Answer: Nope. If you write what you don’t know it rings false, and that transfers directly to the page, and the reader will always pick up on it. To correct some misconceptions: How many submarines did Jules Verne ride in? None. But he was intimately familiar with the French submarine experimenters of the time – …
Questions and Answers
Dec 17
Miscellaneous Questions: How did you become a screenplay writer?
I took a single screenwriting class. It was relatively easy – if you watch movies and understand that every story is the Monomyth. It’s all about structure, showing not telling, and fitting your story into 90-120 pages. Screenwriting was exactly what I expected it would be. It wasn’t difficult, and – within three months of …
Dec 11
Miscellaneous Question: Should I become an author?
An author is just a writer who refused to take ‘no’ for an answer and was stupid enough to get back up after they were kicked to the ground. To become a writer, you must write. To become an author, you must publish. To become successful, you must write more.
Dec 10
Indie Publishing: Best software for creating eBooks
Question: What Windows application can I use to create beautifully looking e-books, withe possibility to export in both PDF and Kindle? Answer: There are a few options. But first: PDF isn’t an ebook format. Please don’t make the mistake that others have by trying to sell a PDF file. If you want to create an …
Jul 27
Question: Should I submit to a publisher or only publish on Kindle?
Question: Should I submit to a publisher or only publish on Kindle? Really crappy answer #1: If you can get published via publisher, it is always better. The reason is that, 1) you automatically get support for editing your book from publishing house, 2) most importantly you became “validated” author as, most times self-published Kindle …
Jul 21
Question: What are some tips that can help me successfully publish a book through a major publishing house?
Question: What are some tips that can help me successfully publish a book through a major publishing house? Answer: Well, to start with: you don’t publish. You write. Once you’re done writing, you write query letters to agents to attract one. The agent will get your book to a publisher. The publisher will get your …
Jul 20
Question: Can an amateur author make their book available online for download to the Kindle and the Nook?
Question: Can an amateur author make their book available online for download to the Kindle and the Nook? Basically is there any way to digitally self publish? Answer: Well, of COURSE there is. But why would you limit yourself to Amazon and B&N? The Holy Trinity of Self-Publishing is: Kindle Direct Publishing Smashwords Createspace
Shawn E. Bell
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