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Tools for writer:

Digital media has taken the world by storm. The labyrinth network of the World Wide Web has effortlessly engulfed us into its spell. In today’s digital world, there is an app or a tool for every act right from booking a cab to ordering food. When it comes to indulging in the plethora of services and helpful tools provided by the magnificent Internet, we writers are at a huge advantage.  

Gone are the days when writing a book involved using an old-school typewriter, a scribbling pad and tonnes of coffee. With the abundant writing and editing tools available online, all you need is a laptop, a good Wi-Fi connection and oceans of creativity to come up with a spectacular international bestseller. We, at Notion Press, understand the twists and turns every author faces and have hence consolidated the best tools available on the Internet, which make writing a book a therapeutic experience.

Productivity Tools

The key to any success story is being organised and productive. Keeping this mind, we have a list of productivity and distraction free tools that will help authors stay focused.

BlankPage

If you are looking to set goals and make sure you achieve them, BlankPage should be your go-to tool. BlankPage is a distraction free writing app, which gives you detailed statistics about when and how you write, reminders about your writing and also shows you interesting and inspirational content. The tool is available at $8 a month, and it works on all devices.

Calmly Writer

As the name suggests, this magical tool ensures you write with a calm mind by removing all distractions. Calmly writer also has a function called “focus mode” that only highlights the parts you are editing.  Everything you write is also automatically backed up, so you never have to worry about losing your work.

Evernote

All of us have the habit of taking down notes. Bits of information, things to do or gentle reminders are the most common reasons for which we take notes. Evernote is one useful tool for writers. It is an online note-taking application. It is similar to the Google keep the app or an MS-One note. It records your thoughts, notes and photos for future reference. It has now introduced a new feature called Work chat which enables you to message instantly to the people with whom you have shared a particular document. It works really well if you are collaborating with someone on your document.

Freedom

Our phones and the internet is the greatest invention by the humanity. However, they can also distract us from that important task that we have set for ourselves. So how do we solve this problem? That is where the Freedom tool comes in. With Freedom, you can block apps and websites on the device you are working on and focus on being more productive. The tool is easy to use; just select your device and set a schedule and voila, it’s done.  According to Freedom, its users gain an average of 2.5 hours of productive time each day. You can start a free trial and then cover all your devices for less than $2.50 a month.

Trello

Being organised is the only way to ensure that any project meets its deadline and writing a book is no different. Trello is not a tool built just for writers, but the tool’s easy-to-use interface makes it an excellent option for writers as well. You can create boards, lists and cards with Trello, which will help you organise and prioritise your work. The best part about this tool is that it is free.

Writing tools

Writing a novel is a dream for almost all writers, and this dream requires more than just an idea. When you actually sit down to write, you realise that publishing a book requires research, creating the characters, structuring the story, writing it, formatting the book and keeping track of your work. Here is a list of top writing tools.

Novelize

Novelize is a mobile-optimized writing tool that offers you the freedom to write anywhere with an Internet connection. It works on smartphones, tablets, laptops and computers and has an array of helpful features for all budding authors. You can choose to write your manuscript in the outline mode or write mode and keep track of valuable information in the notebook panel. Additionally, you can also track your progress in the progress tracker and organise your novel with a convenient autosave option. This effective tool is available at a price of $5 per month or $45 for a yearly subscription.

Scrivener

Scrivener is a quintessential writing studio, which helps in organising and structuring long-form content. It also offers formatting and proofreading options. Other than novels, if you regularly write blogs, podcasts, scripts or speeches, this can be the right word processor for you. Just like the full-screen mode of viewing in your system, where there is little scope to get distracted, this tool offers a distraction-free mode while typing. This aspect is really important for a writer. Scrivener is priced at $40 per year.

Writer

Writer is a quick and distraction-free writing app used by renowned authors worldwide. It has a plethora of extraordinary features which assists you at every mode of writing. This full-screen writing dashboard provides a user-friendly environment with autosave and privacy options. It also offers writing goals, markdown formatting, revision history, a built-in thesaurus and an automated archive of all your work.  

Ywriter

Ywriter helps you sequentially arrange your novel or screenplay based on chapters and scenes and then write as per the relevant scene which comes under the corresponding chapter. So in future, you might not have to rename the saved text and recheck the entire database to see where the actual scene fits in. It saves your time and makes your work organised and structured. It is more like compartmentalising your living room into spaces like space for your TV and other space for the furniture.

Copyscape

Copyscape is one of the oldest, popular, original, and the most used plagiarism checker available. With its premium version, you can check the content for duplication and see if your work is original. It accurately compares the text you’ve keyed in with billions of other documents and web pages on the Internet and gives you a detailed analysis of the plagiarised text.

FlowState

If procrastination is your biggest enemy, then FlowState is the best solution. This innovative tool is a mind-blowing word processor with a unique feature of deleting your data if you are idle for a particular span of time. This distinctive factor pushes you to work faster and reduces your rate of getting distracted by a large extent.

Ilys

Ilys is a groundbreaking writing app that addresses your writer’s block. This simple word processor gets your creative juices flowing with utmost ease. All you need to do is type in your expected word count and keep writing till you reach your goal. The app does not allow you to make any changes to your text till you’ve reached the word count mentioned earlier. Once you’ve completed writing, you can use the inbuilt editor to modify your work.Editing tools

You have finished your first draft of your book. Well, congratulations! However, the biggest part of the journey is just beginning. Editing can be daunting, but these tools will make your life slightly easier.

Grammarly

Grammarly is the premium editing tools used by authors worldwide. It is available as an online dashboard or a Google Chrome plugin. This tool offers you the convenience of either writing on the dashboard directly or uploading your work for evaluation. The editor performs an accurate grammar check with keen attention on confused prepositions, repetitive words, misspelt words and the overuse of passive voice.

AutoCrit

As the name suggests, AutoCrit scrutinises your manuscript and provides you with constructive criticism for proficient writing which can be published with conviction. This self-editing software strengthens your writing skills with extensive word suggestions, perfectly scripted dialogues, uniform placing and an acute repetition check. These expert features make AutoCrit the perfect editing software for both budding writers and published authors.

SmartEdit

If you are not a fan of automated correction and prefer studying the suggested changes in your manuscript, then SmartEdit is the perfect editing software for you. This user-friendly plugin runs 20 different grammar checks on your work and emphasises on the areas that need more attention. It also provides you with a list of the redundancies, proper nouns, acronyms, misused words, suspect punctuation, cliches and much more. You can use this editing dashboard with a one-time investment of $67.

ProWritingAid

ProWritingAid is a mind-blowing editing software which provides an abundance of grammatical corrections and improvements for a hassle-free editing process. It eradicates errors and provides you with suggestions of the right words with clarification for each correction. Additionally, the tool gives you an extensive explanation about the suggested changes, so you end up learning more about advanced grammar. You can now get the premium version at $40 per year and $140 for a lifetime.

After the Deadline

This language checker focuses on the spelling, style and grammar of your manuscript. Furthermore, it highlights misused words and even provides an elaborate explanation of the corrections given. The grammar check focuses on basic segments like confused and repeated words. It also provides an advanced grammar check and checks for clichés and eliminates the passive voice in the manuscript.

CorrectEnglish

CorrectEnglish is a brilliant editing tool tailor-made for global and multilingual writers. It provides instant proofreading by evaluating your work with thousands of grammatical tests and has been rated as the most precise grammar checker for years. It has a variety of writing tools and tips along with licensed multi-lingual research tools, which are ideal for authors as well as students. This tool is available at $120 for the first year subscription with renewals at $20 every consecutive year.

Hemingway

The Hemingway editor is a desktop app, which evaluates your manuscript by scoring it based on readability. It also highlights regions of your work with a special colour code. Each colour represents a particular grammatical issue. For example, lengthy sentences are highlighted in yellow and complicated sentences are highlighted in red. This will give you a clear understanding of the areas you need to work on. It also highlights passive voices, extensive use of adverbs and provides simpler alternatives to complex phrases. You can buy the Hemingway editor at $19.99 for both Mac and Windows.

PaperRater

This grammar and plagiarism checker is all you need to strengthen your copies and create a bold manuscript worthy to be a bestseller. PaperRater does a vigorous grammar check on your work with a multitude of writing suggestions and corrections. It also provides a plagiarism score on your manuscript by comparing your content with billions of other documents on the web. You can now buy the premium version of this software at $95.40 per year or at $14.95 for a month.

Marketing Tools

There is no better feeling than seeing your published and printed copy of your book. All your hard work has paid off! While this is true, the next obvious step would be to make sure you book is marketed to the right target audience. Marketing your book involves a multitude of channels. From book launches, making a book trailer, building an author website to marketing on social mediaplatforms such as Facebook, Twitter and Quora, marketing is an important aspect author cannot ignore.

Website

WordPress

WordPress provides you with customisable, mobile-ready designs and themes, which are user-friendly.  Wordpress is the go-to option for building a website. Just choose your theme, pick a domain, select a plan, and start building.

Wix

Wix is one of the easiest website builders. With an easy, do-it-yourself, drag and drop interface, Wix does a fabulous job at building your website. The tool is free of cost, and all you need to do is pick a template that suits you and creates the website.

Social media tools

Hootsuite

Hootsuite is a social media scheduling tool where you can manage channels such as Facebook, Twitter, Google+, LinkedIn, MySpace and Foursquare, blogging on WordPress. It also has real time analytics, which will help you track the ROI of your social media campaign.

Price: 30-day free trial – Individual plans to Organisational plans ranging from Rs.1260 to Rs.32000 per month.

Keyhole

Measuring your marketing efforts is the most important piece of your marketing puzzle. The best way to do this is using Keyhole, a tool that analyses your social media posts and tells you exactly what is working.

