Inspiring writers to write and get published

Interview with editor of The Self Publishing Magazine

Self publishing is rapidly becoming a viable option for many writers. However, in an industry that is still smeared by the reputation of a number of unscrupulous companies, good advice is sometimes difficult to find. One source of reputable self publishing advice is the industry magazine The Self Publishing Magazine.
BubbleCow spoke with Jane Rowland, [...]

Read the full post →

Tips to get you writing

In preparation for BubbleCow’s #wordswrittentoday Twitter challenge here are a few basic tips to get you writing.
Set targetsSet yourself a target for the number of words that you want to write in a week and then break this down into daily amounts. The key is to make sure you are realistic in your expectations – [...]

Read the full post →

How to edit your own book

Word, then line, then sentenceAn important part of editing is being able to de-construct your writing. You must begin by seeing each word independently. Work in paragraphs, looking at each successive word, scanning for spelling and grammar problems. Then lift your focus to the sentence, reading each sentence as a whole, watching for inconsistencies and [...]

Read the full post →

Seven twitter tips for writers

Make sure your profile has a link back to your blog or website.
Use an 80/20 balance – 80% of posts offering help/advice and 20% about you and your stuff.
Always tweet a link to your latest blog post.
Tweet the link to your blog posts twice – once at 9 (ish) GMT the other about 3 GMT. [...]

Read the full post →

The secret to getting published is don’t be rubbish

NOT getting published is really easy. In fact, many writers are very good at NOT getting published. The reason? They are often a little bit rubbish!
My experience is that good writing, presented correctly will ultimately find a home. A well written, well edited story, with a good cover letter and synopsis, offered to the [...]

Read the full post →

The secrets to a successful synopsis

The synopsis is the document that will sell your book, the cover letter is the opening gambit but the synopsis is the big sell. You need to remember that this is a sales document not (only) an extract of your work. You need to give the publisher/agent an insight into your vision.
Paragraph 1: This is [...]

Read the full post →

The three secrets of a successful book pitch.

At BubbleCow we spend a lot of time helping very talented writers fine tune their submission packages so agents and publishers are more likely to offer them a deal. There is no doubt that in the current financial climate book deals are becoming more elusive. If you add to this the simple fact that many [...]

Read the full post →

Advice for writers who want to self publish

Self Publishing is increasingly becoming a viable option for writers looking to get their work read. Gone are the days of the only option being poor vanity press publications; instead writers now have a wealth of services at their finger tips. A bit of time and effort can be rewarded with professionally designed and printed [...]

Read the full post →

Should I self publish?

In recent years self publishing has become a very real option for many writers. Advances in both digital and traditional printing technology have made small print runs a commercially viable option. In addition, desk top publishing means that many pre-production tasks can be completed by ‘non-professionals.’ This leaves the question: Should I self publish?
The [...]

Read the full post →

The three tiers of publishing or can my book make any money?

Tier 1: The Big BoysThese are the big publishers such as Random House and Pan Macmillan. They are huge, international companies, made up of many smaller imprints. They print and sell hundreds of thousands of books each year.

Advantages: Writers have the best chance of selling enough books to make some serious cash.
Disadvantages: Very difficult [...]

Read the full post →

</