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20 powerful articles to help improve your writing 

I’m still editing – will it ever end!

Now I’m a very slow writer, I’ve been taking advice and slowly increasing my speed but despite this I’ve allowed myself a little leeway by thinking: Oh well – slowly but surely. I might be slow now but my editing will be far easier as I’ve taken the time to polish as I write.

Well it turns out all I really accomplished was self-foolery and giving myself permission to write slowly because I still have loads of editing and it’s taken me an age to get the book down onto to digital paper.  Ho-hum it’s my first book so I guess as long as I learn from the experience then I can chalk it down to inexperience and naivety – or am I fooling myself again….

Needless to say I’ve been referring to the experts to make certain I do the best job possible and I just love the advice provided in:

Self-Editing for Fiction Writers

Although I’m writing both fiction and non-fiction books currently I’ve found the advice provided here really helps across both areas. Well worth checking out if you’re in the process, or about to start, editing.

See more…..

Improve your writing with this week’s articles

So if you want to improve your writing, editing or any other part of this great writing lark then check out this week’s selection of articles as chosen by more than 8,000 of your writing peers.

Check them out and see what you think….

20 Most Popular Writing, Self Publishing  And Marketing Articles  – Week 39

1. All the Marketing Tools a Self-Published Author Needs Are Out There  – http://bit.ly/1guElgn via @eBooksIndiaMag

2. Take the chance to grab these free background images – A gift from Novel Experience – http://bit.ly/1DQa2p3

3. Why Your Brain Loves Good Storytelling – http://bit.ly/1JACMs9

4. Books on Writing – these are a must have for every writer’s library  – http://bit.ly/1DfT4Wc

5. Super charge your writing with these amazing tips – http://bit.ly/1Inmm1d

6. 11 Reasons Why Authors Should PRINT Books Today | Author U – http://bit.ly/1D2t8NW

7. 5 Key Elements of Writing Science Fiction Stories  – http://bit.ly/1IC0a9N via @eBooksIndiaMag

8. Write a Book Online Using Facebook  – http://bit.ly/1LHkw0t via @eBooksIndiaMag

See more....

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Free background images – A gift from me to you

As I may have said before, I’m the world’s best procrastinator – yes indeed. In fact if there was an Olympic medal for it, I’d be bringing gold home for GB. When I have to do things that bore me, like editing, then I stop and play with design software to reignite my creative flame.

So I’ve got loads of different backgrounds images  just sitting idly, lazing away on my laptop. In a stroke of master procrastination, to avoid more of the aforementioned editing, I thought why not share them with my blog visitors and followers. So here is a gift from Hazel of Novel Experience, master procrastinator extraordinaire to you….

Free background images – chalkboard theme.

I created these in a combination of Pixlr Editor and Picmonkey and they are totally free for you to use as you see fit – for blog images, social media visuals, or any other design you want to create. Each image is 849 x 849 pixels.

Read more....

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Super charge your writing with these amazing tips

I’ve been busy writing my book for the last couple of months which has negatively impacted my blogging schedule. I’ve managed to write this regular article each week but nothing much else – hopefully that will change soon.

Excitement and Boredom

I loved the writing process – surfing the wave of excitement curling into despair and then gently rolling to the end. But I wasn’t prepare for the odd combination of emotions that editing would generate – excitement and boredom. Now those two emotions aren’t normal bed mates so it feels a little uncomfortable. I’m excited because the process is almost at the end and publication is imminent but the boredom of editing is brain numbing. Now don’t get me wrong I love reading the manuscript to check for errors but it’s the detailed computer work that is deadly. Checking consistent spacing, typeface, headlines format etc – oh my gosh it’s draining.  Anyway I’ve spent the sunny days editing in my local church garden (no I’m not talking graveyard – it’s a garden for the church cafe), so I’m hoping the manuscript got a little blessing – every little helps as a UK supermarket chain is prone to say.