Price: $89 – $3,000+ USD per month

MailChimp

MailChimp is one of the best email marketing tools that a marketer has. You can connect your business and send emails to your network and build your brand. If you are just starting an email marketing campaign and have 2,000 or lesser subscribers, MailChimp lets you send up to 12,000 emails per month free.

Ebook creation tools

PDF

PDF is the most commonly used reading format, thanks to ready-made availability and easy download options. PDF layouts are very professional, so they are and mostly used ideal to share information. If your novel is of the biographical or factual genre, this format should suit your eBook best.

MOBI

If you feel your book can be converted to a mobile-friendly eBook variant, this format is for you. MOBI format works well on both iOS and Android platforms and is prevalent on a majority of eBook apps. The nifty features like swiping to turn a page and earmarking a page can be enabled for a price.  

EPUB

EPUB is similar to MOBI with the added advantage of being a free format. It is also the most used format across all popular e-reading devices.

iBook

For those authors looking to go exclusively with their EBooks, the iBook format offers a similar reading format to that of EPUB but includes coding that restricts it to use only on iOS devices.

Design tools

Canva

Canva is the one-stop destination to create amazing graphics for your book. Its simple drag-and-drop feature and thousands of creative layouts make design simple for everyone. You can start designing instantly with millions of images to choose from, stunning fonts and easy-to-use photo filters. These practical designing tools can also be used to design social media posts, blog graphics, posters, menus, album covers, presentations, business cards and much more. Whether you are planning to print your work, or opt for an e-copy, this tool is extremely handy when it comes to design.

Adobe Creative Suite

The Adobe Creative Suite is the ultimate software suite used for graphic design and video editing. It comprises of well-known design applications such as Photoshop, Illustrator and InDesign to name a few. Adobe Photoshop is the most common editing software used to retouch digital images, edit video frames and render content. Adobe Illustrator, on the other hand, is used to edit vector graphics, which are mostly used in print publications. Adobe InDesign is a desktop app used to design posters, magazines, newspapers and books. This powerful suite offers all the tools and software needed to design your book and is an important design resource to bank on.

If you are looking to a more list of design tools, read our blog on the top ten design resources for authors.  

Now that you have all the tools in place, start writing your best seller. When your manuscript is complete, approach Notion Press for a hassle-free publishing experience and help us help you make your novel an International bestseller.

Source: https://notionpress.com/academy/online-writing-tools/

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Popular Book Series:

What makes a book such a great read? When you sit back and relax with a novel and get so engrossed in it that, you have forgotten how the day just went by. One such book that gives you this soul-stirring experience is ‘A Game of Thrones’ series, authored by George RR Marti.  Martin began writing the series in 1991 and published the book in 1996. Since then, he has released five novels, with a sixth and seventh planned as well. Game of Thrones gained international recognition in a fairly short time, especially after the release of its adapted TV series. If you are planning to write a novel, taking a leaf out of Martin’s epic fantasy should be very useful. Writing a novel is a long, complex process that requires a strategy, research and consistent effort. Writing a book series includes all of that effort and more. So, how has ‘A Game of Thrones’ managed to captivate readers and generate a massive, dedicated fan following? Let’s find out.

George RR Martin’s inspiring back story

Unlike JK Rowling’s sudden flash of an idea that morphed into the brilliant Harry Potter series, George RR Martin took years to conceptualise Game of Thrones fully. In fact, he worked as a screenwriter before dabbling with the art of novel writing.  Martin envisioned writing a novel of epic scale, which was vastly different from the short scripts he was used to writing. Taking up this new challenge, Martin committed himself to writing an 800-page long manuscript; he would start writing at 10 in the morning, rehashing old content and force himself to write even if he can’t think of anything creative.

Martin’s commitment to storytelling is evident in the narrative structure and plot of the book series, plus his stint as a screenwriter helped him understand characterisation and pacing better, which makes the book series such an enthralling read.

The uniqueness of the GoT world

One of the biggest reasons why fantasy novels sell like candy is because of the vastly different worlds that authors create to pull the reader away from reality. GoT, however, did a double take on its readers by giving them a sense of realism deep within the fantasy elements. The realistic feeling is evident in practically every element of the book, and you can instantly visualise the story by picturing its setting- Westeros, a location that takes inspiration from Europe’s form factor. The plot’s main focus surrounds a structure called the Wall; reminiscent of the Great Wall of China.

Martin claims to have conjured up the GoT universe through daydreaming, and his best dreams came from that of historical settings. Martin chose the medieval era as the timeline for his novel, as he felt that he would have more freedom to write fact within fiction and vice-versa due to the many myths and mysteries that already surround that era.  

A plot boiling with suspense and surprise

Like its title, GoT plays out like a game of chess.  Every move is unpredictable; every piece on the board is expendable and to the victor goes the spoils. Right from the first turn of a page, you are pulled into a world where you must always expect the unexpected. Martin has poured his heart out in the series, explaining each moment in each book with meticulous detail and heartfelt enthusiasm. The gritty realism of the medieval era is expressed in full flow, with details regarding era-specific artifacts, tool and livelihood explained accurately.

One standout feature of the book is its ability to emotionally connect you to the characters. This emotional connect will ensure you are engrossed in the plot line so deeply.

Combination of real-life and fictitious characters

While the book has mythical creatures like dragons and White Walkers, there are still characters that exist in true flesh and blood. Martin wrote his characters to feel real world emotions and scenarios, albeit in a mythical environment. Feelings of anger, love, jealousy and hatred are explored predominantly with the struggle for power being the central focus of the book series.

Martin is not afraid to kill off many of his characters, as death plays an important role in the series. There is no central character in the series; each chapter is told from the viewpoint of a particular character.

A diverse and complex story arch

If you’ve read the Harry Potter series or the Lord of the Rings series, you know just how much work goes into creating their respective worlds and connected stories. When reading GoT, you will be exposed to a world that is driven by its complex story structure. Each book in the series focusses on one key event along with subplots, which are interlinked with a perfect dose of hatred, love, jealousy and lust. Martin manages to keep his readers hooked by unimaginable twists and intricacies with references to the past and controversial glimpses of the future.

Fiercely independent female leads

The brutally beautiful female leads, depicted by Martin, inspire the readers on women empowerment and the extent up to which a women can go to save her kingdom and fight for her people. Whether it is Khaleesi’s kind hearted nature or Cersei’s brutal and power-driven character, every female lead is a true inspiration.

Exploration of dark themes

George RR Martin is not afraid to add flavours of taboo topics like sex, violence, rape, and murder in his GoT book series. His decision to explore such themes stems from the fact that the setting is of historical significance; a time when law and order were controlled by monarchs. The characters are also not overemphasised with distinctive traits; they are balanced on a morality grey scale, which humanises them to an extent that they have to choose a path of good or evil depending on the situation at hand.  

Do you have a rough story concept that is capable of morphing into a book series? Contact Notion Press to get your journey as a self-published author started.

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Everyone knows the secret of creative ideation and writing; ideas don’t just pop out of your head, they formulate out of inspiration. Inspiration can come from anywhere and at any time, and once you get inspired, you’re writing prowess will take centre stage. At certain instances, while you are writing the story, you may want to include a quote or reference a character/scenario that exists in the world of literature, but was not created by you. At such instances, the issue of copyright infringement comes in. Copyright is one of the legal issues that ever author need to be aware of. Using copyrighted material can get an author in serious legal problems. However, there are ways of using copyrighted material without getting you in trouble.

Copyrights are created when an author feels the need to protect his/her material. This effectively gives the author complete and exclusive control over the material.  If the author spots plagiarism of his/her copyrighted material, he/she can claim copyright infringement, which is a serious offence. If you feel the need to use copyrighted material, you can do so by a method known as fair dealing.

What is fair dealing?

Fair dealing comes into play when you use existing material that doesn’t fall under copyright laws.  Copyright laws vary from country to country, so make sure you have a thorough read of every country’s laws before you decide to use the existing material in a fair way. For this case, we are sharing with you how to stay on the good side of Indian and Singaporean copyright laws.

Usage of the original content falls under fair dealing if:

The content is for non-commercial use: Whenever you borrow content to use for non-promotional purposes; using it for your interest, educative purposes or research, you are safe from copyright increment cases.

The content is being reviewed: You will often come across review and discussions about works of literature, especially in online forums or influencer pages. In such cases, the owner of the copyrighted material cannot file for copyright infringement. In fact, the owner is at a benefit here as his/her work is getting direct promoted through such discussions.

The content is subject to news and source of information: If copyrighted material is used as a source of reference or for informative purposes, it is safe from infringement offences.

The content is adapted into a different literary form:  If the original content is used as a reference point to create new content forms, then the new content will not be scrutinised for infringement.

The length of the new content: If new content uses only 300-400 words of the original content, then the new content is safe from infringement.

The new content does not hurt the market value of the original content: If the new content is promoted in a manner that it doesn’t interfere with the sales of the original content, then the new content will not be scrutinised for infringement

Indian copyright laws only cover the first three scenarios as fair dealings, while Singapore laws cover all six. Bear in mind that the concept of fair dealings is very vague among copyright laws in all countries; it can tough to win a case should you be caught for infringement. Your best bet is to get permission from the owner of the copyrighted content.

What you can and can’t copyright

Before you approach the Copyright Office to purchase copyright for your content, make sure you understand copyright laws. Here’s a quick look at the material that can and can’t be copyrighted.

Can be copyrighted:

Literary work you have done from scratch; this includes the characters of your book and series if you have written one, excluding the idea or the narrative of your story

Blogs you have written; make sure you own the domain name

Merchandise that is sold to promote your book

Your author Website

Can’t be copyrighted:

Book title and your pen-name

Facts

Common symbols

Short phrases

Questions to ask before you use copyrighted material

Before you take the risk of using copyrighted material, ask yourself some questions. Let’s take for example you are writing a book; here are the type of questions that you must ponder heavily upon.

