get started on a dark story your readers won’t be able to pu… Read More
2019-12-09 13:23
Sometimes, the muse speaks through creative writing prompts.
And sometimes all you need is a single sentence to get you started on your next epic story.
Among the one sentence prompts you&rs&hell…Read More
2019-10-31 13:18
You’ve experienced the power of words in a way you will never forget. Even now, the memory lingers.
How could a few small words have such a big impact on your life?
Words have power. A… Read More
2019-08-16 10:10
How long can a story be before it’s no longer a short story?
Or what’s the maximum short story length for flash fiction?
If you’re a fiction writer, you’re already fa… Read More
2019-07-26 12:41
Writing great fiction is enough of a challenge without all the conflicting advice out there.
When was the last time you read a bit of advice and thought, “But so-and-so said the exact… Read More
2019-07-17 13:52
If you’re wondering how long you should make your book chapters, think of books you’ve read that kept a firm grip on your interest from one chapter to the next.
Do you remember t… Read More
2019-07-02 15:33
Would you like some practical tips on how to write faster?
Of course, you would.
Who in the writing community wouldn’t love to get more writing done in less time?
Fast writing means mo… Read More
2019-06-24 17:15
You have a book — or a great idea for a book — and you want a title that will immediately grab the attention of your ideal readers and make them want to click on it.
But you&rsqu&hell…Read More
2019-06-24 13:51
Looking for some great book lover gifts?
It doesn’t take much internet searching to find a wide variety of gift ideas, but we’ve curated this list of our favorites to help you na… Read More
2019-06-18 13:04
You have a great idea for a nonfiction book, but you don’t know how to get started — and you’re not sure it would even sell.
How do you first verify that there’s a pa… Read More
2019-05-29 12:56
Why should it matter so much whether your verbs are strong or weak?
And how do you even know if you’re using weak verbs?
If you know the answer to the question, “What is a verb?… Read More
2019-05-27 10:16
Writing a memoir is not the same as writing a book about your life.
While you’ll use anecdotes from your own life to tell a compelling story, the real star of your memoir is your reade… Read More
2019-05-17 14:59
What on earth is blackout poetry?
And how can it stoke the creative fire within you?
And what if you’re not really “the poetic type”?
Good news! Even if you’ve never… Read More
2019-05-14 21:19
Looking for the perfect gift for the writers in your life?
Maybe you’ve already bought a writing notebook and some pens, but you’re looking for something to add to it to make the… Read More
2019-05-07 16:55
How long should a book be?
Whenever that question comes up, the answer is usually “It depends” (or something to that effect), but we can get closer to a more helpful answer by ge… Read More
2019-05-06 13:55
You’ve written a book (or an article), and you think it sounds pretty good. But you want to make sure it’s as error-free and enjoyable to read as possible.
You’ve heard of… Read More
2019-05-06 12:50
If none of your characters matter to your reader, your story won’t matter, either.
But how do you build relatable characters?
What is a character arc, and how do you create one?
How im… Read More
2019-04-29 16:02
Welcome to the ultimate guide on how to write a novel your readers will love!
Maybe you’ve already written part of a novel, based on an idea that sounded so good it kept you up at nigh… Read More
2019-04-26 13:25
Want to know how to sell books on Amazon to earn some passive income?
We’re not just talking about books you write — we’re also talking about books you own.
Maybe you&rsquo&hell…Read More
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