I’m pleased to share a range of great articles this week.  So super charge your writing by diving into this week’s top 20 articles as decided by my social media buddies.

Check them out and see what you think….

20 Most Popular Writing, Self Publishing  And Marketing Articles  – Week 38

1. 5 Cliché Story Plots You Should Avoid – http://bit.ly/1gAacMn via @eBooksIndiaMag

2. 9 Famous Authors  Rejected by Publishers  – http://bit.ly/1K58PSf via @artyyah

3. 5 Tips to Supercharge Your Freelance Writing Career – http://bit.ly/1OaxKCL via @eBooksIndiaMag

4. Simple writing tips with huge results –  http://bit.ly/1JcY0MC

5. Emotional Wounds: Accidentally Killing Someone – http://bit.ly/1I0WpbW via @AngelaAckerman

6. The Seven Deadly Sins of Social Media Marketing by @BBorowicz –http://bit.ly/1K67urz via @MelissaOnline

7. Free Apps Every Writer Should Be Using » XO PIXEL – http://bit.ly/1IfOqDJ

8. Great Ways to Annoy a Writer [Part 3] – http://bit.ly/1gSa6jm via @TherinKnite

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I made these as a way to compile all the geographical vocabulary that I thought was useful and interesting for writers. Some descriptors share categories, and some are simplified, but for the most part everything is in its proper place. Not all the words are as useable as others, and some might take tricky wording to pull off, but I hope these prove useful to all you writers out there!

(save the images to zoom in on the pics)

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What’s happening in the amazing world of writing?

I’m always on the lookout for great articles to further my understanding of the world of writing. I sometimes feel I’m in the most informal university studying everything I can find to help me understand how to write the very best books, self-publish them and then market them effectively. These articles are the ones my social media buddies thought were best this week.

Check them out and see what you think….

20 Most Popular Writing, Self Publishing  And Marketing Articles  – Week 36

1. Six secrets to writing a series –  http://bit.ly/1HIYAkd via @nownovel

2. Writing motivations via Novel Experience –  http://bit.ly/1KG0fcB

3. On Writing And Mindset For Indie Authors With Susan Kaye Quinn | The Creative Penn – http://bit.ly/1K2ovCU

4. 5 Tips for Writing a Dystopian Story Which Your Readers Can’t Put Down  – http://bit.ly/1HIpzhN via @eBooksIndiaMag

5. What is literary fiction? How to develop a literary writing voice  – http://bit.ly/1HbTewo via @nownovel

6. How to Write a Query Letter: A Literary Agent Explains – http://bit.ly/1JQcnI6

7. Use these 10 writing productivity hacks: Finish your novel this year – http://bit.ly/1fipAMW via @nownovel

8. What Type Of Writer Are You? http://bit.ly/1LFORhb via @SueColetta1

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A Collection of 20 Articles to Help you Write a Book

I’m writing this whilst hurtling down the A303 in the South West of  England.

When you stop taking technology for granted and really think about it the fact that we can work seamlessly from a moving car with the same proficiency as I can from an office is an amazing thing. If you’d told me even 20 years ago that I’d be working in a car on internet based platforms I’d have suspected you of insanity or a bad case of science fiction addiction yet now we take it for granted.

It makes me wonder what the next 20 years will hold. Maybe instead of being driven I’ll be in a car that’s driving itself and offices will be a thing of the past. As long as everyone is still reading books I’ll be content.

Advice Galore

This week our friends have not disappointed us writing on a wide range of subjects across the spectrum of writing and self-publishing. You can learn how to improve your blog ranking on google, the best ways to market your book and how to write believably about guns. A gaggle of articles on how to write a book and then publish and market it effectively.