What does the law say about copyright? The Indian copyright laws can be traced back to the British era. In 1957 the official Copyright Act was formulated. Under the Act, an author can get copyright for his/her work stating first ownership. However in case of contracts, the author’s employer gains first ownership.  Chapter 63 of the Copyright Act, Singapore was passed in 1987 and states that authors will automatically receive copyright if the work they present is in a tangible form.

Do you have explicit permission to use the content? Getting permission is essential as it saves you the trouble of facing repercussions over any issues with the copyrighted content. Try establishing a good rapport with the curator of the original content, as it will serve as a sweetener when you ask for permission.  

Are you using the content for promotional purposes? Since you are writing a novel for commercial and promotional reasons, you are taking a risk by using copyrighted content.

How much of the copyrighted material can you use? If you are using copyrighted content, make sure not to duplicate the entire content blindly. You can argue about fair dealing rights if you use 300-400 words.

In what way are you reproducing the copyrighted material? You are writing a novel, so in most cases, you are reproducing the original content for your benefit and not for public service needs. So, be careful about how the original content is being reproduced.

What is the duration of the copyright? Copyright duration as per Indian Copyright laws state that literary works have a maximum duration of 60 years. Singapore laws give copyright a lifetime of 70 years.

What is the punishment for copyright infringement? In India, the minimum punishment for copyright infringement is imprisonment for six months and a fine of Rs. 50, 000, while the maximum punishment, in case of a repeat of offence, of Rs. 1 Lakh and one-year imprisonment.In Singapore, punishment is $10,000 for each piece of plagiarised material and an imprisonment of five years.  

What happens to authors who plagiarise content? Plagiarism is the ultimate offence, so authors who are convicted of copyright infringement will effectively lose their recognition among the literary world and will have a very tough time getting good deals from publishers.  

What must you do if your work is plagiarised? If you notice your content being used illegally, approach a court that has the jurisdiction and file a civil remedy.

Other legal issues authors should extra-careful about Copyright infringement isn’t the only issue you must be careful with other legal issues that can damage your reputation as an author.

Defamation: Writing false information or mocking a person in your novel can lead to cases of defamation, which is a punishable offence.

Breach of contract: When you meet a traditional publisher, you will be asked to sign a contract that ties you with the publisher. All the work you release will be published exclusively, so if you try to release a book through some other source, you will be subject to breach of contract violations.

Violation of publicity rights: Anybody has the right to promote themselves, but if you try to unlawfully promote some other person through your books and do so in a negative way, you could be in trouble for publicity rights violation.

Trademark infringement:

Like copyright infringement, trademark infringement refers to illegally using trademarks like brand logos, official titles and products.

If you are planning to either purchase copyright or double-check to make sure you are not breaching copyright laws, do get your novel published through Notion Press; a popular self-publishing company that is highly sought-after in India and Singapore.

Source: https://notionpress.com/academy/use-of-copyrighted-material/

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Many of us have a preconceived notion about Pinterest. We think Pinterest is only beneficial to designers, photographers, fashion bloggers, artists and the like. However, Pinterest boards are an amazing platform for writers too. Writers can use creative Pinterest boards not only to promote their articles or books and establish a brand for themselves, but also for the great platform of inspiration that it is. You will find a treasure trove of fascinating pins for your research and ideation on Pinterest. At the same time, you can share your stories and sources of inspiration with fellow writers!

Here is a list of 27 Pinterest Boards that might help you get rid of your writer’s block or  simply serve as a source of inspiration.

Writerly Inspiration This colourful Pinterest board has everything from motivational quotes, infographics, tips and funny images to interesting writing hacks. Go no further for your dose of motivation and enthusiasm on those cruel blue days!

Recovery and Relaxation Mindfulness is essential to write well. This Pinterest board shares tips on relaxing your body and mind, recovering from stress  and enhancing your thinking abilities. These are sure to help you achieve mindfulness on a daily basis.

Getting Help with Your Writing Stuck in the middle of your draft? Looking for ways to enhance that storyline? This board is the answer to all your problems. From issues like crafting a strong character to deciding your next story’s genre, this board will help clear your confusion.

Writer’s Toolbox Love freebies and listicles? Your hunt ends with the Writer’s Toolbox. This board offers a wealth of interesting freebies and tools that will help polish your writing skills.

The Writer’s Block Feeling worn out and under the weather? Your mind refuses to churn out new ideas? The Writer’s Block will stimulate your creativity once again. From title ideas to thesaurus suggestions, this Pinterest board is a first aid box for writer’s block!

Pens, Ink and Notebooks Do you prefer the old-fashioned pen and paper style of writing over new age laptops? If you are, then this board is just for you! From artsy notebooks to crafted pens, you will find them all here.

The Incredible English Language Board English is a funny language, don’t you agree? Hop on to this board for some moments of ease, laughter and fun learning that’s sure to help speed up your writing.

Art Journaling Love scribbling notes? Enjoy creating mood boards or sketches before you start writing? The Art Journaling board is sure to inspire you with its sketchy, artsy feel and colourful doodles.

The Writer’s Sandbox Take out your bucket and shovel as you dig through the sand on this Pinterest board. Get tips on setting realistic goals, planning your writing schedule and building up characters and settings for the novel you were born to craft!

How To Write a Book If you are fairly new to writing, this Pinterest board is a good option to look at before you start. It has tips on everything, from setting up writing plans to refining the first draft to structuring your story plots. It also shares some writers’ confessions which are worth a read, especially for first-time authors.

Writing+Editing You have your first draft but you want to make it better? From enhancing character descriptions to emphasizing emotions in a better way, this Pinterest board will give you expert tips on sharpening your first draft to make it a final masterpiece.

Become a More Productive Writer Struggling with procrastination? We all do at some point in time. This Pinterest board has a collection of images that will inspire you to stop procrastinating and flex those brain muscles to kick-start your writing!

Books to Read The more you read, the better you write! Find a plethora of book recommendations from different genres on this board. You may even be inspired to develop an interesting twist to your own plot!

Great Advice for Writers Great Advice for Writers focuses on the details. It shares writing hacks for almost every minute detail of a story. Find listicles on describing the skin tones of your characters  or expressing moods through your writing among others. The board also lists applications and tools that will help make your writing process smoother.

CoverLovin’ Don’t judge a book by its cover, they said. But you could always look at attractive book covers as inspiration to design your own! CoverLovin’ offers a collection of popular book covers that are a treat to your eyes. You can also take a peek at our Book Cover Design Trends 2017 for some design inspiration.

Home Office The place you write in makes a lot of difference. The Home Office board shares minimalistic yet contemporary ideas on organizing your writing space to make it more appealing and inspiring.

Kansas City Public Library The Kansas City Public Library account has a range of boards for everything related to writing and books. It gives you superb book recommendations as well as writing prompts. In addition, it has a board for Do-It-Yourself book crafts that you can indulge in when taking a break from writing.

The Writing Whisperer Looking for inspiration to effectively promote your content? The Writing Whisperer gives you ideas on  content strategies and branding tips for your books. An interesting fact about this Pinterest board is that it has individual boards on writing for each of the seven continents!

Writing Prompts The defining feature of this board is its simplicity. It provides images in the form of pins which serve as writing prompts. Even if you aren’t into the picture, you can find a way to weave together the three words offered in the photo’s description. This can be a great writing practice and brainstorming session, especially for beginners.

Writing Resources Writing Resources offers answers to popular questions related to writing. It’s a complete guide to writing from beginning to end that will help you with the research phase of writing your book. It will help you add that realistic touch associated with a book that’s crafted with dedication.

Book Riot Books and bars, book accessories, book date tips, book club ideas, book party plans, book crafts and almost everything books! This Pinterest board is all about books, writing and everything related. Being a bookworm just became a whole lot more fun!

Healthy Freelance Living Being a freelance writer is not an easy job. You have to make your own deadlines and ensure you meet them. This Pinterest board is a good stress buster for freelance writers. It also gives you some great tips on how to organize your work and ensure that you don’t procrastinate.

How to Edit With everything from infographics and motivational quotes to informative articles and to-do lists, this vast resource will help you find the tips you need to clean up your copy. It is the perfect source to refer to for a clean and interesting first draft.

J.F. Penn This Pinterest account is a visual treat. Find boards for your character inspirations, setting descriptions, mood descriptions and much more! Whether fantasy, horror or fairy tale settings, you will find it all here. Have a look at these images and spice up your story line with significant details.

She’s Novel This account has a countless number of storyboards to take inspiration from. It offers a multitude of thematic pictures from magic and mystery to princesses and witches that will trigger your imagination and enhance your stories and novels.

A novel is a work of art. It’s a product of creativity, imagination and, above all, patience. Once you are done with your manuscript, visit us at Notion Pressand discover the joy of self-publishing as we help you convert your first draftinto an international bestseller.

Source: https://notionpress.com/academy/creative-pinterest-board-ideas/

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Everyone knows the old saying, “don’t judge a book by its cover”. While the quote is a metaphor that relates to human emotions, it doesn’t work too well in a literal sense. A book, regardless of how well-written it could be, will never be read unless it attracts a reader’s attention. Book cover designs have become a fashionable thing. From simplistic calligraphy to quirky design patterns, book covers are getting the royal treatment with remarkable makeovers. Book cover designs are starting to move away from the monotonous text, colour and artwork approach to something that is more personal to the author. In fact, self-published authors are taking book cover designs seriously, even as a method to distinguish one book from another when they plan to write a book series. Every year, trends across industries tend to evolve or change outright, and the book publishing industry is no different. Here are some cool book cover design trends in 2017.

Elements of a good book cover:

A book cover is not complete without mixing, matching and blending certain elements. You don’t necessarily have to perfect all the elements, but getting a few of them right, especially those that go well with the theme of your book, will work wonders for the promotion and marketing of your book.

Front Cover:

A concise title: Needless to say, the title helps sum up what your book is all about. Unless you’re going the full-text route for your front cover, keep your title within a limit of four words. Standard font options for the title include Helvetica and League Gothic.

