In this 2nd second instalment of ‘how to write a book blurb and how it’s 100% dependent on what genre you’re writing in’, we look at crime, historical fiction and science fiction / fantasy. And I test your memory in more ways than one, but don’t worry. It’s still fun, I promise…
Christmas is coming, and the Biggest Book Publication Day of the year is already over. What does that mean for self-published authors, or authors with small presses who have a big role in their own marketing? Time to write your blurb, that’s what.
I watched a TV show which packed more excellent writing and publishing advice into 50 minutes than you’d see in 5 literary festivals. And because it involved little or no thought on my part, I collated it into a blog post. You’re welcome.
Is it ever possible for a writer to be happy with what they’ve achieved? Or do the goalposts keep moving? Today we ask a most un-Christmassy question… is it much harder to succeed when you’re a success?
As we are now in a post-thinking society, I’ve decided to pose some questions relating to the publishing world after Brexit, and what it’s all going to mean for writers and readers. Warning: this post contains no fake news, and one shocking lean towards optimism.
It’s my 5th blogiversary, and the sun is shining, so it was hard to find something to complain about – but I did it. Lookit, I’m dedicated. However, not only did I identify a problem, I’m also proposing a SOLUTION. I know. I can’t believe it either.
How in Blog’s name is anyone supposed to sell a book nowadays, when 33,000 other books will be released on the same day as yours? The answer is to look for patterns. Unfortunately, this has global consequences… much like reading this blog on an empty stomach.
If you want to determine the state of humanity, just look at popular fiction, because we’re reading the opposite of what we’re living. Right now the people demand uplifting tales of generosity, kindness, and collaborative triumph over adversity. With that in mind, I’m predicting what we’ll be reading next, linked to whichever fresh disaster befalls the world this week. You’re welcome.
It snowed a lot in Ireland this week, and nobody could talk about anything else. It’s very difficult to argue about snow, and a major weather event tends to bring people together. Thankfully, though, there’s always somebody online having a book-related brawl, just in case we’re ever in danger of getting too complacent about humanity.
Having spent most of this year looking for who is to blame for the state of today’s book market and the lamentable fate of authors, nobody was more surprised than me to find out that I was at least partly responsible. Still, thankfully you can’t prove anything these days, least of all my arguments.
Tara Sparling writes 