So grab a drink and dive into the bevy of articles that my social media friends enjoyed this week –  great writing advice from writers you can trust…

20 Most Popular Writing, Self Publishing  And Marketing Articles  – Week 35

1. SEO For Authors: Get Your Book Blog To Rank On Google – http://bit.ly/1U420Dk via @PublishingPush

2. 7 Qualities of a Successful Freelance Writer – http://bit.ly/1LAco24 via @WanderfulWorld1

3. Writing About Guns: 10 Errors to Avoid in Your Novel – http://bit.ly/1e5JHNb via @SueColetta1

4. 5 Overlooked Ways to Market Your Books – http://bit.ly/1HsiCPQ via @eBooksIndiaMag

5. Amazon Picks Its Best Books of the Year So Far – http://bit.ly/1SNwJ66

6. Writing motivations via Novel Experience – http://bit.ly/1CHF02f

7. 8 Fascinating Podcasts Every Reader and Writer Should Know About – http://bit.ly/1LA9n1K via @WritersEdit

8. The Email Marketing Trap Fiction Writers Must Avoid by Jason Kong — The Book Designer –  http://bit.ly/1fFZFP5

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Writing Advice From Writers You Can Trust

I’m back in England – enjoying mild summer sun instead of the scorching African summer I left behind in Cairo, which means I’m able to write this post from the peace of a English cottage garden with the thrushes and blackbirds serenading me whilst the wood pigeons work industriously to build a safe home for their future nestlings.

Culture Clash

It’s odd coming back to your country after a prolonged absence it takes a period to adjust to the culture. Everyone here are grumbling about the heat whilst I’m feeling it’s chilly and suddenly my brain is under attack, or at least that’s how it feels, by a torrent of conversations around me that I understand. Living in Cairo, with only a basic grasp of Arabic, I’m able to turn off background conversations around me & anyone talking in English is talking directly to me so my brain is programmed to listen to every word of English but here my brain understands everything and it’s exhausting. It always takes a week or so for that sensory overload to calm down again. It’s those things that you don’t expect when you first move overseas.

Well my change in location hasn’t impacted the quality of the articles put out into the ether this week by our writing brethren so grab a drink and dive into the bevy of articles that my social media friends loved this week –  great writing advice from writers you can trust…

20 Most Popular Writing, Self Publishing  And Marketing Articles  – Week 34

1. 5 Best Writers’ Retreats of All Time | Grammarly Blog –  http://bit.ly/1eJ1zON

2. My Book Deal Moment by Julia Kelly  – http://bit.ly/1FD4620

3. Too Many Authors! –  http://bit.ly/1dJ0lCa via @AstronomiconSF

4. How to Write an Alluring Introduction to Your Book – http://bit.ly/1Cc3h07 via @eBooksIndiaMag

5. The 4 Hidden Dangers of Writing Groups  – http://bit.ly/1e5bDAQ

6. Scientific Speed Reading: How to Read 300% Faster in 20 Minutes: – http://bit.ly/1GA4U8F

7. 20 Breathtaking Articles on Writing and Self-Publishing a Book – http://bit.ly/1GvMt4Z

8. DIY Book Covers for the Self Publishing-Inclined Part 2 – http://bit.ly/1TOZ8Ku

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20 Breathtaking Articles on Writing and Self-Publishing a Book

I’m preparing to fly back to my homeland today after nearly 6 months in Egypt – I think that’s my longest stay away from the UK ever, other than my time in Bolivia. It’s funny the things you miss from the land of your birth when you live abroad. It’s not really the tangible things (although my cravings for a good old cup of English tea and Marmite on toast have reached epic levels), it’s more the sense of belonging and complete understanding of the culture. I’ve lived in Egypt since 1998, so a fair few years now, I can speak a basic level of Arabic and I love the culture yet I never truly understand the culture and I will never be so completely at ease as I am in my own country.

Anyhow due to my last-minute ninny nature I still have loads to do which  means this post will be short and sweet. So jump straight into the amazing collection of articles on writing and self-publishing a book, offered by the writing community this week as selected by your writing brothers-in-arms.