An SEO-friendly subtitle: If necessary, add a short subtitle in the front cover. A subtitle is a helpful SEO-friendly tool used to give your book visibility in the immense amount of competition the world of books and the online world, in general, has to offer. Before settling on a subtitle, do some research on the most commonly searched words that fall close to the theme of your book.

A relatable cover design: The actual design of the book – the colours used, the images placed in and the overall look and feel – all need to be carefully considered before you decide on the final blend. Most authors base their designs on the story of their book – whether it’s the central plot, main character or theme.  

Back Cover:

Summary of the plot: Avid readers have a habit of glancing through the back cover for a quick preview of what is to be expected of the book. Make sure your summary is at least one third of the total number of pages in your book, and write it in a suspenseful fashion to keep readers intrigued for more.

Testimonials: Testimonials are becoming a super essential part of a book cover simply due to the fact that it helps in marketing the book. If you’re lucky enough to get some good early reviews before your book goes public, do make it a point to include them on the back cover.  

Author Bio: The inside of the back cover is reserved for a little self-promotion, so try your best to include a good write-up about yourself that can nudge readers to read more of what you have or excite them for more that is to come.

The price of the book: Pricing is another element readers normally glance at within the first ten seconds of picking up your book. Pricing your book can be tricky; you’ll have to be certain that the price you stamp on your book is worth every word that is written while also making sure you’ve covered up on the spends for editing, designing and marketing your book.

A quintessential novel is the perfect amalgamation of the above-mentioned factors. To take things up a notch, you can check out our extensive guide of book cover design tips to make an exceptional cover for your book.

Book covers designs that are making waves in 2017:

All text: Fonts are getting more deeply explored by authors of all genres. The varying styles, sizes and colours that can be used inside the written word itself are extraordinary, and a lot of new age authors are leaning towards designing covers with text overpowering the creative.

Abstract art: For authors who have a fine taste in art, simply picking from the standard art styles is never enough. Authors are beginning to explore more art styles that can be described as anything between quirky and outlandish.

Single subject: If you’ve noticed magazines, you’ll see a standard trend across them all – the focus on a single subject. This subject is relative to the theme of the magazine (a person if it’s lifestyle or car if it’s automobile). Authors are taking a leaf out of the magazine trend by designing their covers to focus on a single subject – be it a plot, device or character.

Old school is back: If your audience base is in their mid-50s, you can attract them towards your novel by creating a retro style book cover.  Retro book covers keep designs simplistic yet elegant, saving you the trouble of overthinking extensive design elements.

A burst of colours: As technology continues to move forward, colours, like numbers, are becoming limitless. If your book is an adventure novel or has a range of characters with colourful expressions, you can elaborate on that by going crazy with multiple shades of colours.

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The book publishing industry has been around for generations, constantly pulling out some of the world’s finest reads. From old-school scriptures to new-age digital ink, the methods of publishing have evolved and so have the many writing tools. Along the way, the book publishing industry has produced some of the wackiest, funniest, coolest and most amazing incidents.

If you’re the sort of writer who enjoys fact-finding as a method of researching for your novel, learning more about the book publishing industry could inspire you to write a great book.

Here are some mind-blowing facts about the book publishing industry.

As of April 2014, self-published books account for 30% of the top 100 bestsellers on Amazon.

Some of the most popular and timeless classic novels were self-published. Authors like Charles Dickens and Mark Twain have established a longstanding reputation, but not without initial struggles.

Self-publishing has existed long before the advent of the internet and digital technology.

Hybrid authors are those who reserve the more personal books for self-publishing, while also promoting their names and major books via traditional publishing. Such authors have noted better and higher sales of the books that have been self-published.

Self-published authors have the advantage of earning revenue right from day one of sales.

Books that are self-published stay in print way longer than traditionally published novels. Traditional publishers limit the lifespan of their books to a maximum of one year before stopping the printing process.

The gap between being a traditionally published author and an indie author will soon be bridged, as many esteemed organisations are beginning to offer self-publishing services that mimic traditional publishing.

It is reported that authors that have established a name under traditional publishing feel loads better when relieved from the gruelling demands of the publishing house. Self-publishing makes them feel like free birds.

The New York Times reports that 81% of Americans know that they have a book in them, but haven’t got around to writing it.

The first book to ever be published in British America was the Bay Psalm Book.  This was back in 1640, 136 years before the United States became independent and 267 years before Canada came into existence.

Like a typical piece of an antique on auction, one of 11 remaining Bay Psalm Books sold for a record $14 million.

Paper was thought to have been first manufactured in China-way back during 206 BC- 220 AD.

Nearly 60% of English-language books are published and distributed by five of the biggest traditional publishing houses.  

Bargain books/discounted books go through a recycling process and have recently formed a trend of their own among avid readers.

Popular book formats are the traditional rectangular shape, but if you think out of the box, you can get your book published in different shapes and sizes.

The Guinness Book of Records states that The Bible is the most sold book ever; over 5 billion copies were distributed between 1815 and 1975.

The Little Prince is the world’s largest book, standing at 6.1 feet in height and 10.1 feet in width when opened.

The oldest publishing house in the Cambridge University Press World. It was founded in 1534 and proudly awaits its 500th anniversary.

The book publishing industry is worth $103 billion globally, yet for some odd reason, has experienced 0% annual growth in the past five years.  

814,000 people are employed in the global book publishing industry, of which 69,709 are independent publishers.

The United States alone publishes 200,000 books a year.

The sad truth is that 95% of books that are submitted to publishers get rejected.

Mark Dawson, a successful self-publisher on Kindle, earns a whopping $450,000 annually.

10,000 publishing companies get incorporated year-round.

Despite making around 75% of its profit from retail sales, mega book retailers Borders and Barnes & Noble have closed a huge chunk of their outlets.

The USA has the largest market of online magazines.

LinkedIn has reported that over 50% of readers use mobile phones as a reading medium.

Readers continue to spend an average of 54.3 minutes per issue of a magazine, compared to 53.1 minutes with print, despite digital ink making a strong presence.

India’s print book market is rumoured to be worth around Rs. 26,060 crores.

India has the sixth-largest overall book market and second-largest market for English books.

The adult literacy level in India is now at 74 percent and could hit 90% by 2020.

Youth and children constitute the strongest reader base in India.

70 percent of the book market in India comprises of educational books.

As per the Delivery of Books Act of 1954, the National Library in Kolkata is supposed to receive one copy of every book published in the country.

Over 19,000 publishers have received ISBNs from the Raja Rammohun Roy National Agency.

The National Translation Mission discovered that there was some confusion between the demand and availability of translated books in India.

Hindi books sell most among trade books in India. The lion’s share is at 35% compared to the overall selling of 55%.

Despite accounting for only 1 percent of the total retail market in India, over 21,000 retailers sell books really well.

Penguin Books India introduced trade publishing in the country in 1985.

Cartoonist Shankar established the Children’s Book Trust in 1957 to produce affordable children’s books. This led to many other children’s book publishers like Eklavya, Tara, and Tulika to carry the trend forward, doing so in multiple languages as well.

In the year 2000, restrictions on foreign direct investment in book publishing were lifted.

At some instances, the procurement of books for schools and Government libraries could involve corruption. Private publishers base a majority of their business model in publishing books for schools and libraries to reduce corruption.

Do you want to make history and one day be a part of the many mind-blowing facts? Learn how to write a novel and start your career as an author with Notion Press; a reputed self-publishing agency that has helped numerous authors create international bestselling novels.

https://notionpress.com/academy/facts-book-publishing-industry/

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This is it! It’s the most exciting day in your life and career as an author. After months, even years of writing the manuscript, it now rests in the palm of your hand. What do you do next? Launch it, of course! Now that you have solid evidence of your writing efforts, it’s time to let the avid readers out there know that there is something more to add to their library. One of the best marketing techniques that you can use is to host a book launch event. So how do you go about doing this which also helps market your book? Let’s find out.

What is a book launch?

Book launches refer to any form of activity that is created to promote the release of a book. It’s a nifty marketing technique that is mainly done to create awareness for a book and help initiate sales of the book.

Various ways to launch a book

Today’s generation of authors have access to hundreds of marketing channels thanks to the age of the internet and social media. The challenge lies in how well an author can utilise all the methods at his/her disposal. The secret to effective book marketing is consistency and a well thought out and executed strategy. Here are a couple of interesting ways to launch your book.

Offline methods:

Go on a book tour: Touring is common practice among most professionals in the arts and crafts field. Writing is an art form that is universally appreciated, so if you’ve got the right resources, pack your bags and head out for a world tour. Touring ensures worldwide exposure for your novel as well as yourself, plus a chance to release your novel in multiple languages should the experience pay off.

Organise a reading session: Book reading sessions are a great way to give early access to potential buyers of your novel.  All you have to do is approach potential venues like bookstores, libraries, places of worship, parks and schools. Reading sessions invite the chance of a very personal moment between author and reader; you may even build a loyal fan base. You can also host reading sessions at various book clubs across India.

Join a writer’s club: Needless to say, writer’s clubs are the best place to find other aspiring authors who have either released or about to release their first book. If you fall into either category, joining a writer’s club will help you generate more interesting writing, editing designing and marketing ideas- the complete package. Café spots are known to be great places for writers to meet up.

Design and promote merchandise relating to your book:  Merchandising, especially in an excessive manner in normally done after a book gets highly rated and popular. However, you still opt for merchandising in a smaller scale- printing your character or certain dialogues of your book on T-Shirts, mugs and wallpapers.

Enhance your PR with radio broadcasts, TV talk-shows, press events and workshops: Classic offline media like TVs, newspapers and the radio still hold strong value in today’s internet savvy world. Take advantage of these mediums by making an appearance. Attending workshops as a guest host will give you a chance to connect with a niche audience.

