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How many words should a novel have? That’s a question I’ve seen many times. Just recently, user Burty Burtman asked in the forums, “How long is a novel?“ The answer is that for novel word counts it depends. Any numbers you can get are, at best, rule-of-thumb with many exceptions. […]

How many words should a novel have?

25th April 2024 in Advice tagged novel / questions / research / word count by Matthew Brown

Previously, I recommended authors shift from Twitter to Mastodon. In this post, I am going to give some hints and tips for how to get the most out of Mastodon as a writer. First, some notes Here is a poll of what Mastodon users love most about Mastodon. Here is […]

A Writers’ Guide to Mastodon (with Dark Side tricks)

9th February 2024 in Social Media tagged Author Platform / authors / CammelCaseYourTags / dark side / instances / introduction / LikeThis / Mastodon / SuperbOwl / writers by Matthew Brown

The sudden rise of AI has brought with it many great benefits. However, with those benefits come dangers that writers should be aware of. Supprisingly perhaps, having your work used to train AI is not on this list of dangers as that is entirely another article in itself. It is […]

AI dangers for writers: Getting sued isn’t the worst that ...

30th August 2023 in Advice tagged AI / ChatGPT / copyright / technology by Matthew Brown

With what is going on over at Twitter I have revised our Twitter advice for authors. If you are still on Twitter, I strongly recommend that you jump ship to somewhere more reliable. Somewhere like Mastodon for example. What is Mastodon? Do you wonder about this Mastodon thing? Fear not. […]

Abandon Twitter for Mastodon if you have not already

17th July 2023 in Platform Building Prompts tagged Author Platform / Mastodon / social media by Matthew Brown

group of people reading book sitting on chair — Are you, like me, an aspiring writer, a seasoned author, and/or a book lover? Do you want to connect with others like us? Look no further. I invite you to embark on an exciting journey – come join me in the thriving community of writers and book lovers on Mastodon. […]

Discover the Thriving Book & Writer Communities: Join Us on ...

18th June 2023 in Love Books / Social Media tagged Author Platform / authors / books / Mastodon / readers / social media / writers by Matthew Brown

bionic hand and human hand finger pointing — Recently I grilled ChatGPT about what it would take to be a full-time author and writer in the UK. A lot of what the AI said was common sense. It sounded right although you should probably do your own homework as ChatGPT is very good at being confidently wrong. My […]

Everything you need to know about being a UK author ...

8th May 2023 in Advice tagged Author Platform / blogging / ChatGPT / demographics / guide / hard work / ideas / networking / questions / readers / sell more books / social media / success / technology by Matthew Brown

As you work to expand your platform consider hosting a book club or reading group. This allows you to not only make friends with like-minded people but foster deep relationships with potential readers. Hosting a reading group is a reliable way to connect with readers and promote your book to […]

Author’s platform tip: Book clubs and reading groups

29th April 2023 in Platform Building Prompts tagged beta readers / book club / reading group by Matthew Brown

crop man taking notes in copybook in dark home office — As an editor for a publishing house that specializes in genre fiction, I have had the privilege of working with many talented writers over the years. From my experience, here are some tips and advice for new writers hoping to be published. Read widely One of the best ways to […]

Tips for writers hoping to be published

28th April 2023 in Advice tagged networking / publishers / writing life by Guest Writer

Speaking at local events, such as book clubs, libraries, or literary festivals, is a great way to connect with readers and promote your work. Local event organisers often need speakers to fill out their programs. A volunteer speaker (you) might be exactly what they are looking for. How to find […]

Platform building: If you can, speak at local events

1st April 2023 in Platform Building Prompts tagged events / public speaker / sell more books / speaker kit / speaking by Matthew Brown

business card VIP — Do not overlook the benefits of attending writing conferences and events. Writing conferences and events are great opportunities to network with other writers, learn from industry experts, and promote your work. When you go, make sure you come prepared with business cards, bookmarks, or other promotional materials. Business cards are […]

Platform Building: Attend writing conferences and events

18th March 2023 in Platform Building Prompts tagged business cards / conferences / events by Matthew Brown

serious ethnic young woman using laptop at home — When you don’t have anything to sell to your email list, there are still several ways you can engage with your subscribers and provide value to them. Share Your Writing Journey As an author, your subscribers may be interested in your writing process and the journey you take to create […]

What to do when you don’t have anything to sell ...

15th March 2023 in Publicity tagged email list by Guest Writer