20 Most Popular Writing, Self Publishing  And Marketing Articles  – Week 33

1. Freya North’s Top 5 Writing Tips – http://bit.ly/1ekA2D2

2. You’re A Bestselling Author? Prove It! – http://bit.ly/1J2cQXd

3. Do you know when to use & em dash & when to use a colon? Learn how. | Grammarly Blog –  http://bit.ly/1JS0LnE

4. Medieval Stasis: Why is Fantasy Trapped in the Past – Author J.S. Morin – http://bit.ly/1FkL7ZX

5. The 20-Something Introvert  – Inward-Facing Writers  – http://bit.ly/1C3htZk

6. 6 Books Every Writer Should Have On Their Bookshelf | The #FeedArt Network  – http://bit.ly/1Hstr4Q

7. A dream ending for one writer – It’s Official… I Did It! – http://bit.ly/1MEtUkq via @SueColetta1

8. Writing a top selling novel in just one month-  http://bit.ly/1JOsSN  – @Kelownawriter

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20 instructive articles on the art of writing

This week has seen me fighting the never ending tick epidemic that seems to have hit my little corner of Egypt. My four dogs are covered despite my best efforts with Frontline and other anti-tick applications (if anyone has advice I’d be delighted to hear it). Anyway I haven’t had as much time to enjoy the instructive articles on the art of writing as normal but I’ve still been able to pull together the top 20 favourites from my social media buddies and share them below for you to browse.

So as always grab a drink, turn off your mobile and sit back and admire the collective genius of our writing colleagues…. enjoy!

20 Most Popular Writing, Self Publishing  And Marketing Articles  – Week 32

1. Simple Tips and Advice on Writing and Self-Publishing from industry big hitters – http://bit.ly/1dZWJMO

2. Why Introverts Make Good Writers | A New Fiction Writers Forum – http://bit.ly/1QI2aMa

3. How to Give Constructive Criticism to other Writers – http://bit.ly/1e00FwU via @nownovel

4. 5 Writing Exercises to Boost Your Creativity – http://bit.ly/1FP9zUL via @eBooksIndiaMag

5. 23 Signs You’re Secretly An Introvert-  http://bit.ly/1B2XNJK

6. 24 Untapped Ways to Get Blog Post Ideas –  http://bit.ly/1KX8mBy

7. Making Time to Write When You Have Young Children: Mission Impossible? – http://bit.ly/1B1goWt

8. The Good, the Bad, & the Ugly of Launching a Best-selling Book – http://bit.ly/1KSNKah

Read more....

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Simple Tips and Advice on Writing and Self-Publishing

I never quite know what to do when one of my own articles hits this list – it must be my Englishness coming out, embarrassed by success and wanting to downplay it. So I’m feeling all-sorts-of-uncomfortable with the number one  position  but then again it’s good to know I’m providing useful information, or in the case of this article, access to some really superb articles on writing by some of the industry greats. This week they haven’t failed us,  providing a plethora of advice on writing, self-publishing and marketing books  – including how to improve your writingproductivity, tips on dialogue and software to help you edit.

So as always grab a warming beverage of your choice and sit back and admire the collective genius and advice on writing from our writing brethren…. enjoy!

20 Most Popular Writing, Self Publishing  And Marketing Articles  – Week 31

1. 20 Stunning Articles On The Art And Business Of Writing http://bit.ly/1BFUBPh

2. David Mitchell on How to Write: “Neglect Everything Else http://theatln.tc/1LzlVUK

3. Sydney Writers’ Festival: Helen Garner on Writing About Darknesshttp://bit.ly/1FzYWas via @WritersEdit

4. How To Write A Killer Hook http://bit.ly/1GyPXsc via @SueColetta1

5. Do You Keep A #Writer‘s Notebook? http://bit.ly/1AHZDQo via @artyyah

6. Increase your writing productivity: 7 tools http://bit.ly/1Fravi0 via @nownovel

7. 17 Keywords To Use Or Avoid When Writing Headlines  http://bit.ly/1Szeke8 via @dpcleveland

8. 5 Personality Flaws That Could Be Good For Your Career as a Writerhttp://bit.ly/1Lzubnu via @eBooksIndiaMag

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20 Stunning Articles On The Art And Business Of Writing

This week we have a fine collection of articles on the art and business of writing, self-publishing and marketing. We have some great ideas for marketing your book and achieving higher sales figures and for those of you looking for a few writing techniques tips, well, we have those as well.