Online methods:

Create a website: Creating an author website should be the first thing you do when you plan to build an online presence for your book launch. The website will serve as the base for all other types of online promotions plus it adds credibility to your image as an author.

Go crazy with blogging/vlogging: One of the quickest ways to make your presence felt online is to update content in the form of text and video regularly. Set up a blog on WordPress and a channel on YouTube and start sharing informative and entertaining content that hints the release of your book. The more you share, the better exposure and credibility you will build up.

Share on your social media pages: The easiest way to share all sorts of information today is through social media. Each platform has something unique to offer, so pick the one that fits your novel’s theme and start promoting your book. As you build more steam and increase your follower base, you can start expanding your marketing strategies across other social media platforms. Also, make sure to avoid common social media marketing blunders.

Contact influencers: Influencers are people who have established a strong follower base due to their expertise in a certain subject. There are lots of influencers who share book reviews on their pages; contact as many as you can and request them to review and promote your book as well.

Sign up with Amazon and Ingram: Even after your book is launched, it is highly recommended to convert your book into an eBook. EBooks are cheaper to make and easier to promote and the best platforms to distribute your eBook are Ingram and Amazon. If your eBook gains traction on these sites, you’ll have more confidence in promoting the physical copies.

Planning a book launch

Let’s assume that you’ve managed to build up quite a lot of attention by marketing the launch of your book online as well as offline. Do you stop there? Obviously not! The ultimate way to boost your credibility as an author and be recognised among the best authors on the planet is to host a book launch party. Here’s how to plan a successful book launch.

Pre-launch

Gather an email list: E-mails are the best way to send out reminders to your follower base about an upcoming book launch party. If your book launch marketing strategies both offline and online were done well, you should have gathered a good number of emails.

Choose a good venue, day and time: Search and research for possible venues for your book launch. You can contact event management companies for a better understanding. It all boils down to how much you are willing to spend and how much space is needed. The best day and time to choose would be mid-week after 7 pm or Sunday afternoons.

During the launch

Take photos and live feeds: You are the host as well as the celebrity at the book launch party, so it is important to be camera ready! You must hire professional photographers and videographers to capture every moment during the launch. Followers who could not make it to your event will still be treated to a live show of it, giving you traction on social media.

Entertain the crowd: Your guests are here to have a good time, so don’t bore them with a long session of a book read. Instead, opt for more entertaining ways to talk about your book like the story of how it all began, slide-shares of your days while writing the book or even a live acting performance of a chapter in your book. Nearing the end of the party, make sure to sign free giveaways of your book for each guest personally.

Post-launch

Following up is an essential element after the completion of any event. The best way to follow up is to post photos of the event on your website, blog and social media pages. You must also make it a point to thank every attendee through emails personally.

Benefits of book launch marketing

Remember, a book launch is not meant for selling your book; it is means of generating publicity and interest among readers and critics about a newly released book and a potentially great author. Here are a few benefits of book launch marketing.

Creates an author brand: The world’s most successful authors think beyond simply writing and releasing books year by year; they think about creating an author brand and establishing themselves as the best in their genre of writing. Hosting a successful book launch takes you a step closer to creating an author brand. Now that people are aware of your existence, they will expect more from you, which gives you a reason to exceed those expectations.

Boosts book sales: People who have attended your book launch party are definitely going to talk about it. This will directly help in boosting the sales of your book.

Notifies high profile publishers: Independent author who has successfully hosted a book launch are closer to getting tie-ups with major traditional publishing houses. This can prove to be a boon as it will enhance your rating and credibility as an author as well as give you more than enough resources to host bigger book launches for future titles.

If you’re planning a book launch and need a little help in doing so, contact Notion Press. Our Book Marketing packages will pave you the best road on your journey to becoming an international bestselling author.

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As we always say, writing a novel is an art. Whether if is their first or nth, no one can just finish writing a book without proper planning. From creating a unique plot-line to penning a mind-boggling climax, there are many aspects involved in writing a novel. You can simplify the book publishing process by writing your book in the most flawless manner possible. Ever helpful we have compiled a guide that will help you through the various stages of how to writing a novel. Here is a definitive guide to writing a novel before you go to an international self publishing company.

Story:

When you decide to write a novel, you obviously have a story in mind. A two-liner is enough to create a bestseller, provided you know how to build an interesting piece from this simple plot-line. Start developing your two-line story to a four-liner by adding more relevant context.

For example, if your two-line story is “Seven people take a tour to Jim Corbett. One after another, they start disappearing.”

Now, build the context. “Seven people take a tour to Jim Corbett. Each of them hides something from the rest. One after another, they start to die. They start to suspect each other.”

Go on, and on until a point, where you are clear on how the story is going to unfold. You build your foundation and your structure this way.

Structure and Genre:

You have created the heart of your story and expanded it. Now it’s time to flesh it out. Lay the framework and see how you’re going to move to from point A to point B.

So these seven people have gone to Jim Corbett. How did they get there? How do they know each other? Who dies first? Is it one by one? How much focus is there going to be on the deaths? Is the more of a story on bonding or a good thriller?

This is where knowing the genre of your book comes in handy. Now this is never going to be set in stone. You could start with a drama and launch into a thriller depending on where imagination takes you. But knowing the genre you’re aiming for helps guide you. It gives you something to aim for and stick to if you veer too far off track.

Your story could be about a murder, but you can still make it a funny novel. On the other hand, you can also write a horror movie with a romantic backdrop.

Also, do not choose a style just because it seems fancy or intriguing. One of the biggest mistakes many writers make is choosing the wrong genre. If you have written short stories in the past, you might, by now, know which genre you are good at. Pick a genre that you’re comfortable with, especially if it’s your first novel.

Some authors have even won the Booker Prize for their debut novels. While they did write a genuinely intriguing and exciting story, most of them wrote in the genre they are good at.

Characterization:

This is the most crucial but often ignored aspect of novel writing. Readers prefer to read novels that make them feel a connection with the story. Even if you are writing fiction or fantasy, people would love it if they could relate to your characters.

That being said, the characters shouldn’t feel confusing. Therefore, before even writing your first chapter, create a character map. Jot down the name and the primary characteristics of each and every important character in your novel. Note everything from their eye colour to their hobbies, how they act in a particular situation to their pet peeves. This way, you will be clear about each and every character. This list will be helpful in defining each and every character in your novel.

The point of view:

Once you have decided on the characterization, story, and genre, you must decide how the story is going to be written. This is different from structure as it is through whose eyes the reader will explore the book’s world. It controls how your structure is shaped.

There are six basic types of point of view:

First person: This is when the story is written from the point of view of one of the protagonists of the story.

First person peripheral: This is when the narrator of the story is a supporting character in the novel and not one the protagonists. This way, the narration still uses “I” but some scenes in the story will happen to the protagonist and the narrator will not have access to those events.

Second person: The story will be told from the perspective of you. This is mostly used in non-fiction and self-help books.

Third person limited:The story is told from a third-person’s point of view, but the narrator’s knowledge of events is limited to that of one of the characters. In simple terms, the narrator will tell the readers only what one of the characters knows. This kind of point of view works well for thriller novels.

Third person multiple: The story is told in a third-person point of view, but the narrator moves from one character to another. In short, the narrator tells us from the point of view of more than one character.

Third person omniscient: The narrator knows and shares everything. It’s more like voice-overs in movies. The narrator says plenty of things about the characters that the character themselves won’t know. This kind of point of view works well with romantic novels.

Study, understand, and choose your point of view before starting your novel. Don’t wait till editing to follow a proper point of view. A good novel is something that has clear narration. A recent trend is to write in first person multiple, i.e. writing the story in a first person point of view, but the narration shifts from one protagonist to another.

Tense

Before writing the novel, another thing that you must finalize on is the tense in which the story is written. Most stories are written in either past or present tense. Very rarely is future tense used. No matter which tense you choose, it’s important to maintain the consistency in the tense used. Most editors hate tense change errors.

Novel length

Have a rough word-count that you want to hit when you finish the novel. Most novels are somewhere around 70,000 words. If your story demands it, you can consider stretching it by another 30,000-35,000 words. Similarly, there are excellent novels that are short and crisp at maybe, 50,000 words. Depending on your genre and writing style, have an upper and lower limit set.

Writing the first chapter

After all the thinking, pondering over, re-thinking, and deciding, there comes the time where you have to write your first chapter. Remember that the first chapter is the one that your editor, publisher, or even a potential reader will read before deciding to pick the book.

The good old proverb, “a first impression is the best impression,works perfectly well in this context. Start with a bang! However, do not be fake. While introducing characters in the first chapter is not a bad idea, it is better if you start by setting the mood of the story.

Some of the tips for writing a great first chapter are:

Keep it short and simple, somewhere between 300-500 words.

Mention all the important things in time period, location, season, etc.

Reveal the core of your book – it can be a character, an event, or dialogue that to start your first chapter with that.

Write, re-write, and re-re-write until you are happy.

Dialogues:

Your book should neither look like the script of a stage play with too many dialogues nor like a monologue or press release without much dialogue.

Try to have a balance. Understand which scenes feel good when conveyed as dialogue and which will feel good as narration.

Read our blog on How to write scintillating dialogues? to know more.

Telling vs. Showing:

More than once you would have come across people talking about telling vs. showing. If you are wondering what its all about, read on.

A common mistake that many debut writers make is to tell the reader the events of a story or how a character is feeling rather than showing it.

In report writing, article writing, and journalism, telling a story works. However, when it comes to writing a book, especially if it is fiction, creating the illusion of being there in the story is what people prefer. Seeing events happen is what many readers want from a book.

For example, when we read the Harry Potter series, we felt like we were right next to the boy wizard. Thats what works in fiction writing.

Words to cut from your novel:

Okay, so you are finally at a great writing pace. At this juncture, you must pay attention to the words you write. There are a few things that you must avoid:

Repetitive adjectives that we are bound to use common adjectives like beautiful, amazing, etc. very commonly. Try to replace those common terms with relevant synonyms.

