Publications / 323 posts found
Plot Twist Story Prompts: Déjà Vu
Plot twist story prompts aren’t meant for the beginning or the end of stories. Rather, they’re for forcing big and small turns in the anticipated trajectory of a story. This is to make it more interesting for the readers and writers alike. Each week, I’ll provide a new prompt to help twist your story. Find last week’s prompt, The Message, here. Plot Twist Story Prompts: Déjà Vu For today’s prompt, have a character experience déjà vu. Of course, déjà vu describes the feeling a person gets of already having experienced the same situation. It could be a feeling that you’ve already had the […]
Desperate vs. Disparate (Grammar Rules)
For this Grammar Rules post, we look at two disparate words that sound desperately similar when spoken aloud. While both are adjectives, they have disparate definitions for people desperate for the best word for their unique situation. (Common Writing Mistakes and How to Fix Them.) So let’s look at the differences between desperate and disparate and when to use each. Desperate vs. Disparate Desperate is an adjective that can take on a few different meanings. First, it can mean giving up hope or the possibility of hope. Second, it can describe an action taken in response to this despair. Third, it […]
3 Reasons to Update Your Book on Amazon
Did you know Amazon sells nearly 50% of all print books and over 70% of all e-books in America? No other retailer comes close to their dominant marketshare of the industry. If you want to sell more books, you must master selling books on Amazon. (3 Crucial Changes to the Book Publishing Industry.) For example, if you have a book displayed on Amazon’s website that looks outdated or lacks convincing marketing copy, you could be losing sales on a daily basis. Fortunately, you can take easy steps to improve the appearance of your book on Amazon. Here are three reasons […]
Write Books Or Blog – Which Is The Most Profitable?
If you are thinking about publishing for an income, is it better to write books or blog regularly? Each one has advantages and disadvantages. But the critical element for both is that you know how to write well. The most significant difference between being an author and a blogger is that you need good technical skills to make an income from blogging. But for authors, publishing books using self-publishing is a relatively straightforward process. Deciding to write books or blog content One of the best ways to improve your writing is to start a blog. But you have to maintain […]
Michigan Quarterly Review: Market Spotlight
(Editor’s note: MQR has updated their open submission period to March 1 to April 1 for 2022.) Founded in 1962, Michigan Quarterly Review is the flagship literary journal of the University of Michigan. It publishes distinctive poetry, fiction, and creative nonfiction (and works of translation) by writers from around the world. (The Iowa Review: Market Spotlight.) The editors say, “Our magazine embraces creative urgency and cultural relevance, aiming to challenge conventions and address long-overdue conversations. As we continue to promote an expansive and inclusive vision, we seek work from established and emerging writers with diverse aesthetics and experiences.” This is […]
Paul Vidich: On Romance in Espionage
Paul Vidich is the acclaimed author of The Mercenary, The Coldest Warrior, An Honorable Man, and The Good Assassin, and his fiction and nonfiction have appeared in the Wall Street Journal, LitHub, CrimeReads, Fugue, The Nation, Narrative Magazine, Wordriot, and others. He lives in New York City. Find him on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram. Paul Vidich Photo by Bekka Palmer In this post, Paul discusses the inspiration behind his new literary spy novel, The Matchmaker: A Spy in Berlin, the drafting process and his beta readers, and more! Name: Paul VidichLiterary agent: Will Roberts, The Gernert CompanyBook title: The Matchmaker: A […]
Get Published With the Latest Market Books Editions
Recently, I’ve had the pleasure of announcing the release of each of the new editions of the Market Books series. In this post, we collect them all together and help explain which edition is probably best for your writing project and publishing goals. Writer’s Market, 100th Edition Also known as “the big book,” Writer’s Market has the most listings of paying markets for writers of fiction, nonfiction, and poetry. In addition to helpful articles on the business of writing, this book includes listings for literary agencies, book publishers, magazines, and writing contests. Best for writers of multiple writing genres and/or […]
Wednesday Poetry Prompts: 598
Quick note: Moriah Richard began her second annual February Flash Fiction Challenge yesterday on February 1. Here’s the prompt for Day 1 (yesterday), AND here’s the prompt for Day 2 (today). I wrote and posted a short short yesterday, and I’m thinking of one for today. In a way, flash fiction is a sort of prose poetry. Happy Groundhog Day! For today’s prompt, write a deja vu poem. Many people have those moments of experiencing something in a way that it feels like it was previously lived exactly the same way. I know I experience it more the older I get. […]
The Four Doorways Into Story and How to Use Them to Create a Bestselling Novel
What is your favorite part of a fictional book? What part of a good book do you remember long after you’ve finished reading it? What is the most important part of a book to you? The way we answer these questions as readers often has a major influence on how we write, whether we realize it or not. (How to Love Writing a Book) Librarian Nancy Pearl has a theory she calls the Four Doorways, which states that, for readers, there are four main doorways into fiction. These doorways are story, character, setting, and language, and which one you enjoy […]
2022 February Flash Fiction Challenge: Day 2
I hope you had a great first day of this challenge. If you missed it, no worries; it’s still easy to catch up! If you did write yesterday, let’s do it again! For today’s prompt, I’m thinking about things that end where they began. For this reason, let’s go ahead and write something circular! Remember: As mentioned yesterday, these prompts are just starting points; you have the freedom to go wherever your flash of inspiration takes you. (Note: If you happen to run into any issues posting, please just send me an e-mail at mrichard@aimmedia.com with the subject line: Flash […]