So as always sit back with a nice beverage of your choice and embrace the collective genius of our writing brethren…. enjoy!

20 Most Popular Writing, Self Publishing  And Marketing Articles  – Week 30

1. How Do I Get Local Bookstores to Carry My Books? by @nblackburn01 – http://bit.ly/1ApUbBr

2. Writing Science Fiction Plots | Now Novel – http://bit.ly/1FR87Xu

3. What’s Your Book Marketing Plan? 6 Crucial Steps to Include – http://bit.ly/1F6Eqeh

4. Plotting to Save Writing Time – Books & Such Literary Management – http://bit.ly/1Bm4rWt

5. Email Marketing For Authors and Writers — The Book Designer –  http://bit.ly/1F6FeQo

6. 3 Reasons You Should Take a Break From Your Writing – http://bit.ly/1F6DiXX

7. Learn the Three Act Structure – http://bit.ly/1FaJ38a

8. 9 Secrets to Selling More Books | Small Business PR –  http://bit.ly/1FR56pY

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20 Amazing Articles on Writing You Don’t Want to Miss

I’ve been procrastinating a lot again recently so I had to go back and re-read my own article on writing productivity and guess what – my own advice worked! So I’m back to attacking the keyboards with vigour – much as the rest of the writing community has been judging by this week’s bunch of amazing articles on writing (is there a collective noun for a group of articles I wonder- ideas anyone?).  This week we cover a really diverse range of subjects from – productivity and time management to writing convincingly about your character’s emotional wounds.

So as always sit back and let the collective genius of our writing brethren ooze into you…. enjoy!

20 Most Popular Writing, Self Publishing  And Marketing Articles  – Week 29

1. How To Uncover Your Character’s Emotional Wound http://bit.ly/1FuwyJX via @AngelaAckerman

2. How to sky rocket your writing productivity in simple steps  http://bit.ly/1ILh1q2

3. The ‘Great Gatsby’ author’s surprisingly blunt advice to would-be writers- http://theatln.tc/1c1p2sf

4. Writing With Every Sense But What You See –  http://bit.ly/1H1rXdf

5. 43 must-visit sci-fi websites for writers – http://bit.ly/1dg1WzC via @nownovel

6. Ray Bradbury on Writing Persistently – http://bit.ly/1B8DsgU via @cateartios

7. Best of the week – 20 Motivational Articles on Self Publishing, Writing & Marketing – http://bit.ly/1dk111g

8. How to Use MailChimp to Grow Your Brand – by Regina – http://bit.ly/1AaMC1l

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My Favorite Things: Free Images and Free Photos

If you are a long-term reader of Novel Experience you will know that I love visuals of every kind and I love colour. But finding an ongoing sources of images can be expensive.

I use Depositphoto* and Envato Market for my paid images but I love to find free images to spice up the articles a little and I’ve gradually been building a list of my favorite ones that I return to again and again. Now sites rules and licenses can change from time to time so I always advise to check the license before you publish anything,  just to make certain you are on the right side of the law – I don’t want the internet police knocking on your door in the deep of night.

Gratisography.com

Ryan McGuire runs Gratisography, takes all the photos and provides them free of any copyright restrictions for personal or commercial use. The photos are in one long stream on the home page so not the easiest search if you are looking for something specific but great for browsing through and downloading images for future use.

Check them out here.