Time-based adjectives –  Time-based adjectives are bound to make your prose weak. Avoiding them is wise.

Verbs that end with -ing –> Similar to time-based adverbs,-ing verbs also seem to weaken your prose.

Use tools like Grammarly, Ginger, Copyscape, etc. to check the grammar, sentence flow, and authenticity of your work.

Here is a list of Top Writing Tools for Authors.

Punctuation and Grammar:

Last but not the least, punctuation and grammar is quite important in any form of writing. While your editors will rectify grammar issues, you must make sure that your grammar and punctuation is good to the extent that both you and the editor are on the same page when it comes to knowing the meaning of a sentence.

If your work has none or minimal grammar errors, it gives the editor more time to re-read your book and improve the plot further.

We hope you find this guide useful. What are some of the other things that you follow while writing a novel? Share it with us in the comments section below.

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One of the most common questions that writers ask bestselling authors or aspiring authors ask publishers is, “How to make my book a bestseller?” Let’s accept it – who doesn’t want to market and sell their books to a huge audience? Apart from getting the obvious sales profit, having a bestseller to your credit has a lot of other privileges as well, like building reputation, sharing your story with the world, contributing to literature, having your voice heard, etc.

We commonly hear the best seller tag almost everywhere – from literature festivals to TEDx and from book launches to book reading sessions. However, are all these authentic? This is something that every writer thinks about time and again. Worry not! Here are some tips that will help make your novel an international bestseller by righteous means.

You cannot obviously make a not-so-well-written book a best seller. Therefore, if you are aspiring to be an international bestseller, then you need to lay the foundation strong.

Tips to follow while writing the novel

Choose the right theme:

One of the most important features that would make your novel stand out from the rest is its theme. Your readers recommend your books to others if they can relate to it and find that the book conveys some message that others need to read. Therefore, invest time and energy in figuring out the right theme for your novel.

Write something that you believe in:

Do not write a book that you think will appeal to the crowd. Instead, write what you would want to read. As Toni Morrison rightly said, “If there’s a book that you want to read, but it hasn’t been written yet, then you must write it.” Instead of writing a monotonous book that has the characteristics of a bestseller, write a story that matters to you and make it a bestseller.

Write for book readers and book bloggers:

You are not writing your book for celebrities or publishers. You are writing your novel for the ardent book readers. Know your target audience and write for them. If you are writing a romance novel, your book must be able to satisfy the literary thirst of romantic novel lovers and book bloggers.

Seriously, think of the time you picked a book because it was raved about on Page 3 or because some celebrity read it during her vacation? The chances of picking book like that are pretty low. Worldwide sales happen mostly through great Goodreads & Amazon reviews, word-of-mouth marketing, and book critics’ recommendations. Therefore, pay attention to the basics first, and write a novel that connects to common people.

Write in a neutral tone:

If you want your book to be recognised globally, you need to write in a way that connects to all readers. That doesn’t mean that your story should be based only in a foreign country or talk just about a global culture. You can very well write a story that connects to your own city and culture, but the narration and dialogues should be understandable by audiences across the globe. Remember the Booker Prize Winner – The God of Small Things? That’s the kind of narration and tone we are talking about.

Write an appealing book blurb:

What makes a potential reader pick your book and read it? The Book Blurb! Yes, people may or may not judge a book by its cover, but they will definitely judge it by the book blurb. The more creative, intriguing, and amazing your book blurb is the more probable an increase in sales would be. Irrespective of who is writing your blurb, it must be crisp, captivating, and enticing to the audience.

Get an iconic book cover designed:

As much as we say “Don’t judge a book by its cover,” most people are guilty of just that. You might think that it is just a cover – however, a book cover can convey the whole story in a minimalistic approach. These days, more and more authors are hiring extremely talented designers and illustrators to create book covers for their novels. You don’t have to shell out a lot of money for this – all you need is a creative designer who can bring your idea to life in the form of an iconic book cover.

Tips to follow while submitting your novel

Write, Edit, Re-Write, Re-Edit:

No matter whether you are hiring your editor or leaving that responsibility to your publishing house, you must be in a cordial and consistent relationship with your editor. Talk to your editor and be involved in the editing process. From editing to formatting, there are lots of efforts that go into converting your first draft to a novel – Pay enough attention during this step.

Choose the right publisher:

Your publisher plays a major role in making your novel a bestseller. The brand credibility of your publisher, irrespective of whether you are opting for a traditional publishing house or a self-publishing company, matters a lot when it comes to your book’s credibility. Therefore, choose book publishers that would be good for your book’s sales.

Publish translations as well.

If you are writing your book in a language other than English, it is advisable to publish the English translation as well. Similarly, if you want to have a pan-India reach, you can publish your novel in regional languages. Many famous authors like Chetan Bhagat, Preeti Shenoy, etc. have published regional translations of their English language novels. What’s more, you can also translate your work to foreign languages.

Selling books internationally:

Are you wondering how to publish your books internationally? Worry not! When you publish your books via publishers like Notion Press, you can be assured that your book will be available in over 30,000 stores and libraries across 150+ countries. With Ingram (offline) and International Online Distribution process, you can be assured that your books are available to  a global audience easily.

Tips to follow while marketing your book

Create a Goodreads author page and book profile

Goodreads is a global platform to connect book lovers. If you want your books to sell well globally, you must make it visible to the global audience. Once you have created a Goodreads profile, ask your friends and book readers to leave a review on the site and recommend it to other Goodreads users.

Have an author website

Having an author website is one of the most useful ways to market your book universally. The Internet gives us an ability to connect with people from every corner of this world. With a strong online presence, one can easily market his/her book worldwide.

Read our blog on “Why and How to Build an Author’s Website?” to know more.

Use the power of social media

Social media platforms, like Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, etc. are places people spend most of their online time, these days. If you want to make an impression on the global audience, use these platforms; they will help you in creating awareness and publicity. You can create book trailers, draw book doodles, share book quotes, etc. online. Alternatively, you can also have twitter chats with your followers and host online book reading sessions. This will gain you a lot of exposure.

You can read our blog on “Social Media Marketing – How to use it to your advantage”to gain more insights.

Send e-mailers to your subscribers

Once you have your author website, prompt your visitors to subscribe to your website. This will entitle you to send them e-mailers about your book. From time to time, send emails about your books, the sales, and the reviews. This will help users to know a lot about your new book and pick it up.

Run advertising on the Internet

While local advertising and book launches only gather the local audience, to make your books internationally visible, you can run advertisements on Google, Facebook, Twitter, etc. These techniques are quite straightforward. You can either do it by yourself or collaborate with a digital marketing agency.

Collaborate with international book bloggers and bookstagrammers

Get book bloggers to review your book online. This technique is the latest marketing trend in the field of literature. There are a lot of influencers, who review your book and share their thoughts on their blog, social media profiles, etc. You can collaborate with multicultural influencers across the globe, including India, to make your book reach a wide range of audience.

What are you waiting for? Go ahead, write and publish your international bestseller now.

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Writing is an art. A writer is similar to a painter who sits with an easel, a canvas, and a paintbrush in hand, trying to put his ideas on paper. Writing a book involves tons of research, but in fiction, that is not the only pre-requisite to produce a bestselling novel. Here, we list down the ten commandments of fiction writing, which when adhered to will help you produce the best work:

1.Write everyday

This might seem like a no-brainer, but it is surprising how many writers think it is sufficient to pen down their thoughts when inspiration strikes. Talent is not the only criteria that will define your success as a writer – a writer needs to be persevering as well. Perseverance is the difference between a completed manuscript and a half-written one. Set a schedule and stick to it. Don’t procrastinate. Make sure to take out two-hour blocks of time from your day and claim it for writing. No matter how busy you are, ensure you stick to your target and complete your manuscript within the stipulated time.

2. Avoid a predictable story line

Sometimes, when we write a book, we fall into the mindset of creating a predictable story line, so that every reader can associate with it. But where is the joy in achieving something predictable and easy? Rack your brains and develop your ideas in a unique fashion. Put your protagonist through a lot of trouble, solve those issues and develop their character as the pages turn. All romantic stories don’t need to have the same tragic or happily ever after endings – there are unchartered waters in every genre. Utilize that to your advantage and keep the reader glued to your book. Let them be surprised with how your story develops and ends.

3. Make sure you have an outline before you start writing

There are very few writers who can write without an outline and can go with the flow of the moment. Most writers require structure and will need to plan their plot carefully before they start writing. An outline is essentially a draft – it is the first copy where you put down your important thoughts and the phrases you definitely want in your book. Always write a draft and keep revising it till you reach a point where you’re happy with the storyline.

4. Know your characters as well as you know yourself

Your characters are the most important aspect of your story. They can make or break your book and linger in your reader’s minds long after they finish reading it. An antagonist is as important as a protagonist and it is necessary to portray them in the right light. Always remember to develop them as the plot progresses and note down the intricacies of their personalities.

5. Read a lot of books in your genre

Reading and writing are mutually inclusive events and one cannot exist without the other. To write better, read. To develop your plot, read. When one starts to work on their novel, they are bound to get stuck at some point of time or another. To combat writer’s block, read. The best way to be a fantastic writer is to be a voracious reader. Try to read more books in your genre, so that it would give you an idea of how to unfold your story. But be careful to unintentionally not plagiarize another author’s work, as that is a possibility when one keeps reading books from the same genre.

6. Try to indulge all five senses of the reader in your book

A book needs to indulge all five senses of a reader – sight, smell, touch, taste and sound. If these aspects of the story are missing, then the book might feel flat. Nobody experiences the world through just one sense, hence try to captivate your reader by taking into account all senses when weaving your story.

