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Book Cover 101: Mystery/Thriller | Writers In The Storm

D. H. McKee   May 10, 2022

I always like to see how book covers evolve, especially since I like designing them. Nice to be on top of trends when reading new books. Also, I usually use an e-reader, so the colours don’t pop like they do on print versions. Notice the tones…black, or off-black, or angry red but not bright red. […]

How to Promote a Sequel

D. H. McKee   Jan 06, 2022

This is an interesting question for me, since I’m writing a bunch of different stories at the same time, all using the same main character. How do I launch these, I wonder? All at the same time? Stagger them to build interest? Tease the sequels before they launch? As usual, BookBub has some intriguing ideas: […]

Questions from the Proust Questionnaire

D. H. McKee   Mar 23, 2021

Similar to the previous post, here are some interview questions you can pre-answer, since many radio and TV interviewers pull directly from the Proust Questionnaire. I’ve been trying for days to remember the name of this set of questions. So I’m posting it here for you fine folks. To get to know my characters better, […]

Using Author Interview Questions in Marketing Materials

D. H. McKee   Mar 22, 2021

If you’re self-publishing, you’re going to need to figure out how you’re going to market your own books. If money’s no problem, hire someone to do marketing for you. However, you’ll likely have to do your own marketing, even if you have outside help doing it. One thing which you can do to get an […]

What Is Dialogue?

D. H. McKee   Nov 10, 2020

Found this neat article on writing dialogue. How to tell your story, reveal details, and set atmosphere with it. A few lines of dialogue can disclose a character’s personality, backstory, and relationships with other characters. Great dialogue can reveal a character’s emotions and the way those emotions change over time. It can help the reader […]

What is it like to do NaNoWriMo?

D. H. McKee   Nov 03, 2020

Anyone working on their November novel? Want to live vicariously through another person? What is it like to write 50,000 words in a month? Follow along in the NaNoWriMo diaries. Source: What is it like to do NaNoWriMo? Here is one author’s diary

James Crumley’s Unofficial Rules for Writing

D. H. McKee   Oct 20, 2020

  I’m a big  James Crumley fan, and I wish he was more prolific as a writer. Something about his writing voice always reminded me of Jim Thompson, but with a more optimistic tone. There’s some great advice here, especially for writers who are losing confidence in their work, or who are having trouble getting […]

Another Pre-publishing Promotion Guide

D. H. McKee   Dec 11, 2019

Thanks to BookBub for this handy little guide for pre-launch book promotion. There are some great insights, including why and how to get a blurb from another known author: Secure blurbs from comparable authors. Author blurbs can catch readers’ attention, especially if they’re familiar with the author providing the blurb. Our tests showed that book […]

How to Promote Your Book Before It’s Published

D. H. McKee   Aug 14, 2019

Some good tips on how to promote your books before they come out. One thing I could use is good information on how to promote a book pre-launch (maybe using some kind of checklist to cover all the bases, including all the book promoter websites I’m using). It’s something I’m working on as I go, […]

135 Places to Find Freelance Writing Jobs

D. H. McKee   Apr 12, 2019

Here’s a really helpful list of the different ways an author can make some money. Not just suggestions, but actual links to hiring pages for various publications (books, magazines, blogs, etc.). Instead of sitting around waiting for the Mysterious Force to drop some assignments in your lap, pitch a story idea to a magazine or […]

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