Death To The Stock Photo

Sign up by giving them your email address and you get a pack of free photos every month. They tend to be quite gritty and Urban looking.  You can use them freely for your own purposes as long as you don’t redistribute them or indicate that Death To The Stock Photo endorses you (read the license here).

Check them out here.

Stokpic

A nicely organised site that is easy to search for a huge range of gorgeous images which are all completely free to use for your commercial or personal use – as they are free of any copyright restrictions.

Check them out here.

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20 inspirational & informative articles on writing & self-publishing

Another week has passed and thankfully the writing community has been busy writing their hearts out to supply a huge number of deeply inspirational & informative articles on writing,  self-publishing and marketing books. This week I have a great selection for you… from self-editing your manuscript to setting up a pre-order on Amazon for the self-publisher. So grab a nice refreshing drink and enjoy this week’s top 20 articles…..

20 Most Popular Writing Marketing and Self Publishing Articles  – Week 27

1. Self editing 4 fiction #7 Interior Monologue via @WriteIntoPrint – http://bit.ly/1GOd2bo

2. Magic ingredients for a great plot via @thecreativepenn & 19 other articles – http://bit.ly/1IJHymd

3. Infographic – 6 ways to bring setting to life  – http://bit.ly/1EUEKBc via @nownovel

4. 4 ways to revive a stale book and 19 other articles on writing  http://bit.ly/1IJHymd

5. Self Editing 4 Fiction #1 ~ Intro via @WriteIntoPrint –  http://bit.ly/1IwySzE

6. Ways to Extract Information From Others http://bit.ly/1FN0zmO via @AngelaAckerman

7. Self editing 4 fiction #6 ~ Gift of the Gab via @WriteIntoPrint – http://bit.ly/1QV1l5G

8. 3 clever ways to research your novel for free http://bit.ly/1JTBSUM via @Yeomanis

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Would you abandon your own language to make it as an author?

What would you do if your language was too limiting for the genre of writing you wanted to write. If you had to write Shakespearean English to write a modern thriller? Or your native brogue was spoken by so few that your audience would be tiny? For those of us luckily enough to be able to write freely in our own flexible tongue – we never have to think about this but what would you do if you had to? That’s the dilemma facing one aspiring author.Today’s article is written by a beautiful woman who I’ve been lucky enough to call my friend for around 15 years. We worked together way back – where her natural talent and keen intelligence contributed to making her quite the  marketing protégé. In a recent conversation she shared some of her thoughts and I was fascinated and begged her to write an article for Novel Experience. So I’ll pass you over to the capable hands of Lina Shahal Tayara.

Arabic or English? – A Language Dilemma.

“Just write!” said my friend. “The ideas will flow once you start!”

Little did she know that the ideas are all there, in my head; they have been there for so long, one after the other, waiting patiently to come out to the world, but which world? Which language?

Which language?

I am a Lebanese wife and a mother of three residing in Dubai. Being Lebanese means in most cases you are bi-lingual and in many cases tri-lingual (French is very commonly used in everyday life.) Living in Dubai, one of the most popular cities in the world, means that I am forever exposed to a myriad of nationalities that the only common language we can use is English.

“Just write whatever comes to your mind!” she repeats.

“Look, you have to understand that my dilemma is not how to start or what to write; I haven’t even gotten to that point. I need to decide in which language to write,” I explained. Having been forever exposed to the English language all through school and university years, the books I read, the movies I watch, my work then my life in Dubai, it has become impossible not to think in English. Don’t get me wrong! Arabic is still my first language. I am most comfortable thinking and speaking in Arabic; however, when it comes to visualizing an idea for a book, I find myself shifting to ‘Inglizi’!

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20 of the Best Articles on Writing - Real Eye Openers

It always astounds me just how much information there is to help writers and how much we need to know to succeed in this field. That’s one of the main reasons I compile this top 20 listing, of the best articles on writing, self-publishing and book promotion, every week. I trawl through the internet on my own search for knowledge and share what I find with all my writing friends and followers and…