7. Tie up loose ends

Never leave a story hanging. Sometimes, writers leave the storyline hanging, so that readers can imagine the ending. But not everybody enjoys that; this is not real life for loose ends to remain untied. Always try to end your character’s journey somewhere, so that the reader is not left second guessing your work. This will also leave the reader wanting to read more of your other books, if you provide an interesting conclusion to your story.

8. Make sure you understand your target audience and do not keep jumping genres

A book written without a target audience in mind is not going to sell, as it will not be marketed to the right set of people. A writer can start a story as a romance and add a thrilling element to it, but they cannot keep jumping genres to the extent that it is incomprehensible which genre the book falls under. A children’s book needs to be promoted as just that – it cannot have certain kinds of elements to its story, just like a murder mystery cannot be incorporated with children’s books characters.

9. Trust your editors

An editor is the best resource a writer has. They can suggest the right changes that need to be made on your manuscript to bring out its best. An editor will not rewrite your story or change your plot – they will only help identify the plot-holes and refine your character sketches. It can be frustrating when they ask you to make changes and rewrite certain portions of your book, but remember that they have your best interests at heart. They will have more knowledge of the market and will help your book appeal to your target audience.

10. Develop thick skin

As a writer, you are bound to face rejection at one point or another. Rejection hurts. No matter how many books you have published, one or more of your manuscripts will inevitably be rejected. If your manuscript gets rejected, try to evaluate the reason why and work on it. You can also start pursuing other projects, which may be the key to your success. Accept criticism gracefully, irrespective of whether it is constructive or not. The only way to survive in this industry is to develop a rhino skin!

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What is the most important process that needs to be done before one publishes a book? Is it finalizing the manuscript, designing the book cover or planning marketing strategies? Actually speaking, the most important process is editing a book, and at the same time, learning how to work with an editor in a cordial manner. Below are the Seven Rules of Working with an Editor which you should abide by if being a bestselling author is your goal! An editor is a person who breathes life into your ideas and enhances your work by correcting the errors in your manuscript. There are many authors who believe that an editor isn’t indispensable and that a manuscript can be handed into a publishing house without having an editor oversee your work. That is never the case and is far from the truth. As an author, there is nobody whose comments you should consider more seriously than an editor’s. Finding an editor to work alongside you on your book can be a herculean task. If you are a first-time author, you may be unsettled by the number of changes your editor makes on the manuscript. It may help to remember that the editor is working for you and not against you, to make your book a success. Maintaining a healthy professional relationship with your editor is absolutely crucial. Hence, here are seven rules to follow to achieve this:

1.Remember that an editor is your greatest asset

It is understandable to get unnerved when you see red markings made by your editor on the manuscript. Whether you are a novice or a bestselling author, nobody enjoys being criticized, no matter how constructive it might be. Once you realize that the changes being made will enhance your novel and help you convey your ideas better to the readers, you will recognize the value of your editor’s inputs. An editor is not emotionally involved in your work and hence, they will have an objective view of your work. Take into consideration the changes your editor suggests, as their perspective might match with the reader’s as well.

2. Pick your battles wisely

There will definitely be moments when you disagree with your editor regarding the changes they’re suggesting. If the change is a spelling error, missing punctuations or a grammatical mistake, let them make these corrections, as they would be better aware of the intricacies of the language. In case the editor replaces a word or rewrites a sentence and you aren’t fond of it, ask them for their reasoning behind the change. It might open new doors for you – you might learn something new or you might be able to explain to the editor your rationale behind the original sentence.

3. Communicate with your editor

Always remember that your editor and you are on the same team. You might be adamant to change certain things in your book and that is alright, as long as it is logical and grammatically sound. Let them know which parts you are unwilling to change, so as to avoid friction at any point in time. You must tell them who your target audience is, as the manuscript might need to be edited differently to appeal to different sets of people. As an author, the definition of success might be blurry. Talk to your editor about what you envision to be a success so that your book will help you achieve the goals you have set for yourself.

4. Meet your deadlines

An editor will ask you to review the comments on your manuscript and get back to them within a stipulated time. Ensure that you meet the deadline you both agree on so that they can set aside time to review your work and give you valuable feedback. If you need an extension or will be unable to meet a deadline for whatever reason, always communicate it to your editor at the earliest. Provide them with a new deadline that you can actually meet, so as to maintain an amicable relationship.

5. Take advantage of your editor

Your editor might have edited a hundred books in their career or maybe just a single book, but try to choose the right person to prepare your book for publishing. Take their skill set into account to ensure they help you produce the best version of your book. Your editor is the best resource in your writing career and will help you learn a plethora of things related to the ever-evolving language.

6. Ask for another editor if you’re not satisfied

In self-publication, you are often assigned an editor by the publication house. In some instances, you might not click with them or you both might have clashing points of view. You can try to resolve the differences, but if you’re dissatisfied or unhappy with the services rendered, you can request the publication house to assign you another editor. You can also ask another editor to take a look at your work after the first round of editing is done for a second opinion.

7. Thank your editor!

A writer does not realise how their work is largely improved by an editor’s time and efforts. We think of editors as a barrier we need to overcome and a hurdle we need to cross when in reality, they show you how a reader would react to your story. They are an essential test run you need to take before you launch the book into the world. Editing is a difficult job and an editor does not get enough credit. They do not get their name published alongside yours, although they have put in almost as much effort as you have. So, please include their name in your acknowledgments and express gratitude for their work. They will appreciate it more than you can imagine!

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Writing a novel by itself can be a formidable task. From an extensive research to characterization, it is a long process requiring immense planning and thinking. So if you are planning to write a book series, as you can imagine, it is going to take more planning and thinking than ever. It is said that JK Rowling had her entire concept and story for all of her books in the Harry Potter series even before she started. However, there are many authors who published their first novel, and then they developed the rest of the books in the series on the go. No matter which category you fall into, here are some tips on how to write a book series:

Choose the right story concept

The first thing you need to ask yourself is whether your story can be stretched into multiple books. If your story cannot be stretched, don’t stretch it. One of the most important things about writing a series is identifying the right genre and themes that work well. For example, fantasy, adventure, and mythology work the best, when it comes to a series. Most of the best-selling series have all been from these genres. Romance, on the other hand doesn’t work that well. Therefore, most of the contemporary romance writers keep their novels short and crisp because when stretched, this specific genre may not be that interesting to your audience.

Therefore, before you start writing make sure you have enough story and a great theme that you can make into multiple books because writing a series for the sake of it can be totally disastrous.

Decide on the plot structure

Whether you are going to write a trilogy or 20 sequels in the series, the primary objective is to decide on a plot structure and a plot outline. This way, you can define the topics covered and the themes you will explore in each volume of the series.

Also, as a first-time book series writer, it is always best to restrict your book series into a trilogy; it’s neither too much nor too little. Be it the Shiva trilogy by Amish Tripati, the Divergent by Veronica Roth, or The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins, trilogies always work great, especially, if your genre is mythology or fantasy.

Plan the end ahead

Not planning the end of a particular series ahead of time can be a huge mistake.  Not stopping where it should can be one of the reasons why a series may not turn out great.  Knowing where you are going to stop will help you construct the story well and make sure you are not stuck midway.

This does not necessarily mean that you must have every scene planned ahead. Having a rough draft of how things will move in the story might be of great help. While readers love suspenses, as it makes them curious, make sure that the suspenses are not forced into your story. Any suspense, major twists, and important cruxes should be well-planned ahead.

Your characters are your elixir

One of the major flaws that you could make in your novel is poor characterization. Especially, if you are planning to write a book series, your characters must be strong, unique, poignant, and well-defined. What made Harry Potter a huge success?  Apart from the story line and the fantasy elements, Harry Potter series had strong characters. Be it someone as important as Hermione Granger or someone who appeared in only one book like Dolores Umbridge, the characters were uniquely crafted.

One of the things readers love about reading is how well they could relate to the characters. If you make your characters as unique as possible, then you have high chances of intriguing your readers. Also, make your characters consistent across books. Even if you are planning to turn a positive character negative or a negative character positive, do it seamlessly. The readers should find it realistic and not forced.

Create loose ends

Yes, when we say create loose ends, we literally mean it. One of the reasons a reader chooses to read your books sequel is due to sheer curiosity. To build that curiosity, you need to create some valid loose ends. Things like flashback, prophecies, open ending, etc., work well. However, just like anything else, do not over do it.

Also, do not leave all the loose ends as such until the very end. Try to tie the loose ends as and when possible: be it your second book in the series or the penultimate one.

If you are planning to write a book series, here are some popular book series that you can read to have a fair idea about the art of writing a book series:

Harry Potter

Perhaps the most popular of book series ever written, Harry Potter is a series of fantasy novels written by JK Rowling. The story revolves around a young wizard named Harry Potter and his friends Hermione Granger and Ron Weasley, who are students of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. The main story is about how Harry and his friends fight against Lord Voldemort, a dark wizard who intends to be immortal.

The series set numerous records and sold more than 450 million copies, making it the most sold series in history. Additionally, it was also translated in 73 languages and also set the record for the fastest-selling book series ever. The series was also made into movies, which were incredibly popular as well.

List of books in the series:

Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone (1997)

Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets(1998)

Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban (1999)

Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire (2000)

Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix (2003)

Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince (2005)

Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows (2007)

Harry Potter and the Cursed Child (2016)

The Chronicles of Narnia

Written by C S Lewis, the chronicles of Narnia is a fantasy series of seven books. It is known as the classic of children’s literature and is the author’s best work. Set in the fictional town of Narnia, a fantasy land of magic and mystical beasts and animals, the series revolves around the adventures of the children of the land trying to uncover the history of Narnia. The book has sold over 100 million copies and has been translated to 47 languages.  The series has also been adapted several times for radio, TV and movies.

List of books in the series:

The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe (1950)

Prince Caspian (1951)

The Voyage of the Dawn Treader (1952)

The Silver Chair (1953)

The Horse and His Boy (1954)

The Magician’s Nephew (1955)

The Last Battle (1956)

The Hunger Games

A series of adventure novels written by Suzanne Collins, it consists of a series of three books, set in the fictional town of Panem, a country consisting of the wealthy Capitol and 12 districts. The trilogy focuses on the lead character Katniss Everdeen and Peeta Mellark. Every year in Panem, children from the districts are selected to participate in a death match called The Hunger Games. The story explores how the main characters get through the death race and rebel against the Capitol.

The books were all best sellers and have sold 65 million copies in the US alone. It has also been sold in 56 countries and translated in 51 languages till date.

List of books in the series:

The Hunger Games (2008)

Catching Fire (2009)

Mockingjay (2010)

Percy Jackson and the Olympians

A pentalogy of adventure and mythological fiction, Percy Jackson series is written by Rick Riordan. What started off as narrating Green mythological stories to his son is now a book series where Percy Jackson travels around the US to recover Zeus’s lightning-bolt.

The series has sold over 45 million copies in 35 countries and has been on The New York Times Bestseller list for 223 weeks.

List of books in the series:

The Lightning Thief (2005)

The Sea of Monsters (2006)

The Titan’s Curse (2007)

The Battle of the Labyrinth (2008)

The Last Olympian (2009)

The Lord of the Rings

The Lord of the Rings is an epic fantasy series written by J R R Tolkien. It began as a sequel to his previous novel Hobit at the beginning but became a standalone series of its own. It is one of the most critically acclaimed and popular novel ever written. The story revolves around the main antagonist, the Dark Lord Sauron who created the one ring that can rule the other ring of power.

The book has reference to pop culture and has inspired and continuous to inspire may art work, books and other literary work. It has sold over 150 million copies and has been reprinted plenty of times and translated into 38 languages.

Books in the series:

The Fellowship of the Ring

The Two Towers

The Return of the King

The Maze Runner

A science fiction for the Young Adult, the series is written by James Dashner. Calling themselves Gladers, a group of teenagers transport themselves to a remote outpost. They land themselves in trouble after discovering a diabolical plot from an extremely dangerous and powerful organization named WCKD. The series has been received well and has also been made into a movie.

Books in the series:

The Maze Runner (2009)

The Scorch Trials (2010)

The Death Cure (2011)

The Kill Order (2012)

The Fever Code (2016)

The Shiva Trilogy

Written by Indian author Amish Tripathi, the Shiva Trilogy is considered as one of India’s most successful series. The book sold more than 40,000 copies and have all been best sellers. The Shiva Trilogy books have been translated into Hindi, Marathi, Gujarati, Telugu, Tamil, Assamese, Bengali, Malayalam, Kannada, Estonian, Spanish, Portuguese and Bahasa Indonesian.

The Immortals of Meluha (2010)

The Secret of the Nagas (2011)

The Oath of the Vayuputras (2013)

A Song of Ice and Fire

A Song of Ice and Fire is an epic fantasy series written by the famous American novelist and screenwriter George R. R. Martin. Now, a popular TV Series titled Game of Thrones, this epic book series has sold more than 60 million copies worldwide. Whats more, it has been translated into at least 45 languages.

A Game of Thrones (1996)

A Clash of Kings (1998)

A Storm of Swords (2000)

A Feast for Crows (2005)

A Dance with Dragons (2011)

The Winds of Winter (forthcoming)

A Dream of Spring (forthcoming)

As you can see, most of these book series have been written over a long period of time. With concentration, perseverance, passion, and creativity, any good writer can write an amazing book series. How to balance writing with your Day job. As an author, do you prefer writing individual novels or book series? As a reader, which book series made you spellbound? Let us know on the comments.

[notionposts-blog]

Writing a novel by itself can be a formidable task. From an extensive research to characterization, it is a long process requiring immense planning and thinking. So if you are planning to write a book series, as you can imagine, it is going to take more planning and thinking than ever. It is said that JK Rowling had her entire concept and story for all of her books in the Harry Potter series even before she started. However, there are many authors who published their first novel, and then they developed the rest of the books in the series on the go. No matter which category you fall into, here are some tips on how to write a book series:

Choose the right story concept

The first thing you need to ask yourself is whether your story can be stretched into multiple books. If your story cannot be stretched, don’t stretch it. One of the most important things about writing a series is identifying the right genre and themes that work well. For example, fantasy, adventure, and mythology work the best, when it comes to a series. Most of the best-selling series have all been from these genres. Romance, on the other hand doesn’t work that well. Therefore, most of the contemporary romance writers keep their novels short and crisp because when stretched, this specific genre may not be that interesting to your audience.

Therefore, before you start writing make sure you have enough story and a great theme that you can make into multiple books because writing a series for the sake of it can be totally disastrous.

Decide on the plot structure

Whether you are going to write a trilogy or 20 sequels in the series, the primary objective is to decide on a plot structure and a plot outline. This way, you can define the topics covered and the themes you will explore in each volume of the series.

Also, as a first-time book series writer, it is always best to restrict your book series into a trilogy; it’s neither too much nor too little. Be it the Shiva trilogy by Amish Tripati, the Divergent by Veronica Roth, or The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins, trilogies always work great, especially, if your genre is mythology or fantasy.

Plan the end ahead

Not planning the end of a particular series ahead of time can be a huge mistake.  Not stopping where it should can be one of the reasons why a series may not turn out great.  Knowing where you are going to stop will help you construct the story well and make sure you are not stuck midway.

This does not necessarily mean that you must have every scene planned ahead. Having a rough draft of how things will move in the story might be of great help. While readers love suspenses, as it makes them curious, make sure that the suspenses are not forced into your story. Any suspense, major twists, and important cruxes should be well-planned ahead.

Your characters are your elixir

One of the major flaws that you could make in your novel is poor characterization. Especially, if you are planning to write a book series, your characters must be strong, unique, poignant, and well-defined. What made Harry Potter a huge success?  Apart from the story line and the fantasy elements, Harry Potter series had strong characters. Be it someone as important as Hermione Granger or someone who appeared in only one book like Dolores Umbridge, the characters were uniquely crafted.

One of the things readers love about reading is how well they could relate to the characters. If you make your characters as unique as possible, then you have high chances of intriguing your readers. Also, make your characters consistent across books. Even if you are planning to turn a positive character negative or a negative character positive, do it seamlessly. The readers should find it realistic and not forced.

Create loose ends

Yes, when we say create loose ends, we literally mean it. One of the reasons a reader chooses to read your books sequel is due to sheer curiosity. To build that curiosity, you need to create some valid loose ends. Things like flashback, prophecies, open ending, etc., work well. However, just like anything else, do not over do it.

Also, do not leave all the loose ends as such until the very end. Try to tie the loose ends as and when possible: be it your second book in the series or the penultimate one.

If you are planning to write a book series, here are some popular book series that you can read to have a fair idea about the art of writing a book series:

Harry Potter

Perhaps the most popular of book series ever written, Harry Potter is a series of fantasy novels written by JK Rowling. The story revolves around a young wizard named Harry Potter and his friends Hermione Granger and Ron Weasley, who are students of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. The main story is about how Harry and his friends fight against Lord Voldemort, a dark wizard who intends to be immortal.

The series set numerous records and sold more than 450 million copies, making it the most sold series in history. Additionally, it was also translated in 73 languages and also set the record for the fastest-selling book series ever. The series was also made into movies, which were incredibly popular as well.

[notionposts-blog]

One of the biggest questions that every aspiring author has is, “How can I effectively research for my novel?” The answer to this question holds the secret to what makes a writer an author. One of the things that many writers say is,”I have a fantastic concept, but I have no idea how to develop it.”If you are someone who thinks on these lines, then this blog is for you.

There is no hard-and-fast rule on How to do Research for a Novel. However, there definitely are a number of practical ways to do the same.

Regardless of the genre of your novel, the basic researchto be done for any novel is more or less the same. However, the downside is that the research procedure is quite tedious. In fact, researching for your novel could probably be the toughest research you’ve ever had to do.

Without further ado, we present to you the most effective guide on How to Research for Your Novel.

Read 100 Books Before You Write One (100 Is an Exaggeration, but at Least 10)

Yes, the first and the best research you can do for your novel is to read another. The books you read need not belongto the same genre as that of your novel – they can be totally different. Reading is what is important here. Read good, well-written books. When you read a well-written, well-structured book, the writer in you will learn about the subtle aspects of novel writing – the spacing, the formatting, the structure, the flow, and what not.

While reading these books, make a note of attributes that catch your eye. They could be dialogues, sentence formations, or a narration – whatever it is, just jot it down. Likewise, if you find something unappealing or displeasing, note that down as well. This way, you will be aware of the strengths and flaws of other novels. Eventually, when you write, you will be able to concentrate on writing your novel without committing any of those blunders.Furthermore, reading is also a good way of getting rid of writer’s block. If you are struggling to reach your daily target, instead of pushing yourself to write further, take a break and read. Reading is an equally important andproductive engagement that contributes to your writing.

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Being a writer in the current generation is quite stress-free and straightforward. From editing to distributing your books, you can leave all the worries to your book publisher, just sit back and write your heart out.  However, that being said, the art of writing itself is not exactly an easy job. A writer has to battle a number of roadblocks on his path to writing out a good manuscript, starting with writer’s block, á world of distractions,,  difficulties in balancing between a day job and writing, and all these rendering the writer unable to keep to deadlines and such.

If you are a writer, you can very well associate with these issues. While there are a plenty of ways to overcome your writer’s block, one of the best ways to handle any and all writer issues is to take a week-long writer’s retreat. Yes, you heard it right; shut your outside world outand go on a writing vacation.

Retreats are self-designed by individuals for achieving their personal goals. It can be anything ranging from finishing a short story for a competition to proofreading your own novel. Apart from writers, even editors take retreats to finish editing the books that they have committed to editing.

https://notionpress.com/academy/important-authors-take-retreat/

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